EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by authority of the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury
Currency Act 1965
Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2022 Royal Australian Mint No. 4) 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 19 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 (2022 Royal Australian Mint No. 4) 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 19 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 (2022 Royal Australian Mint No. 4) Determination 2022
This Attachment sets out further details of the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2022 Royal Australian Mint No. 4) Determination 2022 (the Determination).
Section 1 – Name
This section provides that the name of the Determination is the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2022 Royal Australian Mint No. 4) 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 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 50¢ Uncirculated Coin – 75th Anniversary of the Australian Signals Directorate
The design on the 2022 50¢ uncirculated coin commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Australian Signals Directorate consists of a circular border immediately inside the rim within which there are three evenly divided sections. The design includes the following inscriptions: “75”; “1947 – 2022”; “AUSTRALIAN SIGNALS DIRECTORATE”; “REVEAL AND PROTECT”; “URMWXOZIRGBRM7DRWGSC5WVKGS”; “DVZIVZFWZXRLFHRMXLMXVKGZMWNVGRXFOLFHRMVCVXFGRLM”; “BGOAMVOEIATSIRLNGTTNEOGRERGXNTEAIFCECAIEOALEKFNR5LWEFCHDEEAEEE7NMDRXX5”; “E3B”; “8287D4”; “290F723381”; “4D7A47A291DC”; “0F71B2806D1A53B”; “311CC4B97A0E1CC2B9”; “3B31068593332F10C6A335”; “2F14D1B27A3514D6F7382F1A”; “D0B0322955D1B83D3801CDB2”; “287D05C0B82A311085A03329”; “1D85A3323855D6BC333119D”; “6FB7A3C11C4A72E3C17CCB”; “B33290C85B6343955CCBA3”; “B3A1CCBB62E341ACBF72”; “E3255CAA73F2F14D1B27A”; “341B85A3323855D6BB33”; “3055C4A53F3C55C7B22”; “E2A10C0B97A291DC0F”; “73E3413C3BE392819”; “D1F73B331185A33”; “23855CCBA2A3”; “206D6BE383”; and “1108B”.
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 a representation of each of the numbers 1 through 6 in braille.
2022 $1 Uncirculated Coin – 150th Anniversary of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line
2022 $1 ‘Envelope’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – 150th Anniversary of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line
The design on the 2022 $1 uncirculated coins commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line consists of a simplified map of Australia identifying the route of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line from Darwin to Port Augusta, and along the route the following cities and towns are identified and named: Darwin, Yam Creek, Katherine, Daly Waters, Powell Creek, Tennant Creek, Barrow Creek, Alice Springs, Charlotte Waters, The Peake, Strangways Springs, Beltana and Port Augusta. There is a stylised representation of telegraph poles and a telegraph line extending out from the route. On one of the telegraph poles, there is a stylised representation of a person connecting a line to a pole. There is a representation of “39,000 poles” and “2,839 kilometres” in Morse code text below the map. Surrounding the map and Morse coded text, there is a circular border containing a representation of the years 1872 and 2022 also in Morse code. On the ‘envelope’ privy mark coin is a privy mark with a stylised representation of an envelope. The design includes the following inscriptions: “150th Anniversary”; “The Overland Telegraph Line”; and “SMS” (being the initials of the designer Stevan Michael
Stojanovic).
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”, 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”.
2023 $1 1oz Silver Uncirculated Coin – AC/DC
The design on the 2023 $1 1oz silver uncirculated coin – AC/DC consists of a central circle which is partially obscured by various elements based on the cover art from the following albums by music rock band AC/DC:
- 1977 Australian release of Let There Be Rock; and
- 1978 Australian release of Powerage; and
- 1983 Australian release of Flick of the Switch; and
- 1988 Australian release of Blow Up Your Video; and
- 2008 Australian release of Black Ice.
The logo of AC/DC is superimposed over the elements and the central circle. In the background, there is a lattice pattern surrounding the central circle.
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”.
2022 $2 C Mintmark Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Remembrance Poppy
The design on the 2022 $2 C mintmark coloured uncirculated coin – Remembrance Poppy consists of a central circle containing the words “REMEMBRANCE DAY” repeated and presented in eleven rows and the words “LEST WE FORGET” in inverse order, repeated and presented in eleven rows. A design consisting of a coloured representation of a red poppy flower is superimposed on that text. There are two other uncoloured representations of a poppy flower with a “C” superimposed on one of the flowers. 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 “REMEMBRANCE”.
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 50¢ Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Christmas Beetle
2022 50¢ Coloured Silver Proof Coin – Christmas Beetle
The design on the 2022 50¢ coloured coins – Christmas beetle consists of, in the centre of the coins, a stylised and coloured representation of three Christmas beetles. Surrounding the beetles, there is a wreath of a New South Wales Christmas bush flowers and leaves and branches from a eucalyptus tree. A stylised and sculpted representation of three smaller Christmas beetles is superimposed on the wreath.
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”, 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”.
2022 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Australian Dinosaurs – Diamantinasaurus
2022 $1 ‘D’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Australian Dinosaurs –
Diamantinasaurus
2022 $1 Silver Proof Coin – Australian Dinosaurs – Diamantinasaurus
The design on the 2022 $1 coins – Australian Dinosaurs – Diamantinasaurus consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of a Diamantinasaurus dinosaur’s head and neck partially obscured by the rim of the coins. Below the Diamantinasaurus, there is a stylised representation of an Australovenator dinosaur’s back in the background. On the privy mark coin is the letter “D” privy mark enclosed in a square. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIAN DINOSAURS”; 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 “DIAMANTINASAURUS”.
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. The obverse design also includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.
2022 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Australian Dinosaurs – Australovenator
2022 $1 ‘I’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Australian Dinosaurs –
Australovenator
2022 $1 Silver Proof Coin – Australian Dinosaurs – Australovenator
The design on the 2022 $1 coins – Australian Dinosaurs – Australovenator consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of an Australovenator dinosaur partially obscured by the rim of the coin. Above the Australovenator, there is a stylised representation of a Diamantinasaurus dinosaur’s chin in the background. On the privy mark coin is the letter “I” privy mark enclosed in a square. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIAN DINOSAURS”; 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 “AUSTRALOVENATOR”.
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. The obverse design also includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.
2022 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Australian Dinosaurs – Kunbarrasaurus
2022 $1 ‘N’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Australian Dinosaurs –
Kunbarrasaurus
2022 $1 Silver Proof Coin – Australian Dinosaurs – Kunbarrasaurus
The design on the 2022 $1 coins – Australian Dinosaurs – Kunbarrasaurus consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of a Kunbarrasaurus dinosaur partially obscured by the rim of the coin. Above the Kunbarrasaurus, there is a stylised representation of a Diamantinasaurus dinosaur’s legs and Australovenator dinosaur’s tail in the background. On the privy mark coin is the letter “N” privy mark enclosed in a square. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIAN DINOSAURS”; 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 “KUNBARRASAURUS”.
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. The obverse design also includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.
2022 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Australian Dinosaurs – Elaphrosaurine
2022 $1 ‘O’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Australian Dinosaurs -
Elaphrosaurine
2022 $1 Silver Proof – Australian Dinosaurs – Elaphrosaurine
The design on the 2022 $1 coins – Australian Dinosaurs – Elaphrosaurine consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of an Elaphrosaurine dinosaur partially obscured by the rim of the coin. To the left of the Elaphrosaurine, there is a stylised representation of a Diamantinasaurus dinosaur’s leg and tail in the background. On the privy mark coin is the letter “O” privy mark enclosed in a square. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIAN DINOSAURS”; 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 “ELAPHROSAURINE”.
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. The obverse design also includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”.