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. 6) 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 29 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. 6) 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 29 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. 6) 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. 6) 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.
$1 2025 1oz Silver 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII Coin
$1 2025 13.5g Base Metal 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII Coin
$100 2025 1oz Gold 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII Coin
$25 2025 1/4oz Gold 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII Coin
The design on the 2025 80th anniversary of the end of WWII coins consists of a stylised representation of a goddess “Nike” (from ancient Greek mythology) with wings, and holding a sword in one hand and a laurel wreath in the other hand. Partially obscuring the goddess’ legs and the sword is a stylised representation of a banner bearing the following inscriptions: “80 YEARS”; “END OF WWII”; and “2025”. The design also 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 coins 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 design on the silver and gold coins includes the inscription “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 13.5g Base Metal ANZAC Coin
The design on the 2025 base metal ANZAC coin consists of a central circle partially obscured by a representation of a rosemary wreath. In the foreground, and partially obscuring the central circle and the rosemary wreath, there is a representation of a soldier, in uniform, standing with a slightly bowed head with their eyes closed, their hands overlapping at their waist, and a rifle slung over their shoulder. Within the central circle, and next to the soldier, there is a stylised representation of a flaming torch, representing an eternal flame. The design includes the following inscriptions: “25 APRIL”; “LEST WE FORGET”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “WR” (being the initials of the designer Wade Robinson); 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”.
$10 2025 10oz Dragon Coin
The design on the 2025 dragon coin consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of a Chinese dragon holding a pearl, and in the background and partially obscured by the dragon, a stylised representation of clouds. The design includes the following inscriptions: the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “NM” (being the initials of the designer Natasha Muhl); “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”, 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 1oz Emu Coloured Coin
The design on the 2025 emu coloured coin consists of, immediately inside the rim of the coin, a partial circular border. In the foreground, there is a representation of an emu and, in the background, a representation of waves crashing on a beach, emu footprints in the sand, and reeds. The representation of the emu, emu footprints in the sand, and reeds, are coloured. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIAN EMU”; 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); “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”.
$1 2026 1oz Silver Horse Coin
The design on the 2026 silver horse coin consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of two horses galloping on a grassy plain and, in the background and partially obscured by the horses, a stylised representation of mountains, shrubs and a stream. The design includes the following inscriptions: the Chinese character (馬), pronounced mǎ under the Pinyin system and meaning horse; “HORSE”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “IJ” (being the initials of the designer Ing Ing Jong); “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”, 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 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”.
$100 2026 1oz Gold Horse Coin
$15 2026 1/10oz Gold Horse Coin
The design of the 2026 gold horse coins consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of a horse rearing on a grassy plain and, in the background and partially obscured by the horse, a representation of rocky mountains. The design includes the following inscriptions: the Chinese character (馬), pronounced mǎ under the Pinyin system, and meaning horse; “HORSE”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “IJ” (being the initials of the designer Ing Ing Jong); and “P”. The $100 coin includes 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”, 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”.
$2 2025 2oz Silver Kangaroo Reverse Gold-Plated Coin
$1 2025 1oz Silver Kangaroo High Relief Coloured Coin
$100 2025 1oz Gold Kangaroo High Relief Coin
$200 2025 2oz Gold Kangaroo High Relief Coin
$500 2025 5oz Gold Kangaroo Coin
The design of the 2025 kangaroo coins consists of, in the foreground, a partial circle enclosing a representation of a kangaroo lying on its side on a hill near rocks and, in the background, a representation of a bounding kangaroo and a grass tree (xanthorrhoea). The design includes the following inscriptions: “KANGAROO”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “Xoz 9999 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 of a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “NH” (being the initials of the designer Neil Hollis); and “P”. On the gold-plated coin, the design, except for the kangaroos, is gold-plated. On the coloured coin, the kangaroos, hill, rocks and grass tree are coloured.
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”. On the gold-plated coin, the obverse is gold-plated apart from the effigy of King Charles III.
$15 2025 1/10oz Gold Kookaburra Coin
$15 2025 1/10oz Platinum Kookaburra Coin
The design of the 2025 kookaburra coins is superimposed over a stylised representation of sun rays and consists of, in the foreground, two partial circles enclosing a representation of a kookaburra perched on a branch and, in the background, a stylised representation of the sun. The design includes the following inscriptions: “KOOKABURRA”; “35TH ANNIVERSARY”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “Xoz 9999 GOLD” or “Xoz 9995 Pt” 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); “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 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”.
$2 2025 0.5g Gold Mini Roo Coin
The design of the 2025 gold mini roo coin consists of, in the foreground, a partial circle enclosing a representation of a kangaroo lying on its side on a hill near rocks. The design includes the following inscriptions: “KANGAROO”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “Xg 9999 GOLD” (where “X” is the nominal weight in grams of the coin, expressed as a whole number of a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “NH” (being the initials of the designer Neil Hollis); 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”.
$100 2025 1oz Gold Mythical Creatures – Chimera Coin
The design of the 2025 gold mythical creatures chimera coin consists of a representation of a mythical creature with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a snake (known as the Chimera) standing on rocky terrain. The design includes the following inscriptions: the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “MYTHICAL CREATURES CHIMERA”; “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 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 2025 1oz Gold Mythical Four Guardians Coin
$100 2025 1oz Platinum Mythical Four Guardians Reverse Proof Coin
The design of the 2025 mythical four guardians coins 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 “P”. The gold coin includes 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”, 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” or “Xoz 9995 Pt” 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”.
$15 2025 1/10oz Gold Snake Coloured Coin
The design of the 2025 gold snake coloured coin consists of a stylised representation of a coloured snake coiled around a bamboo plant. The design includes the following inscriptions: the Chinese language character (蛇), pronounced shé under the Pinyin system, and meaning snake; “SNAKE”; “2025”; “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 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 Swan Coin
$1 2025 1oz Silver Swan Coloured Coin
$100 2025 1oz Gold Swan Coin
The design of the 2025 swan coins consists of a circular border in the foreground enclosing a representation of a swan flapping its wings, standing in a shallow body of stylised rippling water with flowers and foliage. In the background and enclosed by the circular border, there is a stylised representation of mountains, the rising sun and the sky. The design includes the following inscriptions: “SILVER SWAN” or “GOLD SWAN” as the case requires; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “XOZ 9999” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “AUSTRALIAN”; “AH” (being the initials of the designer Aleysha Howarth); “P”; and a microscopic “P”. On the coloured coin, the design, apart from the circular border, is coloured.
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”.
$1 2025 1oz Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle Coin
$1 2025 1oz Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle Coloured Coin
$100 2025 1oz Gold Wedge-Tailed Eagle Ultra-High Relief Enhanced Reverse Proof Coin
$1 2025 1oz Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle Ultra-High Relief Enhanced Reverse Proof Coin
The design of the 2025 wedge-tailed eagle coins consists of a circular border immediately inside the rim that is partially obscuring a stylised representation of an eagle standing on the ground with its wings outstretched. On the coloured coin, the stylised representation of the eagle is coloured. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIAN WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “Xoz 9999 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 a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “JM” (being the initials of the designer John Mercanti); and “P”. The silver coin and silver coloured coin include 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”.