200th Anniversary Of The War Of 1812: How Uss Constitution Became old Ironsides

On 18 June 1812, the young United States declared war on the greatest power in the world Great Britain

. The two and a half year War of 1812, also referred to as the United States Second War of Independence, forged the destiny of the continent for 200 years.

One of the most remarkable stories of the War was that of the three-masted wooden frigate USS Constitution. To the surprise of both the Americans and the British she defeated four English warships, earning each of her three captains a congressional gold medal.

Although historians judge these victories to have had minimal impact on the eventual outcome, they ended the myth of invincibility surrounding the Royal Navy. Returning to Boston after each successful encounter, USS Constitution and her crew were publicly extolled, and her reputation grew into the American national icon that she remains to this day.

In August 1812, during a 35-minute duel with HMS Guerriere off the coast of Nova Scotia, USS Constitution won her famous moniker. Observing cannonballs fired by the British ship bouncing harmlessly off her 25-inch oak hull, an incredulous sailor cried out, Huzza! Her sides are made of iron!

Less than five months later, Old Ironsides sank a smaller and faster adversary, HMS Java, off the coast of Brazil.

Her final quarries of the War were HMS Cyane and HMS Levant, defeated near Madeira in February 1815.

Despite numerous subsequent victories, Old Ironsides never fired a round in combat again. Today, she holds the honour of being the oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat and was designated Americas Ship of State in 2009.

The first-ever Australian map shaped silver coins were issued in 2002 to mark the bicentenary of Matthew Flinders circumnavigation of Terra Australis. Issued as legal tender of Uganda, the four-coin set included colour designs celebrating Flinders ship, HMS Investigator, and his historic meeting with French explorer Nicolas Baudin at Encounter Bay in April 1802.

The following year saw the release of a Tuvalu four-coin set, this time in honour of Australian pioneers of aviation including Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm, Bert Hinkler and Rev John Flynns Royal Flying Doctor Service.

A revived version of the map-shaped coin concept made by The Perth Mint in 2010 was a surprise success that pointed to further potential interest among collectors. Designed as a display piece for the Shanghai World Expo, the majority of the 30,000 Australian legal tender coins were sold in China under an exclusive distribution agreement.

The Perth Mint secured 1,000 Shanghai coins for sale to retail customers at home. The coins subsequent quick sell out encouraged our plans for a future series, which has now commenced with the Kookaburra release from the native animal program.

by: Perth Mint

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