2002 Queen's Jubilee
The year 2002 marked the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II accession to the throne. To commemorate this special occasion the British Royal Mint has put together a coin programme for 12 participating Commonwealth countries each with its own unique design.
Issue information
At the Queen's accession on 6 February 1952, she was presented with the two royal sceptres of power and mercy immediately before being crowned. In her right hand she held the Sceptre with Cross while in the other she held the Sceptre with Dove, or Rod of Equity and Mercy denoting the Queen's spiritual role in the Commonwealth. The Sceptre with the Cross symbolises the Queen's temporal power over her people and was re-worked in 1910 to incorporate the Great Star of Africa, then the world's largest top-quality cut diamond. Created from the famous Cullinan diamond found in South Africa's Premier Mine in 1905, this fabulous jewel dominates the commemorative reverse of New Zealand's own unique Golden Jubilee Coin.
The Queen's Golden Jubilee was a unique time in the life of the nation. It was a time for looking back at the central role that Her Majesty has played in the life of the Commonwealth over the last 50 years. It was also a time for looking forward to the part the youth of the Commonwealth will play in the future. The Queen expressed the wish that the Golden Jubilee should be an occasion for her to give thanks to the Commonwealth for the support she has received during her reign.
