2012 Long Tan Silver Proof Coin Ends Australian Famous Battles Series

The Perth Mint of Australia brings to a close the Famous Battles in Australian History Five-Coin Series with the release of the 2012 Long Tan Silver Proof Coin.

All five silver coins from the program commemorate different famous battles with this newest release featuring a reverse design emblematic of the Battle of Long Tan fought in 1966 as part of the Vietnam War.

Each Long Tan Silver Proof Coin is struck from one ounce of 99.9% pure silver. The coin has an extremely limited mintage of just 5,000 and is available for AUS $97.27.

Long Tan Silver Proof Coin Design, Specifications and Order Details

A reverse design emblematic of the Battle of Long Tan is showcased on the reverse of this coin with an Australian soldier wearing Vietnam War jungle kit. The design by Perth artist Wade Robinson also incorporates a printed historical image of the actual soldiers at Long Tan. Also shown on the reverse are the inscriptions of "LONG TAN 1966" along with "1 oz 999 SILVER" and the Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.

Each of these silver coins are struck as legal tender of Australia under the Australian Currency Act of 1965. Accordingly, the obverse contains the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Also shown on the obverse are the inscriptions of "ELIZABETH II," "AUSTRALIA," "2012" and the face value of "1 DOLLAR."

The 31.135 gram coin features a diameter of 40.60mm and a maximum thickness of 4.00mm. Each coin is presented in a black display case that comes with an illustrated shipper and a numbered certificate of authenticity.

The 2012 Long Tan Silver Proof Coin may be ordered from the Perth Mint website at www.perthmint.com.au.

About Battle of Long Tan

The Battle of Long Tan was fought on August 18, 1966 between the Australian Army and Viet Cong forces. Members of the Australian Army encountered the enemy while patrolling a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tan. A fight quickly ensued pitting an estimated 2,500 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese against just 108 Australian troops.

In pouring rain, the small Australian task force held against the much larger enemy force. It was aided by a timely ammunition re-supply from two RAAF helicopters, Australian artillery support and the eventual arrival of armored personnel carriers.

Documentary: The Battle of Long Tan

While exact numbers are unknown, hundreds of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese were believed to have been killed while just 18 Australian soldiers were lost. The cooperative effort between the infantry, artillery, armored vehicles and military aviation is credited with helping to create the decisive victory and is used as an example of the benefits of a multi-pronged approach.