The most medals depicting comet were issued by the 1986 return of Halley's Comet. Medal that were issued in the United States were listed in a separate article. He a selection comes from the rest of the world.
The discovery and naming of Halley's comet was mentioned by the medals of its 1910 return. Here only the medals are described.
In Australia a number of medals were issued. On one of the gilt medals the Earth, with the Australian continent turning towards us can be seen (which we can assume that Australia was the issuer), above it is the comet. On the reverse is Halley's portrait, surrounded by the inscription "IDENTIFIED BY E· HALLEY" and "APPEARS EVERY 76 YEARS". The first label is worded correctly, as Halley's did not discover, but identified earlier returns and calculated the next one of the comet later named after him. The year 1682 also noticeable on the medal, in which year the comet later named after him was here. This year has also connection to Kirch's or Newton's comet that was visible in 1681-82. In 1682 Halley calculated the period of Kirsch's comet. However, he made error in calculation, and therefore identified Kirch's comet with the Julius Caesar's comet. (He identified the comet named after him in 1705, on the basis of several previous returns).
On the following Australian coin the Australian continent is on the top while under it the comet is visible. A prominent Southern Cross constellation and the legend makes it clear that Australia was the issuer. On the reverse Halley's portrait, date of birth and death, and the engraver's signature TCC appears.
In Australia was struck the medal that displays Halley's portrait on its obverse, while the comet lying over the MacDonnell Ranges, in the middle of Australia on the reverse. The legend of the obverse of this spectacular copper-colored coin's is "HALLEY'S COMET DOLLAR" and "LIMITED EDITION". The latter suggests that only a small amount of this medal was minted (although the numbers of actually issued is unknown). Right to the portrait is name, birth and death dates. On the left side over the shoulder the engraver's name is visible: STOKES. The reverse side reads: "ALICE SPRINGS N. T." refers to the nearby big city. Below minuscule: "HALLEY'S COMET OVER MACDONELL RANGES", "AUSTRALIA" and "1986" positions the scene on the medals in the space-time.
One of the most beautiful design - which is the author's favorite - also issued in Australia by the Museum Victoria, struck by Hafner Mint. Although the museum's website does not mention it, but the medal-picture designer was certainly aware of the coin that showed a recurring comet as the soul of Julius Caesar and minted the truly classic image again. The inscription on the obverse above is "AUSTRALIA" under "1986", while in the middle, where on the original Roman coin the legend DIVVS JVLIVS is read the "COMET HALLEY" is shown. On the reverse Halley's portrait facing to the right can be seen, in addition his name, below the name of issuer museum, while with small letters on the shoulder the name of the mint can be found.
In Canada, the North Shore Numismatic Society issued a commemorative medal for the event. The obverse of the coin is not only the memory of the comet, but the hundredth anniversary of the founding of Vancouver as well. In the center the Sun, the Earth's orbit around it as a solid line, and the broken line indicating the path of Halley's comet are visible on coin. Along the tracks the position of the Earth marked by a small disk, the position of the comet by a small comet indicated to the date 6 April, 1986 when they were closest to each other. Circulation direction of the Earth and the comet is marked, from which it seems that they orbit the Sun in the opposite direction. On the left, tiny letters: "PERIHELION FEB 9TH" mark the date of the comet's perihelion. The lower part of the image commemorates Vancouver's 100th anniversary. The back side is nothing to do with the comet, it commemorates KO and KLON the famous twin peaks of North Shore, The Lions.
French celebrated the comet with a large bronze medal. On the obverse birth and death years before of the facing left portrait of Halley, his name as a legend around can be found. On the reverse comet is crossing among the stars. Below the Sun, around it the Earth's (TERRE) and comet's (COMETE) orbit. Below from 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock in legend the comet's returning dates between 1066 and 1910 years can be read. Minuscules at the bottom with the engraver's name MAILLART is visible. On the bottom right the engraver put the name and image of the Giotto spacecraft along with year 1986.
The Giotto spacecraft appears on the aluminum coin of which issuer might be the maker of spacecraft, the European Space Agency. On the obverse half left facing portrait of Halley and the comet is displayed along with the legend "HALLEY'S COMET". The reverse is dominated by the comet and the spacecraft. The legend around: "INTERNATIONAL SPACE MISSIONS" "TO HALLEY'S COMET 1986". Based on the plural wording of the label it can be thought that the temporarily unknown issuers also wanted to remember the Soviet VEGA 1 and 2 space missions.
The European Space Agency appears on the next medal also. On the obverse Halley's facing portrait is visible, behind him is the comet among the stars. Legend around is: "NOW WE KNOW THE SHARPLY VEERING WAYS OF COMETS, ONCE A SOURCE OF LIGHT". This is a slight modification of the original text by Halley, which was the following:
"Iam patet horrificis quæ sit via flexa cometis ;
Iam non miramur barbati phænomena astri."
"Now we know
The sharply veering ways of comets, once
A source of dread, nor longer do we quail
Beneath appearances of bearded stars."1
On the reverse we see the Sun on the left with planetary orbits around it, and the comet and its path also displayed. Legend around is: "E. S. A. PROBE GIOTTO ENCOUNTERS HALLEY'S COMET ON THE NIGHT OF 13 MARCH 1986".
The next medal was probably struck in England, as the reverse shows the image of the building of the Greenwich Observatory. As a legend the comet's name and the day of its perihelion of the 1986-return is displayed. The obverse is a copy of the 1744 Halley-medallion, engraved by Jean Dassier. Around the left-facing portrait of Halley, his name written in Latin as "EDMUNDUS HALLEY" and the engraver's signature can be seen.
Queen Elizabeth's II portrait adorns the reverse of the commemorative 50 pence coin, which was issued on the island of St. Helena in 2002. While the reverse commemorates the 500-th anniversary of discovery of the island the obverse shows Halley's travel to the island in 1676. During this trip Halley has established an observatory and set up a telescope on the island, to study the southern sky. On the right of the medal Halley's half-left portrait is shown. Three-masted sailing ship in the middle, above the comet, the Southern Cross and other stars are displayed. As a legend his name and date of travel was engraved on the medal. On the right side of Halley's coat is a small fish, perhaps the engraver's mark.
Germany also released several coins. The then East Germany Drebach city celebrated its 600 years existence in 1986. The new public observatory and planetarium was opened on June 1, 1986. On the obverse of the medal a comet crosses above the observatory. Although not explicitly mentioned it was perhaps Halley.
The western part of Germany celebrated the return of the comet by a spectacular silver medal. On the obverse is the Earth, turning the European continent towards us. Above it the comet, in the background stars and the sun is pictured. Legend around: "30. WIEDERKEHR DES HALLEYSCHEN KOMETEN 1986", that is the 30th return of Halley's Comet. The reverse is a true exemplar of German precision, as it list exactly the dates of perihelion passages of the last 30 recorded returns of the comet. In the center of the image the planets of the inner solar system and the comet's orbit is visible. Inner circular legend: "BAHN DES HALLEYSCHEN KOMETEN" that is the path of Halley's comet and "UMLAUFZEIT CA 76 JAHRE" that is return about in 76 years. The outer circular legend is: "240 v. CHR. - 1986 n. CHR." "PERIHELDURCHGÄNGE DES HALLEYSCHEN KOMETEN" i. e. perihelion of Halley's comet transitions from 240 BC. to 1986.
In Germany, another silver medal was issued to commemorate the comet. On the obverse of this medal an astronomer in contemporary dress looks into an elaborately crafted telescope, while with his two hands he controls the telescope. Circular legend "GENERATIONSTALER HALLEYSCHEN KOMETEN" below "18. JAHRH." ie. the 18th century, right 1986. On the reverse Pegasus among the stars is pictured. Circular legend: "WIEDERKEHR DES HALLEYSCHEN KOMETEN" and "11 APRIL 1986" that is, the return of Halley's comet.
In Italy a large bronze medal was issued. On the obverse Halley's portrait facing half-right, in circular legend his name, year of birth and death is displayed. On the reverse below the Earth with Italian boots in the middle, above it the comet is pictured. Circular legend: "PASSAGGIO DELLA COMETA DI HALLEY 1986," that is, the transition of Halley's comet in 1986 is written.
The South Pacific Ocean island, Samoa also issued a silver commemorative medal. On the obverse, in front of the half-left facing portrait of Halley on this very nicely designed medal is the Sun. The Earth's and the comet's orbit can be seen, orbiting directions are also indicated. Above the comet's image is displayed. In circle legend name, year of birth and death is readable. The commemorial coin was minted in 1995. On the reverse of the island's name, coat of arms and a $10 face value is shown.
Singapore also issued a silver medal to honor the event. On the obverse the comet is visible among the stars. Legend around "1910 - THE RETURN OF HALLEYS'S COMET – 1986", the date of the most recent two returns. On the revers a lion, a palm and legend: "ONE OUNCE .999 FINENESS".
The issuer is unknown of the next spectacular bronze medal, with the portrait of Halley and English legend on the obverse. In front of Halley are the years of previous returns, figures getting smaller as we move backwards in time. Behind Halley a comet is visible with star-like core. Circular legend: "DR. EDMOND HALLEY", below "HALLEY' COMET" and "ORIGINAL TRIBUTE", is readable.
On the reverse a spectacular, scary dragon comet-like imagery with the Sun, Moon and stars is pictured. From the creature's mouth comes text: "HALLEY'S COMET". Legend around "LIBERA NOS A MALO" and "COMETAE" is readable. The inscription has yet to decipher.