20 Cents - Elizabeth II (4th Portrait - Thai-Burma Railway)

The 2016 20-cent coin was issued by the Royal Australian Mint to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the fall of Singapore and the subsequent construction of the Thai-Burma Railway during World War II. It serves as a somber tribute to the Australian prisoners of war who endured brutal conditions and forced labor while building the line, often referred to as the Death Railway. The piece is part of a broader series of circulating commemorative coins reflecting on Australia's military history and national identity.

Designed by Royal Australian Mint sculptor Aaron Baggio, the reverse side of the coin features a poignant depiction of a section of the railway line stretching toward the horizon, framed by the skeletal remains of a wooden bridge. The design intended to evoke the isolation and hardship faced by those interned in the camps. Upon its release into general circulation, the coin was noted by numismatists for its historical gravity and its contribution to the enduring public memory of the Thai-Burma Railway tragedy.