EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by authority of the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury

Currency Act 1965

Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2024 Perth Mint No. 5) Determination 2024

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 27 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 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 item 20 of the table in section 12 of the 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 (2024 Perth Mint No. 5) Determination 2024

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 27 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 (2024 Perth Mint No. 5) Determination 2024

Section 1 – Name of the Determination

This section provides that the name of the Determination is the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2024 Perth Mint No. 5) Determination 2024.

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. The newly determined coin characteristics are set out below.

 

$25 2025 5oz Silver Extragalactic High Relief Coloured Patina Diamond Inset Coin

The design on the 2025 extragalactic coin has a patina finish and consists of a coloured representation of the Whirlpool Galaxy (also known as Messier 51a) with inset diamonds. The design includes the following inscriptions: “EXTRAGALACTIC”; “23.58 KPC | 31MLY”; “WHIRLPOOL GALAXY 2025”; “RA 13H 29M 53S | DEC +47º 11’ 43''”; “NM” (being the initials of the designer Natasha Muhl); and “P”.

Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning sovereign appearing on the obverse side of all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the following inscriptions: “CHARLES III”; “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 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 Dan Thorne “DT”.

$1 2025 13.5g Base Metal Happy Birthday Coloured Coin

The design on the 2025 base metal happy birthday coin consists of converging lines dividing the coin into eight evenly divided sections representing a birthday cake, partially obscured by a central circle, and a coloured stylised representation of confetti and streamers. Within the central circle are the following: “Happy Birthday”; and the inscriptions, in Arabic numerals, of a year. The design includes the following inscriptions: “SR” (being the initials of the designer Sean Rogers); and “P”.

Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning sovereign appearing on the obverse side of all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the following inscriptions: “CHARLES III”; “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 Dan Thorne “DT”.

50c 2025 1/2oz Silver Happy Birthday Coloured Coin

The design on the 2025 silver happy birthday coin consists of a coloured stylised representation of an emu, a koala and a kangaroo wearing party hats, surrounded by confetti. Partially obscuring the koala is a coloured representation of a decorated birthday cake with lit candles; and partially obscuring the cake, and forming a partial border, is a stylised representation of a banner bearing the inscription “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”. The design includes the following inscriptions: 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 common fraction in Arabic numerals); “IJ” (being the initials of designer Ing Ing Jong); and “P”.

Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning sovereign appearing on the obverse side of all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the following inscriptions: “CHARLES III”; “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 Dan Thorne “DT”.

$1 2025 1oz Silver Kookaburra Coloured Ampelmann Privy Coin

The design on the 2025 silver kookaburra Ampelmann coin is superimposed over stylised representations of sunrays and consists of, in the foreground, two partial circles enclosing a coloured representation of a kookaburra perched on a branch, and a representation of Stuart Devlin’s depiction of a kookaburra perched on a stump, surrounded by leaves, as it appeared in The Perth Mint 1990 Australian Kookaburra silver bullion coin, enclosed in a circle. Partially obscuring the depiction of a kookaburra perched on a stump is also a coloured representation of an Ampelmännchen (Berlin’s ‘traffic light man’) enclosed in an oval. The design includes the following inscriptions: “KOOKABURRA”; “35TH ANNIVERSARY”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “Xoz 9999 SILVER” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “SR” (being the initials of the designer Sean Rogers); “P”; and a microscopic “P”.

Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning sovereign appearing on the obverse side of all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 Dan Thorne “DT”.

$100 2024 1oz Gold Mythical Creatures – Dragon & Koi Coloured Coin

$100 2024 1oz Gold Mythical Creatures – Dragon & Koi Coloured Coin

The design on the 2024 gold mythical creatures – dragon & koi coloured coins consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of a coloured Chinese dragon with red and orange scales or teal scales (as the case requires) and a yellow or burnt red koi fish (as the case requires) encircling a coloured flaming pearl. In the background, there is a stylised representation of a bridge over a river, a grassy riverbank, and rocks. The design includes the following inscriptions: “WR” (being the initials of the designer Wade Robinson); “P125”; a microscopic “P”; and the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year.

Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning sovereign appearing on the obverse side of all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 Dan Thorne “DT”.

$100 2024 1oz Gold Mythical Four Guardians Coin

The design on the 2024 gold mythical four guardians coin consists of, in the foreground, stylised representations of a phoenix, a tiger, a dragon, a tortoise, and a snake, and in the background, and partially obscured by the phoenix, tiger, dragon, tortoise, and snake, are stylised representations of clouds, rocks, and mountains. The design includes the following inscriptions: the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “WR” (being the initials of the designer Wade Robinson); and “P125”.

Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning sovereign appearing on the obverse side of all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 Dan Thorne “DT”.

$1 2025 1oz Silver Snake Opal Insert Coin

The design on the 2025 silver snake opal insert coin consists of, in the centre of the coin, a circular inset opal incorporating a stylised representation of a snake, and surrounding the inset opal, a plain border. Surrounding the plain border is a representation of jasmine flowers and leaves on a vine; and immediately inside the rim is a stylised Chinese themed border. The design includes the following inscriptions: “YEAR OF THE SNAKE”; the Chinese language character (蛇), pronounced shé under the Pinyin system, and meaning snake; 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); “AH” (being the initials of the designer Aleysha Howarth); and “P”.

Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning sovereign appearing on the obverse side of all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 Dan Thorne “DT”. The effigy is superimposed over a pattern of converging lines.

$30 2025 1kg Silver Snake – Fu Coloured Coin

$1 2025 1oz Silver Snake – Fu Coloured Coin

50c 2025 1/2oz Silver Snake – Fu Coloured Coin

$3,000 2025 1kg Gold Snake – Fu Coloured Coin

$1,000 2025 10oz Gold Snake – Fu Coloured Coin

$100 2025 1oz Gold Snake – Fu Coloured Coin

$50 2025 1/2oz Gold Snake – Fu Coloured Coin

The design on the 2025 snake – fu coloured coins consists of, in the centre of the coins, a coloured stylised representation of the Chinese language character (福), pronounced fú under the Pinyin system, and meaning good luck, decorated with a traditional Chinese floral pattern and stylised to represent a snake. Forming a partial border are two stylised patterns representing Chinese bats and fillagree. The design includes the following inscriptions: the Chinese language characters (乙巳年), pronounced yǐ sì nián under the Pinyin system, and meaning 2025 in the Chinese sexagenary cycle; “YEAR OF THE SNAKE”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; and “P”.

Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning sovereign appearing on the obverse side of all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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, “Xoz” or “XKILO” as the case requires (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces or kilograms of the coin respectively, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals), and “9999 Ag” or “9999 Au” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.

$1 2025 1oz Silver Snake – Lu Coloured Coin

50c 2025 1/2oz Silver Snake – Lu Coloured Coin

$50 2025 1/2oz Gold Snake – Lu Coloured Coin

The design on the 2025 snake – lu coloured coins consists of, in the centre of the coins, a coloured stylised representation of the Chinese language character (禄), pronounced lù under the Pinyin system, and meaning success, decorated with a traditional Chinese floral pattern and stylised to represent a snake. Forming a partial border are two stylised patterns representing Chinese gourd and fillagree. The design includes the following inscriptions: the Chinese language characters (乙巳年), pronounced yǐ sì nián under the Pinyin system, and meaning 2025 in the Chinese sexagenary cycle; “YEAR OF THE SNAKE”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; and “P”.

Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning sovereign appearing on the obverse side of all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 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 a common fraction in Arabic numerals). The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.

$1 2025 1oz Silver Snake – Shou Coloured Coin

50c 2025 1/2oz Silver Snake – Shou Coloured Coin

$50 2025 1/2oz Gold Snake – Shou Coloured Coin

The design on the 2025 snake – shou coloured coins consists of, in the centre of the coins, a coloured stylised representation of the Chinese language character (寿), pronounced shòu under the Pinyin system, and meaning longevity, decorated with a traditional Chinese floral pattern and stylised to represent a snake. Forming a partial border are two stylised patterns representing Chinese peaches, foliage and fillagree. The design includes the following inscriptions: the Chinese language characters (乙巳年), pronounced yǐ sì nián under the Pinyin system, and meaning 2025 in the Chinese sexagenary cycle; “YEAR OF THE SNAKE”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; and “P”.

Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning sovereign appearing on the obverse side of all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 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 a common fraction in Arabic numerals). The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.

$1 2025 1oz Silver Snake – Xi Coloured Coin

50c 2025 1/2oz Silver Snake – Xi Coloured Coin

$50 2025 1/2oz Gold Snake – Xi Coloured Coin

The design on the 2025 snake – xi coloured coins consists of, in the centre of the coins, a coloured stylised representation of the Chinese language character (囍), pronounced xǐ under the Pinyin system, and meaning double happiness, decorated with a traditional Chinese floral pattern and stylised to represent two snakes. Forming a partial border are two stylised patterns representing Chinese magpies, branches and flowering plum blossoms. The design includes the following inscriptions: the Chinese language characters (乙巳年), pronounced yǐ sì nián under the Pinyin system, and meaning 2025 in the Chinese sexagenary cycle; “YEAR OF THE SNAKE”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; and “P”.

Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning sovereign appearing on the obverse side of all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 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 a common fraction in Arabic numerals). The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.

$1 2025 1oz Silver Snake – Cai Coloured Coin

50c 2025 1/2oz Silver Snake – Cai Coloured Coin

$50 2025 1/2oz Gold Snake – Cai Coloured Coin

The design on the 2025 snake – cai coloured coins consists of, in the centre of the coins, a coloured stylised representation of the Chinese language character (财), pronounced cái under the Pinyin system, and meaning fiscal, decorated with a traditional Chinese floral pattern and stylised to represent a snake. Forming a partial border are two stylised patterns representing Chinese gold nuggets known as Yuánbǎo and fillagree. The design includes the following inscriptions: the Chinese language characters (乙巳年), pronounced yǐ sì nián under the Pinyin system, and meaning 2025 in the Chinese sexagenary cycle; “YEAR OF THE SNAKE”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; and “P”.

Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning sovereign appearing on the obverse side of all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III will appear on the obverse side of the coins together with the inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 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 a common fraction in Arabic numerals). The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.