This twenty cent piece was released by the Royal Australian
The coin was included in two sets issued throughout the year - the New South Wales three coin set, and the twenty coin Centenary of Federation collection. Each set was issued in both proof and uncirculated varieties.
New South Wales was the first Australian colony with its original borders including what is now Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Queensland.(Museum of Australian Democracy, 2017) Each of these areas would become separate colonies at some stage but NSW remained the most populous colony. The governance of NSW was at first through a British governor before, in 1855, the colony was provided with a constitution and parliament. After many years of debate the colony held a vote in 1898 to determine if they would accept an Australian Constitution - creating the Australian federation. The first vote failed with the required quota failing before, in 1899, a second vote was successful. On the 1st of January 1901 the new Australian federation was established - with New South Wales as a key member.