Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2021

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2021L00691 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by authority of the Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, Social and Community Housing

Currency Act 1965

Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2021

Subsection 13(2) and section 13A of the Currency Act 1965 (the Act) provide that the Treasurer may, by legislative instrument, determine details of Australian coin characteristics including denomination, standard composition, standard weight, allowable variation from standard weight, design and dimensions.

The purpose of this legislative instrument is to determine the characteristics of 4 new non-circulating coins proposed to be issued by The Perth Mint and to make technical amendments to ensure the Determination operates as intended.

The Treasurer may authorise the making and issuing of coins specified, or taken to be specified, in the Schedule to the Currency Act 1965.  A payment of money is legal tender if it is made in coins that are made and issued under the Currency Act 1965.  Through the issue of a currency determination, the Treasurer can add, remove and alter the coin characteristics specified, or taken to be specified, in the Schedule to the Currency Act 1965.

In accordance with section 19 of the Acts Interpretations Act 1901, any Minister in the Treasury portfolio may, by legislative instrument, determine details of Australian coin characteristics.

Details of the legislative instrument are set out in the Attachment.

The legislative instrument commenced on the day after it was registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.

The legislative instrument is subject to disallowance under section 42 of the Legislation Act 2003.

Consultation

The Perth Mint undertook consultation among its network of Australian and international wholesale distributors.  Authorised Australian distributors of The Perth Mint products are consulted regularly during business meetings and participation at the Australian Numismatic Dealers’ Association Coin, Banknote and Stamp shows.  Likewise, international distributors were consulted during a schedule of individual meetings hosted during the World Money Fair held in Berlin and the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money.

Limited consultation was conducted with external parties due to the confidentiality of coin themes and artwork, due to the risk of competitors viewing the innovations and potentially releasing similar coins into the market prior to the release.

Members of the public have the opportunity to contact The Perth Mint to present any themes they would like to see commemorated on Australian legal tender. These concepts are then researched and presented to The Perth Mint’s sales and marketing department for consideration and feedback.

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2021

 

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the Legislative Instrument

The purpose of this legislative instrument is to determine the characteristics of 4 new non-circulating coins proposed to be issued by The Perth Mint and to make technical amendments to ensure the Determination operates as intended.

Human rights implications

This Legislative Instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Conclusion

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.


ATTACHMENT

Details of the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2021

Section 1 – Name of the Determination

This section provides that the name of the Determination is the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2021.

Section 2 – Commencement

This section prescribes that the Determination commences the day after the Determination is registered.

Section 3 – Authority

This section provides that the Determination is made under the Currency Act 1965.

Section 4 – Schedule

This section provides that each instrument that is specified in the Schedule to this Determination will be amended or repealed as set out in this Schedule.

Schedule 1 – Amendments

The Schedule amends the Currency (Australian Coins) Determination 2019 by adding new coin specifications and explanations to Part 2 of Schedule 2021 to the Determination. The newly determined coin characteristics are set out below.

 

$200 2021 2oz Gold Queen Elizabeth II 95th Birthday Coin

$25 2021 1/4oz Gold Queen Elizabeth II 95th Birthday Coin

$1 2021 1oz Silver Queen Elizabeth II 95th Birthday Coin

$1 2021 13.5g Base Metal Queen Elizabeth II 95th Birthday Coin

 

The design on the Queen Elizabeth II 95th Birthday coins consists of a circle immediately inside the rim that is partially obscured by Queen Elizabeth II’s first effigy as designed by Mary Gillick. In the background is a stylised wattle pattern. The design consists of the following inscriptions: “H.M. QUEEN ELIZABETH II” “21 APRIL 1926”; and the letter “P”.

 

The obverse side of the coins bear an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II as designed by Jody Clark.

 

Schedule 1 also makes a minor refinement to a specification of a previous determined coin, reflecting a design limitation identified during the manufacturing process.

Overview

The Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2021 was enacted to address the need for issuing four new non-circulating coins by The Perth Mint and to make technical amendments to the existing currency determinations. Enacted by the Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, Social and Community Housing, this instrument aims to ensure the accurate and effective operation of the Determination. The determination was made under the authority of the Currency Act 1965, which empowers the Treasurer to specify the characteristics of Australian coins. This legislative instrument facilitates the issuance of legal tender by determining the characteristics of newly proposed coins and ensuring that the Determination operates as intended. The determination reflects a policy objective to commemorate significant national events and figures through the issuance of commemorative coins. The Perth Mint consulted with its network of distributors both domestically and internationally to gather feedback on coin themes and design. While limited consultation with external parties was conducted due to confidentiality concerns, the public is encouraged to suggest themes for future coins, which are considered by The Perth Mint’s sales and marketing department. The Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2021 ensures compatibility with human rights as it does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Scope and Application

The Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2021 applies to the issuance of specific non-circulating coins by The Perth Mint, as authorised under the Currency Act 1965. This legislative instrument outlines the characteristics of four new coins commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's 95th birthday, including their denomination, composition, weight, design, and dimensions. The Act applies to the coins listed in the Schedule, which specifies the amendments to the Currency (Australian Coins) Determination 2019. These coins include a 2oz gold coin, a 1/4oz gold coin, a 1oz silver coin, and a 13.5g base metal coin. The geographic reach of this Determination is national, as it pertains to the issuance of legal tender within Australia. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the Determination itself; however, the issuing of coins under the Currency Act 1965 is subject to the Treasurer's authority and the Act's provisions. The application of the Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, such as additional determinations, which can further specify coin characteristics or introduce new coins.

Key Provisions

The Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2021 (the Determination) amends the Currency (Australian Coins) Determination 2019 to include new coin specifications (Schedule 1). This Determination, made under the Currency Act 1965 (the Act), sets out the characteristics of four new non-circulating coins to be issued by The Perth Mint, specifically to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s 95th birthday. These coins are: a $200 2oz gold coin, a $25 1/4oz gold coin, a $1 1oz silver coin, and a $1 13.5g base metal coin. The design of these coins includes a circle inside the rim partially obscured by Queen Elizabeth II’s first effigy designed by Mary Gillick, a stylised wattle pattern in the background, and inscriptions including “H.M. QUEEN ELIZABETH II” and “21 APRIL 1926”. The obverse side features an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Jody Clark. Under the Determination, The Perth Mint is authorised to produce and issue the specified coins, which will be legal tender as per subsection 13(2) of the Act. The Treasurer’s role, as outlined in section 13A of the Act, allows for the amendment of coin characteristics including denomination, composition, weight, design, and dimensions. The Determination also includes a technical amendment to correct a design limitation identified in the manufacturing process of a previously determined coin. The Determination imposes several obligations on The Perth Mint, including adherence to the specified coin characteristics and ensuring the coins are produced to the standards set by the Act. The Mint must also ensure that the coins bear the correct inscriptions and designs as outlined in the Determination. Any alterations to the coins or their specifications post-issuance must comply with the Act and the Determination. Breaches of the Determination or the Act may result in various legal consequences. For instance, producing coins without authorisation or contravening the specified characteristics could lead to criminal charges under section 18 of the Act, which prohibits the making of counterfeit coins. The maximum penalty for such offences is imprisonment for up to 10 years. Additionally, civil penalties may apply for breaches of the Determination, although specific penalties are not detailed in the text provided. It is important for The Perth Mint to comply with these requirements to avoid any legal repercussions.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.