The 2005 One Dollar Gallipoli piece was issued to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. The reverse features a minimalist depiction of a lone bugler playing the Last Post. In military tradition the Last Post bugle call is used to signify the end of the day but is also played at military funerals to pay tribute to the soldier who is now at rest. The reverse legend states "GALLIPOLI - LEST WE FORGET" with the dates "1915 - 2005" and the denomination. The reverse features the standard Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Five privy marked varieties were created; Sydney (S), Melbourne (M), Gallipoli (G), Canberra (C), and Brisbane (B).
The Gallipoli Campaign during the First World War is often considered to be the rapturous beginning of the Australian and New Zealand national consciousnesses. It took place on the Gallipoli peninsula which was controlled by the German allied Ottoman Empire. Beginning with landings on the 25th of April 1915 the operation, which included soldiers from the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand and British India, attempted to capture Constantinople (Istanbul). The offensive was a catastrophic failure with the allied powers being largely pinned to the Turkish coastline and sustaining exceptionally large casualties. Regardless of the wartime realities the event fostered a national identity for Australia and New Zealand based on hardship and resilience. The 25th of April is today celebrated as ANZAC (Australian New Zealand Army Corps) Day.