EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by authority of the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury
Currency Act 1965
Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2022 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2022
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 14 new non-circulating coins proposed to be issued by The Perth 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 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.
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
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 (2022 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2022
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 14 new non-circulating coins proposed to be issued by The Perth 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 (2022 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2022
Section 1 – Name of the Determination
This section provides that the name of the Determination is the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2022 Perth Mint No. 2) Determination 2022.
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
Schedule 1 amends the Currency (Australian Coins) Determination 2019 by adding the details of new coin characteristics. The newly determined coin characteristics are set out below.
$2 2022 2oz Silver Christmas Coloured Antiqued Coin
The design on the $2 2022 2oz silver Christmas coloured antiqued coin consists of a stylised Christmas-themed wreath consisting of the following (some elements of which are gold coloured): pinecones, foliage, twigs, nuts, berries, star anise, baubles, candy canes and a ribbon tied in a bow. The design includes the following inscriptions: “SR” (being the initials of the designer Sean Rogers); and the letter “P”.
The obverse side of the coin bears an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and a circular border made up of a ribbon tied in a bow, together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA”, the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year, 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 “Xoz 9999 Ag” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals). The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.
$100 2022 1oz Gold Dragon Coin
The design on the $100 2022 1oz gold dragon coin consists of a circular border immediately inside the rim. Partially obscuring the border is a stylised representation of a Chinese dragon, with its body twisted into four overlapping circles, holding a pearl in its mouth. The design includes the following inscriptions: the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “Xoz 9999 GOLD” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “LB” (being the initials of the designer Lucas Bowers); and the letter “P”.
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”, “AUSTRALIA” 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”.
$2 2022 2oz Silver Great Barrier Reef – Shark Piedfort Coin
$25 2022 1/4oz Gold Great Barrier Reef – Shark Coin
The design on the 2022 great barrier reef shark coins consists of, in the foreground, a representation of a great white shark swimming above a coral reef. A representation of waves, fish, an octopus, a cuttlefish and a giant clam is in the background. The design includes the following inscriptions: the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “GREAT BARRIER REEF”; “WR” (being the initials of the designer Wade Robinson); and the letter “P”. The $2 coin is also inscribed with a microscopic “P”.
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”, “AUSTRALIA”, the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year, 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 9999 Au” or “Xoz 9999 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). The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.
$1 2023 13.5g Base Metal Happy Birthday Coloured Coin
The design on the $1 2023 13.5g base metal Happy Birthday coloured coin consists of a representation of a three-tiered cake, with coloured ribbon and coloured icing on each tier and topped with a coloured lit candle, surrounded by a coloured representation of wrapped gifts and balloons. The design includes the following inscriptions: “Happy Birthday”; “SR” (being the initials of the designer Sean Rogers); and the letter “P”.
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”, “AUSTRALIA”, the inscription, in Arabic 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”.
$1 2023 1oz Silver Happy Birthday Coloured Coin
The design on the $1 2023 1oz silver Happy Birthday coloured coin consists of an aerial view of stylised coloured elements of a birthday party, that is partially obscured by the rim of the coin, including:
- a representation of an iced cake topped with candles, fruits and macarons sitting on a plate; and
- a representation of a slice of the iced cake on a plate; and
- a representation of stacked cups; and
- a representation of a jug filled with lemonade with lemon slices and a herb floating in the lemonade; and
- a representation of straws; and
- a representation of wrapped gifts; and
- a representation of balloons; and
- a representation of iced cupcakes; and
- a representation of a platter with fruits and sandwiches; and
- a representation of confetti; and
- a representation of streamers.
The design includes the following inscriptions: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “Xoz 9999 SILVER” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “IJ” (being the initials of the designer Ing Ing Jong); and the letter “P”.
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”, “AUSTRALIA” 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”.
$1 2022 1oz Silver Kookaburra with Platypus Privy Coloured Coin
The design on the $1 2022 1oz silver kookaburra with platypus privy coloured coin consist of a partial circle enclosing a representation of a kookaburra perched on the edge of a bird bath with foliage in the background. There is a coloured privy mark of a representation of a platypus enclosed in an oval. The design includes the following inscriptions: “KOOKABURRA”; “Xoz 9999 SILVER” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals); the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “NM” (being the initials of the designer Natasha Muhl); the letter “P”; and a microscopic “P”.
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”, “AUSTRALIA” 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”.
$100 2023 1oz Gold Mythical Creatures – Phoenix Coin
The design on the $100 2023 1oz gold mythical creatures – phoenix coin consists of, in the background, stylised clouds. Partially obscuring the clouds is a representation of a phoenix in flight, with a flower in its beak. The design includes the following inscriptions: “LB” (being the initials of the designer Lucas Bowers); the letter “P”; and a microscopic “P”.
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”, “AUSTRALIA”, the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year, 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 “Xoz 9999 Au” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals). The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.
50c 2023 1/2oz Silver Newborn Coloured Coin
The design on the 50c 2023 1/2oz silver newborn coloured coin consists of, in the foreground, a coloured stylised representation of a very young kookaburra, kangaroo and koala. In the background, a pattern comprised of stylised representations of acacia flowers and foliage. The design includes the following inscriptions: “CONGRATULATIONS!”; “NM” (being the initials of the designer Natasha Muhl); and the letter “P”
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”, “AUSTRALIA”, the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year, 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 “Xoz 9999 Ag” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals). The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.
$1 2022 1oz Silver Quokka Coin
The design on the $1 2022 1oz silver quokka coin consists of a stylised representation of two quokkas, one standing on its hindlegs on rocky ground behind a body of water and the other crouching down and looking down at its reflection in the water. There is a stylised representation of trachymene coerulea (also known as Rottnest Island daisies) and grass. The design includes the following inscriptions: “QUOKKA”; “SR” (being the initials of the designer Sean Rogers); the letter “P”; and a microscopic “P”.
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”, “AUSTRALIA”, the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year, 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 “Xoz 9999 Ag” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals). The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.
$15 2023 1/10oz Gold Rabbit Coloured Coin
$5 2023 1/20oz Gold Rabbit Coloured Coin
The design on the 2023 gold rabbit coloured coins consists of a coloured stylised representation of a bounding rabbit looking backwards. Below the rabbit is a representation of rocky ground and lagurus (as known as bunny-tail grass). The design includes the following inscriptions: the Chinese language character (兔) pronounced tù under the Pinyin system and meaning rabbit; “RABBIT”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “IJ” (being the initials of the designer Ing Ing Jong) and the letter “P”.
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”, “AUSTRALIA”, 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 “Xoz 9999 Au” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals). The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.
$2 2022 2oz Silver Snake Infinity Coloured Antiqued Coin
The design on the $2 2022 2oz silver snake infinity coloured antiqued coin consists of a coloured stylised representation of a snake in the shape of an infinity symbol, swallowing its tail. The design includes the following inscriptions: “MR” (being the initials of the designer Monique Reeves); and the letter “P”.
The obverse side of the coin bears an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the centre of the coin. There are stylised lines immediately within the rims which overlap in the centre of the coin, together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA”, the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year, 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 “Xoz 9999 Ag” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals). The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.
$500 2022 5oz Gold Super Pit Coin
The design on the $500 2022 5oz gold super pit coin consists of a circular border immediately inside the rim, partially obscured by a representation of the Super Pit open cut gold mine in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, and an excavator. The design includes the following inscriptions: “SUPER PIT AUSTRALIA”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “XOZ 9999 GOLD” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “SR” (being the initials of the designer Sean Rogers); the letter “P”; and a microscopic “P”.
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”, “AUSTRALIA” 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”.