EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by authority of the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury
Currency Act 1965
Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2024 Royal Australian Mint No. 13) 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 16 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 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
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 policies. 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 (2024 Royal Australian Mint No. 13) 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 16 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 (2024 Royal Australian Mint No. 13) Determination 2024
This Attachment sets out further details of the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2024 Royal Australian Mint No. 13) Determination 2024 (the Determination).
Section 1 – Name
This section provides that the name of the Determination is the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2024 Royal Australian Mint No. 13) 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.
New non-circulating coins
2025 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Centenary of Royal Australian Corps of Signals
The design on the 2025 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Centenary of Royal Australian Corps of Signals, inspired by the badge of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, consists of:
- a representation of the ancient Roman god, Mercury, holding a lightning bolt and the mythical Caduceus; and
- at the bottom of the coin, a representation of a world globe featuring Australia; and
- a stylised representation of a lightning bolt; and
- a representation of laurel leaves; and
- behind and partially obscured by Mercury, a stylised representation of a scroll; and
- on the scroll, the following inscriptions: “CERTA CITO”; “1925”; and “2025”; and
- below the scroll, in the background, a pattern of the words “certa cito” repeated in Morse code and binary code.
The design includes the following inscriptions: “ROYAL AUSTRALIAN CORPS OF SIGNALS”; and “AWB” (being the initials of the designer Adam William Ball).
Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning monarch 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 inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2025 50c Uncirculated Coin – Dorothea Mackellar – My Country
The design on the 2025 50c Uncirculated Coin – Dorothea Mackellar – My Country consists of an aerial view of a landscape with stylised representations of:
- the sun, clouds, lightning, and rain; and
- open fields and farmland; and
- mountains and hills; and
- rivers, lakes, and forests; and
- the ocean.
The design includes the following inscriptions: “My Country”; “50”; and “AWB” (being the initials of the designer Adam William Ball).
Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning monarch 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 inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “AUSTRALIA”, and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Daniel Thorne “DT”.
2025 50c Uncirculated Coin – Dorothea Mackellar – The Colours of Light
The design on the 2025 50c Uncirculated Coin – Dorothea Mackellar – The Colours of Light consists of, in the background, stylised rays of light emanating from the sun. Superimposed over the sun rays are stylised representations of:
- a dove; and
- a lyrebird; and
- a wattle branch; and
- a rosewood branch; and
- gum nuts and leaves; and
- ears of wheat; and
- flowing water and rocks; and
- bubbles.
The design includes the following inscriptions: “The Colours of Light”; “50”; “AWB” (being the initials of the designer Adam William Ball).
Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning monarch 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 inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “AUSTRALIA”, and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Daniel Thorne “DT”.
2025 50c Uncirculated Coin – Dorothea Mackellar – Dawn
The design on the 2025 50c Uncirculated Coin – Dorothea Mackellar – Dawn consists of a view of a landscape with stylised representations of:
- in the background, the sun, and clouds; and
- hills, grass, and trees; and
- a road; and
- a silhouette of a house; and
- a spider’s web.
The design includes the following inscriptions: “Dawn”; “50”; and “AWB” (being the initials of the designer Adam William Ball).
Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning monarch 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 inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “AUSTRALIA”, and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Daniel Thorne “DT”.
2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – QLD Railways No. 1009
The design on the 2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – QLD Railways No. 1009 consists of a representation of the Queensland Railways Beyer-Garratt No. 1009 locomotive with a carriage. There is a representation of clouds of steam billowing around the locomotive. At the bottom of the coin, and partially obscured by clouds of steam, is a coloured panel comprising red, yellow and black panels, based on the livery of the locomotive, incorporating the inscription “QLD BG No. 1009”.
Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning monarch 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 inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – NSW Government Railways AD60 Class 6029
The design on the 2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – NSW Government Railways AD60 Class 6029 consists of a representation of the New South Wales Government Railways AD60 Class 6029 locomotive with a carriage. There is a representation of clouds of steam billowing around the locomotive. At the bottom of the coin, and partially obscured by clouds of steam, is a coloured panel comprising red, yellow and black panels, based on the livery of the locomotive, incorporating the inscription “NSW AD60”.
Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning monarch 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 inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – VIC Railways H220 ‘Heavy Harry’
The design on the 2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – VIC Railways H220 ‘Heavy Harry’ consists of a representation of the Victorian Railways H Class H220 ‘Heavy Harry’ locomotive with a carriage. There is a representation of clouds of steam billowing around the locomotive. At the bottom of the coin, and partially obscured by clouds of steam, is a black and white panel, based on the livery of the locomotive, incorporating the inscription “VIC H220” enclosed by a rectangular border.
Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning monarch 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 inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – SA Railways No. 520 ‘Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey’
The design on the 2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – SA Railways No. 520 ‘Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey’ consists of a representation of the South Australian Railways No. 520 ‘Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey’ locomotive with a carriage. There is a representation of clouds of steam billowing around the locomotive. At the bottom of the coin, and partially obscured by clouds of steam, is a green and yellow panel, based on the livery of the locomotive, incorporating the inscription “SA No 520”.
Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning monarch 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 inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – Commonwealth Railways G Class G1
The design on the 2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – Commonwealth Railways G Class G1 consists of a representation of the Commonwealth Railways G Class G1 with a carriage. There is a representation of clouds of steam billowing around the locomotive. At the bottom of the coin, and partially obscured by clouds of steam, is a coloured panel comprising red, yellow, and black panels, based on the livery of the locomotive, incorporating the inscription “CR G1”.
Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning monarch 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 inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – TAS Railways Q Class Q5
The design on the 2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – TAS Railways Q Class Q5 consists of a representation of the Tasmanian Government Railways Q Class Q5 locomotive with a carriage. There is a representation of clouds of steam billowing around the locomotive. Beneath the locomotive, and partially obscured by clouds of steam, is a red, gold and black panel, based on the livery of the locomotive, incorporating the inscription “TAS Q5”.
Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning monarch 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 inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – WA Railways V Class V1220
The design on the 2025 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Steam Giants – WA Railways V Class V1120 consists of a representation of the Western Australian Government Railways V Class V1120 locomotive with a carriage. There is a representation of clouds of steam billowing around the locomotive. Beneath the locomotive, and partially obscured by clouds of steam, is a coloured panel comprising green, red, yellow and black panels, based on the livery of the locomotive, incorporating the inscription “WA V1220”.
Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning monarch 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 inscriptions “CHARLES III”, “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 includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2025 50c Uncirculated Coin – Koala Series
2025 $5 1oz Silver High Relief Proof Coin – Koala Series
2025 $100 1oz Gold Investment Coin – Koala Series
2025 $1 1oz Silver Investment Coin – Koala Series
The design on the 2025 Koala Series coins consists of a representation of a koala and a koala joey on two eucalyptus branches. In the background, is a pattern of eucalyptus leaves and gumnuts. The design includes the following inscriptions: “KOALA”; and “AWB” (being the initials of the designer Adam William Ball). The silver high relief proof coin, gold investment coin and silver investment coin also include the following inscription: 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 a common fraction in Arabic numerals).
Consistent with the tradition of an effigy of the reigning monarch 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”, 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 Dan Thorne “DT”.
2024 $100 1oz Gold Investment Coin – Year of the Dragon
The design on the 2024 $100 1oz Gold Investment Coin – Year of the Dragon consists of a crescent shape partially obscured on the convex side by a stylised representation of a Chinese dragon. In the background, there is a stylised representation of clouds. Within the crescent shape is the Chinese language character (龍), pronounced lóng under the Pinyin system and meaning dragon. The design includes the following inscriptions “YEAR OF THE DRAGON”; “BS” (being the initials of the designer Bronwyn Scott); 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).
An effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA”, “2024”, 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 “1952-2022” (being the dates of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s reign). The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark “JC”. The effigy is enclosed by a central circle. Surrounding the central circle, is an ornamental border comprising stylised representations of splashing water. Immediately inside the rim of the coin there is a stylised representation of following:
- a rat; and
- a pig; and
- a dog; and
- a rooster; and
- a monkey; and
- a goat; and
- a horse; and
- a snake; and
- a dragon; and
- a rabbit; and
- a tiger; and
- an ox.
The animal above that relates to the relevant zodiac year appears at the top of the coin.