EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by authority of the Assistant Treasurer

Currency Act 1965

Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Royal Australian Mint No. 4) 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 12 new non-circulating coins proposed to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint.

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 a 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 Interpretation 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

No public consultation was undertaken in relation to this legislative instrument. The effect of this instrument is to determine details of new Australian coin characteristics which will enable the Royal Australian Mint to continue its production of circulating and numismatic coins.

Members of the public have the opportunity to contact the Royal Australian Mint to present any themes they would like to see commemorated on Australian legal tender. These concepts are then researched and assessed in accordance with the Royal Australian Mint’s Coin Design Policy. The Royal Australian Mint also uses market based tools to identify interested parties and gauge interest in coin themes.

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 Royal Australian Mint No. 4) 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 12 new non-circulating coins proposed to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint.

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 Royal Australian Mint No. 4) Determination 2021

This Attachment sets out further details of the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Royal Australian Mint No. 4) Determination 2021 (the Determination).

Section 1 – Name

This section provides that the name of the Determination is the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Royal Australian Mint No. 4) 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 specified in a Schedule to the Determination is amended or repealed as set out in the Schedule.

Schedule 1 – Amendments

Schedule 1 amends the Currency (Australian Coins) Determination 2019 by adding the details of new coin characteristics and making technical amendments to ensure the Determination operates as intended. The newly determined coin characteristics are set out below.

New non-circulating coins

2022 $2 AlBr Coin – 2022 Baby Set – Indigenous Baby

The design on the $2 2022 baby set – Indigenous baby coin consists of a stylised representation of an Indigenous baby, sitting down and looking up at a representation of a star mobile, emulating the 1988 Indigenous tribal leader $2 coin design by Horst Hahne. The representation of the star mobile consists of five stars in an asterism of the Southern Cross. The design is by Indigenous artist and illustrator David Hardy, a descendant of the Barkindji people of Brewarrina in north central New South Wales.  The design includes the following inscription: “2 DOLLARS”.

Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA”, and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design also includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.

2022 50c CuNi Coin – 2022 Baby Set – Toy Coat of Arms

The design on the 50c 2022 baby set – toy coat of arms coin consists of stylised representation of a plush toy kangaroo and plush toy emu facing each other, emulating the 1966 coat of arms design by Stuart Devlin, with a stylised representation of a wrapped present between them. The representation of the present is wrapped in a check pattern incorporating the symbols of the States and is tied with a multi-looped bow. Ribbons are emanating out from the wrapped present, streaming out in all directions, some are partially obscured by the representation of the plush toys. The design also includes the following inscription: “50”.

Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA”, and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design also includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.

2022 10c Coin – 2022 Baby Set – Toy Lyrebird

The design on the 10c baby set – toy lyrebird coin consists of stylised representation of a marionette puppet lyrebird, emulating the 1966 lyrebird design by Stuart Devlin. The design includes the following inscription: “10”.

Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA”, and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design also includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.

2022 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Steam Trains – Queensland Railway No. 6

The design on the 2022 50c coloured uncirculated Australian steam trains – Queensland Railway No. 6 coin consists of a stylised representation of the Queensland Railways A10 Neilson class locomotive No. 6, viewed from front-on and at ‘full steam’. The representation of the train is on railway tracks and sleepers in the foreground. In the background, on either side of the stylised representation of the train is a multi-coloured pattern of lines and dashes of black, red, orange and cream, partially obscured by the locomotive. The design includes the following inscriptions: “QLD”; “A10”; “No. 6”; “STEAM POWER”; “AUSTRALIAN RAIL HERITAGE”; and “AS” (being the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic).

Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year, and Arabic numerals for the amount, in dollars or cents, of the denomination of the coin followed by “DOLLAR”, “DOLLARS” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.

2022 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Steam Trains – NSW South Maitland Railway No. 25

The design on the 2022 50c coloured uncirculated Australian steam trains – New South Wales South Maitland Railway No. 25 coin consists of a stylised representation of the South Maitland Railway Beyer Peacock & Co locomotive No. 25, viewed front-on and at ‘full steam’. The representation of the train is on railway tracks and sleepers in the foreground. In the background, on either side of the stylised representation of the train is a multi-coloured pattern of lines and dashes of black, red, green, grey, blue, white and cream, partially obscured by the locomotive. The design includes the following inscriptions: “NSW”; “SMR”; “No. 25”; “STEAM POWER”; “AUSTRALIAN RAIL HERITAGE”; and “AS” (being the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic).

Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year, and Arabic numerals for the amount, in dollars or cents, of the denomination of the coin followed by “DOLLAR”, “DOLLARS” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.

2022 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Steam Trains – Victoria Railways R711 ‘Spirit of Bendigo’

The design on the 2022 50c coloured uncirculated Australian steam trains – Victoria Railways R711 ‘Spirit of Bendigo’ coin consists of a stylised representation of the Victorian Railway R class locomotive R711 ‘Spirit of Bendigo’, viewed front-on and at ‘full steam’. The representation of the train is on railway tracks and sleepers in the foreground. In the background, on either side of the stylised representation of the train is a multi-coloured pattern of lines and dashes of black, blue, yellow, red, and grey, partially obscured by the locomotive. The design includes the following inscriptions: “VIC R711”; “SPIRIT OF”; “BENDIGO”; “STEAM POWER”; “AUSTRALIAN RAIL HERITAGE”; and “AS” (being the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic).

Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year, and Arabic numerals for the amount, in dollars or cents, of the denomination of the coin followed by “DOLLAR”, “DOLLARS” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.

2022 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Steam Trains – Tasmania ‘Wee Georgie Wood’

The design on the 2022 50c coloured uncirculated Australian steam trains – Tasmania ‘Wee Georgie Wood’ coin consists of a stylised representation of the Wee Georgie Wood Railway Fowler locomotive ‘Wee Georgie Wood’, viewed front-on and at ‘full steam’. The representation of the train is on railway tracks and sleepers in the foreground. In the background, on either side of the stylised representation of the train is a multi-coloured pattern of lines and dashes of black, red, khaki, cream and grey, partially obscured by the locomotive. The design includes the following inscriptions: “TAS”; “WEE GEORGIE WOOD”; “STEAM POWER”; “AUSTRALIAN RAIL HERITAGE”; and “AS” (being the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic).

Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year, and Arabic numerals for the amount, in dollars or cents, of the denomination of the coin followed by “DOLLAR”, “DOLLARS” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.

2022 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Steam Trains – South Australian Railways No. 504 ‘Tom Barr Smith’

The design on the 2022 50c coloured uncirculated Australian steam trains – South Australian Railways No. 504 ‘Tom Barr Smith’ coin consists of a stylised representation of the South Australian Railways 500 class locomotive No. 504 ‘Tom Barr Smith’, viewed from front-on and at ‘full steam’. The representation of the train is on railway tracks and sleepers in the foreground. In the background, on either side of the stylised representation of the train is a multi-coloured pattern of lines and dashes of black, red, green, blue and grey, partially obscured by the locomotive. The design includes the following inscriptions: “SA No.504”; “TOM BARR SMITH”; “STEAM POWER”; “AUSTRALIAN RAIL HERITAGE”; and “AS” (being the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic).

Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year, and Arabic numerals for the amount, in dollars or cents, of the denomination of the coin followed by “DOLLAR”, “DOLLARS” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.

2022 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Steam Trains – Western Australian Railways W945 ‘Banksiadale’

The design on the 2022 50c coloured uncirculated Australian steam trains – Western Australian Railways W945 ‘Banksiadale’ coin consists of a stylised representation of the Western Australian Government Railways W class locomotive W945 ‘Banksiadale’, viewed front-on and at ‘full steam’. The representation of the train is on railway tracks and sleepers in the foreground. In the background, on either side of the stylised representation of the train is a multi-coloured pattern of lines and dashes of black, red, green and blue partially obscured by the locomotive. The design includes the following inscriptions: “WA W945”; “BANKSIADALE”; “STEAM POWER”; “AUSTRALIAN RAIL HERITAGE”; and “AS” (being the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic).

Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year, and Arabic numerals for the amount, in dollars or cents, of the denomination of the coin followed by “DOLLAR”, “DOLLARS” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.

2022 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Steam Trains – Commonwealth Railways NM25

The design on the 2022 50c coloured uncirculated Australian steam trains – Commonwealth Railways NM25 coin consists of a stylised representation of the Commonwealth Railways NM class locomotive NM25, viewed front-on and at ‘full steam’. The representation of the train is on railway tracks and sleepers in the foreground. In the background, on either side of the stylised representation of the train is a multi-coloured pattern of lines and dashes of black, red, green, brown and blue partially obscured by the locomotive. The design includes the following inscriptions: “CR”; “NM25”; “STEAM POWER”; “AUSTRALIAN RAIL HERITAGE”; and “AS” (being the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic).

Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year, and Arabic numerals for the amount, in dollars or cents, of the denomination of the coin followed by “DOLLAR”, “DOLLARS” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.

2022 $25 1/5oz Gold Proof Coin – Bounding Gold

2022 $1 1/2oz Silver Proof Coin – Bounding Silver

The design on the 2022 bounding gold and silver proof coins consists of a stylised representation of a bounding kangaroo with spiral patterns on its tail and legs. Emanating from behind the kangaroo and heading out in 3 separate directions, are overlapping parabolic lines, each incorporating a spiral pattern representing the kangaroo’s movement. There are stylised representations of spears of kangaroo grass in the foreground. The design includes the following inscriptions: “Xoz .9999 Au” or “Xoz .999 Ag” as the case requires (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals); and “BS” (being the initials of the designer Bronwyn Scott).

Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year, and Arabic numerals for the amount, in dollars or cents, of the denomination of the coin followed by “DOLLAR”, “DOLLARS” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.