The Royal Australian Mint presents this 50c uncirculated coin to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong (22-27 April 1951). The battle was a significant chapter of Australia’s involvement in the Korean War (1950-1953), the so-called ‘forgotten war’.
The Design
The floral pattern is inspired by traditional Korean lattice frames. It includes wattle and 32 poppies to commemorate each of the 32 Australian soldiers who lost their lives in the battle. Coordinates of the battle location are included, and we see Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) soldiers positioned on hill 504.
The Battle
In the Battle of Kapyong (22-27 April 1951), a small Commonwealth and US force defended the Kapyong Valley against a major Chinese offensive aimed at capturing Seoul. The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) and 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2PPCLI) fought off repeated attacks, supported by New Zealand artillery, US tanks and mortars and a British infantry battalion. The gallant defence by 3RAR, in which 32 Australians were killed, allowed UN forces to regroup and force the Chinese to withdraw. This significant victory led to 3RAR, the Canadians and the US tank unit being awarded the US Presidential Unit Citation.
Availability
From Monday 30 March 2026 8:30am (AEDT):
- Ballot opens: Monday 30 March 2026 8:30am AEDT
- Ballot closes: Wednesday 1 April 2026 8:30am AEDT
From Thursday 2 April 2026 8:30am (AEDT):
Mint Contact Centre (1300 652 020)
Mint Shop
Participating Authorised Distributors
Mintage: 40,000
Price: $20.00
Limit per person: 3