EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by authority of the Assistant Treasurer

Currency Act 1965

Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Royal Australian Mint No. 6) 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 1 new circulating and 25 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.

The Determination is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003. The Determination is not subject to sunsetting under the Legislation Act 2003 on the grounds that the instrument ensures economic certainty (see Legislation (Exemptions and Other Matters) Regulation 2015). The instrument’s operation is integral in ensuring that the currency produced by the Mints becomes, and remains, legal tender unless or until returned to a mint to be taken out of circulation in accordance with the Currency Act 1965.

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. 6) 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 1 new circulating and 25 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. 6) Determination 2021

This Attachment sets out further details of the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Royal Australian Mint No. 6) 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. 6) 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 circulating coin

2022 $2 Coloured Circulating Coin – Honey Bee

The design on the 2022 $2 coloured circulating coin – honey bee coin consists of a central sphere with a radial colour gradient, consisting of an inner pale yellow, central orange and outer brown, with hexagons interconnected over the top of the sphere. Two Italian honey bees (Apis mellifera ligustica) are positioned on either side of the sphere. In the background are two eucalyptus branches, adorned with leaves and flowers extending from the rim of the coin. The design includes the following inscriptions: “TWO DOLLARS”; “HONEY BEE”; and “AS” (being the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic).

New non-circulating coins

2022 $2 ‘C’ Mintmark Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Honey Bee

The design on the 2022 $2 ‘C’ mintmark coloured uncirculated coin – honey bee coin consists of a central sphere with a radial colour gradient, consisting of an inner pale yellow, central orange and outer brown, with hexagons interconnected over the top of the sphere. Two Italian honey bees (Apis mellifera ligustica) are positioned on either side of the sphere. In the background are two eucalyptus branches, adorned with leaves and flowers extending from the rim of the coin. There is a letter ‘C’ denoting the place of minting, Canberra. The design includes the following inscriptions: “TWO DOLLARS”; “HONEY BEE”; “AS” (being the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic); and “C” (denoting the place of minting – Canberra).

2022 $1 1oz Fine Silver Proof Coin – Kangaroo Series

2022 $1 1oz Fine Silver Frosted Uncirculated Coin – Kangaroo Series

2022 $10 1/10oz Gold Proof Coin – Kangaroo series

The design on the kangaroo series coins consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of a kangaroo, stylised representations of two trees to the right of the kangaroo. The background is divided into 7 sections, each section depicting the sun, flora, rocks or shading, partially obscured by the kangaroo and trees. The design is in the Heidelberg School, Australian impressionism art movement style. The design includes the following inscriptions: either “Xoz .999 Ag” or “Xoz .9999 Au” as the case requires (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or common fraction in Arabic numerals); 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”.

2021 $30 1kg Silver Proof Coin – Lunar Year of the Ox

The design on the 2021 $30 1kg silver proof coin – Lunar Year of the Ox consists of a stylised representation of willow branches in the background, partially obscured by a crescent shape and a representation of an ox. Surrounded by the crescent shape are the following inscriptions: the Chinese language character “牛”, pronounced niú under the Pinyin system and meaning ox; “YEAR OF THE OX”; “BK” (the initials of the designer, Bronwyn King); and “X kg .999 Ag” (where “X” is the nominal weight in kilograms of the coin, expressed as a whole number or common fraction in Arabic numerals).

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”, 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 also includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”. The effigy is surrounded by an ornamental border comprising stylised representations of splashing water. Immediately inside the rim of the coin is a border consisting of stylised representations of each of the following: a rat; a pig; a dog; a rooster; a monkey; a goat; a horse; a snake; a dragon; a rabbit; a tiger; and an ox.

2022 $500 5oz Gold Proof Coin – Lunar Year of the Tiger

2022 $30 1kg Silver Proof Coin – Lunar Year of the Tiger

The design on the 2022 proof – Lunar Year of the Tiger proof coins consists of a crescent shape which is partially obscured on its convex side by a stylised representation of a tiger standing on rocky ground with stylised pine tree branches in the background. The design includes the following inscriptions: the Chinese language character (虎) pronounced hŭ under the Pinyin system and meaning tiger, “YEAR OF THE TIGER”, either “X oz .9999 Au” or “X kg .999 Ag” as the case requires, where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces or kilograms of the coin, expressed as a whole number or common fraction in Arabic numerals) and “BK” (the initials of designer, Bronwyn King).

2022 $1 1oz Silver Investment Coin - Beneath the Southern Skies

2022 $100 1oz Gold Investment Coin - Beneath the Southern Skies

The design on the 2022 $1 1oz silver investment coin - beneath the southern skies consists of, in the background, the equator, latitude lines, longitude lines, straight lines positioned in an irregular pattern and an ornamental pattern. These lines and patterns are partially obscured by a stylised map of Australia containing a textured pattern. Superimposed on part of that map is the silhouette of a koala. In the foreground is a stylised representation of the constellation Crux (commonly known as the Southern Cross). The design includes the following inscriptions: 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 and either “Xoz .999 SILVER” or “Xoz .9999 GOLD” as the case requires (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or common fraction in Arabic numerals).

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”, 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 also includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC” and in the background, the equator, latitude lines, longitude lines and an ornamental pattern.

2022 $2 Coloured Uncirculated Coin - Australian Commonwealth Games Team ‘A’

The design on the 2022 $2 coloured uncirculated coin - Australian Commonwealth Games Team ‘A’ consists of a yellow coloured ring containing a green stylised representation of a kangaroo on the left and an emu on the right as depicted on the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth. This design is partially obscured by a central circle containing the stylised representation of the letter “A”. The design also includes the following inscriptions; “2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES TEAM”; 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.

2022 $2 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Commonwealth Games Team ‘U’

The design on the 2022 $2 coloured uncirculated coin – Australian Commonwealth Games Team ‘U’ consists of a green coloured ring containing a yellow stylised 7-pointed star representing the Star of Federation. This design is partially obscured by a central circle containing the stylised representation of the letter “U”. The design also includes the following inscriptions; “2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES TEAM”; 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.

2022 $2 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Commonwealth Games Team ‘S’

The design on the 2022 $2 coloured uncirculated coin – Australian Commonwealth Games Team ‘S’ consists of a green coloured ring containing yellow stylised stars (with 4 stars being 7-pointed and one smaller 5-pointed) representing the constellation Crux (commonly known as the Southern Cross). This design is partially obscured by a central circle containing the stylised representation of the letter “S”. The design also includes the following inscriptions; “2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES TEAM”; 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.

2022 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Australian Commonwealth Games Team Integrity

The design on the 2022 $1 uncirculated coin – Australian Commonwealth Games Team integrity coin consists of a stylised representation of 6 athletes. Each athlete is representing one of the following:

- a diver, in mid-dive, over two wavy lines, representing water; and

- a beach volleyball player ‘digging’; and

- a mountain biker wearing a helmet, on two circles representing a bike riding down a jiggered line, representing an uneven slope; and

- a cricket T20 player, holding a cricket bat in mid-shot next to cricket stumps; and

- the torso of a swimmer, mid-stroke, above a curved line representing water; and

- a boxer, wearing gloves, in a punching action.

The design includes the following inscriptions: “2022 AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH GAMES TEAM” and “INTEGRITY”.

2022 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Australian Commonwealth Games Team Respect

The design on the 2022 $1 uncirculated coin – Australian Commonwealth Games Team respect coin consists of a stylised representation of 7 athletes. Each athlete is representing one of the following:

- an artistic gymnast competing; and

- the torso of a netball player shooting a netball into a representation of a netball hoop; and

- a road cyclist, wearing a helmet on two circles representing a bicycle; and

- a rugby sevens player, running and holding a rugby ball; and

- a squash player, holding a squash racquet and hitting a squash ball; and

- two wrestlers, wrestling.

The design includes the following inscriptions: “2022 AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH GAMES TEAM” and “RESPECT”.

2022 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Australian Commonwealth Games Team Excellence

The design on the 2022 $1 uncirculated coin – Australian Commonwealth Games Team excellence coin consists of a stylised representation of 7 athletes. Each athlete is representing one of the following:

- 2 judoka in a judo fight;

- a rhythmic gymnast competing inside a circle extending from their hand representing a rhythmic gymnastic ribbon;

- the torso of a weightlifter holding a barbell above their head;

- a triathlete in a running position, on 2 circles representing a bicycle in front of 2 wavy lines representing water;

- a hockey player, holding a stick and hitting a hockey ball;

- a badminton player, jumping to hit a shuttlecock.

The design includes the following inscriptions: “2022 AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH GAMES TEAM” and “EXCELLENCE”.

2022 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Australian Commonwealth Games Team Inclusiveness

The design on the 2022 $1 uncirculated coin – Australian Commonwealth Games Team inclusiveness coin consists of a stylised representation of 6 athletes. Each athlete is representing one of the following:

- an athlete running; and

- a basketballer, jumping with a basketball, performing a slam dunk into a representation of a basketball hoop; and

- a table tennis player holding a paddle and hitting a ping pong ball on a table; and

- a lawn bowler, bending down to roll a bowl; and

- a track cyclist, wearing a helmet, on two circular shapes, representing a bicycle; and

- a badminton player, jumping to hit a shuttlecock.

The design includes the following inscriptions: “2022 AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH GAMES TEAM” and “INCLUSIVENESS”.

2022 $1 AlBr Uncirculated Coin – Letter E – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

2022 $1 AlBr Proof Coin – Letter E – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

The design on the 2022 Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3 letter E coins consists of a stylised representation of an echidna eating an invertebrate, standing with a back foot on a representation of textured ground and leaning on a large, stylised letter ‘E’. Beneath the echidna, there are two large stylised flowers, three small stylised flowers and a stylised ant biting the letter ‘E”. Stylised grass is partially obscured by the letter ‘E’. The design includes the following inscriptions: “ECHIDNA” and “1 DOLLAR”.

2022 $1 AlBr Uncirculated Coin – Letter I – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

2022 $1 AlBr Proof Coin – Letter I – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

The design on the 2022 Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3 letter I coins consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of an Irukandji jellyfish showing four tentacles, three of which wrap around a large, stylised letter ‘I’. Partially obscured by the jellyfish, there is a background of fine textured lines representing water and two waved lines cutting through the texturing, representing waves. The design includes the following inscriptions: “IRUKANDJI JELLYFISH” and “1 DOLLAR”.

2022 $1 AlBr Uncirculated Coin – Letter J – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

2022 $1 AlBr Proof Coin – Letter J – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

The design on the 2022 Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3 letter J coins consists of a stylised representation of a horned jumbuck with textured fleece standing facing forward and on a stylised representation of grass. A stylised representation of a windmill is positioned in the background on the left of the coin. In the foreground on the bottom right of the coin, there is a large, stylised letter ‘J’. The design includes the following inscriptions: “JUMBUCK” and “1 DOLLAR”.

2022 $1 AlBr Uncirculated Coin – Letter K – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

2022 $1 AlBr Proof Coin – Letter K – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

The design on the 2022 Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3 letter K coins consists of a stylised representation of a kelpie (a breed of Australian sheepdog) with markings on the neck and chest and in a herding pose facing right, standing on cloud shapes representing the backs of jumbucks. Behind the kelpie, there is a stylised representation of 3 sheep. A large, stylised letter ‘K’, partially obscured by the kelpie, is in the background. The design includes the following inscriptions: “KELPIE” and “1 DOLLAR”.

2022 $1 AlBr Uncirculated Coin – Letter M – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

2022 $1 AlBr Proof Coin – Letter M – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

The design on the 2022 Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3 letter M coins consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of an Australian magpie facing left perched on the middle line of a 3-line clothesline with a wooden peg on each of the bottom and middle lines. In the background emanating from the right of the coin, there is a stylised representation of two tree branches, the top branch with leaves featuring a smooth finish and the two bottom branches with leaves featuring fine textured lines. A fine line textured background representing the ground is at the bottom of the coin. A large, stylised letter ‘M’ is positioned in the background on the left of the coin. The design includes the following inscriptions: “MAGPIE” and “1 DOLLAR”.

2022 $1 AlBr Uncirculated Coin – Letter O – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

2022 $1 AlBr Proof Coin – Letter O – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

The design on the 2022 Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3 letter O coins consists of, in the foreground on the right of the coin, a stylised representation of a miner, holding a pickaxe in his left hand and a shovel in his right hand, and wearing a traditional mining helmet which shines light onto a large, stylised letter ‘O’ on the left of the coin. There is a fine line textured background representing the mine. A stylised representation of a ragged rock containing unmined opal is positioned on the bottom left of the coin. The design includes the following inscriptions: “OPAL” and “1 DOLLAR”.

2022 $1 AlBr Uncirculated Coin – Letter Q – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

2022 $1 AlBr Proof Coin – Letter Q – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

The design on the 2022 Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3 letter Q coins consists of a stylised representation of a quoll walking leftward along a branch. A stylised representation of four tree branches with leaves (three featuring a fine line textured finish and one featuring a smooth finish) is positioned in the background. At the bottom of the coin, there is a fine line textured background representing the ground. A large, stylised letter ‘Q’ is partially obscured by the tail of the quoll. The design includes the following inscriptions: “QUOLL” and “1 DOLLAR”.

2022 $1 AlBr Uncirculated Coin – Letter T – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

2022 $1 AlBr Proof Coin – Letter T – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

The design on the 2022 Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3 letter T coins consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of a Tasmanian devil with markings behind the shoulder and backside, wherein the Tasmanian devil is sitting on its haunches facing right and with its mouth open. A stylised representation of two ferns fans out left and right behind the Tasmanian devil. At the bottom of the coin, there is a fine line textured background representing the ground. A large, stylised letter ‘T’ is positioned in the foreground on the bottom right of the coin. The design includes the following inscriptions: “TASMANIAN DEVIL” and “1 DOLLAR”.

2022 $1 AlBr Uncirculated Coin – Letter W – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

2022 $1 AlBr Proof Coin – Letter W – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

The design on the 2022 Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3 letter W coins consists of a stylised representation of 3 flowering branches of an acacia (as known as a wattle) with the flowers represented by circles containing lined and textured patterns and a stylised representation of three leafy branches of an Australian wattle surrounding the flowering branches. On the bottom right of the coin, is a textured area in the background. A large, stylised letter ‘W’ is partially obscured by wattle flowers on the bottom left of the coin. The design includes the following inscriptions: “WATTLE” and “1 DOLLAR”.

2022 $1 AlBr Uncirculated Coin – Letter Z – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

2022 $1 AlBr Proof Coin – Letter Z – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3

The design on the 2022 Great Aussie Coin Hunt 3 letter Z coins consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of a Zebra finch with lined and circular markings perched on a tree branch with two leaves. A stylised representation of three leafy branches featuring a fine line textured finish is in the background. A large, stylised letter ‘Z’ is partially obscured by the Zebra finch. The design includes the following inscriptions: “ZEBRA FINCH” and “1 DOLLAR”.

Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Royal Australian Mint No. 6) Determination 2021

Administered by Department of the Treasury

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by authority of the Assistant Treasurer

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by authority of the Assistant Treasurer

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