50c 2026 First Television Broadcast Coloured Silver Proof

The Royal Australian Mint celebrates 70 years of Australian television broadcasting with a colourful design paying tribute to our television history.

Australian television flickered to life on 16 September 1956, just in time for the Melbourne Olympic Games, when Bruce Gyngell famously greeted viewers with, “Good evening and welcome to television.” In its early black-and-white years, families gathered around bulky sets for newsreels, variety hours and children’s programs that quickly became household favourites. The arrival of colour in 1975 transformed the viewing experience, ushering in iconic shows like Countdown and bringing sport and drama to vivid life.

Through the decades, programs such as Neighbours, Play School and Four Corners helped shape national conversations and cultural identity. Satellite links and regional broadcasting expanded television’s reach, connecting remote communities to shared moments. Today, Australian television blends free-to-air, streaming and on-demand viewing, continuing to tell local stories while competing on a global stage - proof that a medium born in black and white still thrives in a brilliant, digital age.

The coin is covered in small icons which weave a tale of the history of Australian television. Each illustration represents a memorable Australian TV broadcast – how many can you spot? The icons surround the text “Australian Broadcasting 1956 – 2026”. The colour print portion of this design is an abstract representation of the colour bars from TV’s test pattern created by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). The black and white portions of the print are present to be inclusive of the early days of black and white television.Very interesting coin to add to your collection...