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 munsal, 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 3RAR are known as ‘Old Faithful’ for their tenacious defence in Korea.
The Battle
The South Korean capital of Seoul changed hands numerous times in the early stages of the Korean War. In April 1951, North Korea’s ally China launched their spring offensive in a bid to recapture Seoul. It was at Kapyong Valley, about 60 kilometres north-east of Seoul, that the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) defended against persistent Chinese forces on 23 and 24 April. This was part of a broader United Nations effort, which included Canadian and British infantry battalions, US tanks and mortars, and the 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery. Suffering heavy casualties, China was ultimately forced to withdraw. 3RAR and the Canadian and US forces were awarded the US Presidential Unit Citation for their immense bravery in the battle.
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