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. 2) 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 1 new circulating and 17 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 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. 2) 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 1 new circulating and 17 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. 2) Determination 2024
This Attachment sets out further details of the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2024 Royal Australian Mint No. 2) 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. 2) 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 circulating coins
2024 Coloured Circulating Coin – War Animals – Remembrance
The design on the 2024 $2 coloured circulating coin – war animals – remembrance consists of, in the centre of the coin, a stylised purple poppy flower, superimposed over a stylised outline of a poppy flower. Around the poppy flower are stylised representations of the head of a dog, a cat and a horse; and two pigeons flying; and a wreath of poppy plants with flowers and buds. The design includes the following inscriptions: “WAR ANIMALS”; “REMEMBRANCE”; and “BS” (being the initials of the designer Bronwyn Scott).
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”.
New non-circulating coins
2024 $2 ‘C’ Mintmark Coloured Uncirculated Coin – War Animals – Remembrance
2024 $2 ‘C’ Mintmark Coloured Fine Silver Proof Coin – War Animals – Remembrance
The design on the 2024 $2 ‘C’ mintmark coloured coins – war animals – remembrance consists of, in the centre of the coin, a stylised purple poppy flower, superimposed over a stylised outline of a poppy flower. Around the poppy flower are stylised representations of the head of a dog, a cat and a horse; and two pigeons flying; and a wreath of poppy plants with flowers and buds. The design includes the following inscriptions: “WAR ANIMALS”; “REMEMBRANCE”; “BS” (being the initials of the designer Bronwyn Scott); and the letter “C” denoting Canberra.
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 $2 Uncirculated Coin – Tooth Fairy
The design on the 2024 $2 uncirculated coin – tooth fairy consists of a stylised representation of a fairy holding a flower and sitting on a mushroom. Below the fairy, there is a stylised representation of grass and a flower. 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 “AB” (being the initials of the designer Aaron Baggio).
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 Dan Thorne “DT”.
2024 $2 Uncirculated Coin – Indigenous Baby
The design on the 2024 $2 coin – Indigenous baby consists of a stylised representation of an Indigenous baby, sitting down and looking up, emulating the 1988 Indigenous tribal leader $2 coin design by Horst Hahne. Above the baby and the focus of the baby’s attention is a representation of a star mobile set in an asterism of the Southern Cross. The design is by Indigenous artist and illustrator David Hardy, a descendant of the Barkindji people of Brewarrina in north central New South Wales. The design includes the following inscription: “2 DOLLARS”.
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 Dan Thorne “DT”.
2024 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Toy Kangaroo
The design on the 2024 $1 coin – toy kangaroo consists of a representation of four plush toy kangaroos and the following inscription: “1 DOLLAR”.
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 Dan Thorne “DT”.
2024 50c Uncirculated Coin – Toy Coat of Arms
The design on the 2024 50c coin – toy coat of arms consists of a stylised representation of a plush toy kangaroo and plush toy emu facing each other, emulating the 1966 coat of arms design by Stuart Devlin. Between the plush toys there is a stylised representation of a present, wrapped in check pattern incorporating the symbols of the States and it is tied with a multi-looped bow. Emanating out of the representation of the wrapped present are ribbons streaming out in all directions, some partially obscured by the representation of the plush toys. The design also includes the following inscription: “50”.
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 Dan Thorne “DT”.
2024 20c Uncirculated Coin – Toy Platypus
The design on the 2024 20c coin – toy platypus consists of a representation of a plastic toy platypus swimming amongst bubbles and the following inscription: “20”.
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 Dan Thorne “DT”.
2024 10c Uncirculated Coin – Toy Lyrebird
The design on the 2024 10c coin – toy lyrebird consists of stylised representation of a marionette puppet lyrebird, emulating the 1966 lyrebird design by Stuart Devlin. The design includes the following inscription: “10”.
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 Dan Thorne “DT”.
2024 5c Uncirculated Coin – Toy Echidna
The design on the 2024 5c coin – toy echidna consists of a representation of a toy echidna made from wood, with the legs and spines made from rope, and the following inscription: “5”.
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 Dan Thorne “DT”.
2024 $1 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – 2024 Australian Olympic Team
The design on the 2024 $1 coloured uncirculated coin – 2024 Australian Olympic team consists of a representation of a female swimmer wearing goggles and a cap, and swimming the freestyle stroke (also known as the front crawl), with water churning around her. There are three repeating patterns of yellow, bright blue, dusty blue and navy blue spheres representing pool lane dividers. There is a representation of the Australian Olympic logo. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM”; “PARIS 2024”; and “AB” (being the initials of the designer Aaron Baggio).
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”.
2024 $5 Fine Silver Proof Domed Coin – 2024 Australian Olympic Team
The design on the 2024 $5 fine silver proof domed coin – 2024 Australian Olympic team consists of a representation of three male athletes, with each athlete performing a movement associated with an athletic track and field event. Partially obscured by the athletes is a stylised representation of the word “PARIS” with parallel curved lines extending from the bottom of each letter of the word, as well as diagonal dotted lines that extend from those curved lines representing a running track. There is a representation of the Australian Olympic logo. The design includes the following inscriptions: “2024 AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM”; and “AS” (being the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic).
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”.
2024 $1 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – 2024 Australian Paralympic Team
The design on the 2024 $1 coloured uncirculated coin – 2024 Australian Paralympic team consists of in the foreground, a stylised representation of a Paralympic tennis player swinging a paddle. Extending out from the paddle, a stylised representation of the trajectory of a ping pong ball. Part of the representation of the trajectory incorporates a green and yellow pattern inspired by the official branding of Paralympics Australia. In the background and partially obscured by the table tennis player, is a partial silhouette of the Eiffel Tower. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIAN PARALYMPIC TEAM”; and “PARIS 2024”.
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”.
2024 $5 Selectively Gold-Plated Fine Silver Proof Coin – 2024 Australian Paralympic Team
The design on the 2024 $5 selectively gold-plated fine silver proof coin – 2024 Australian Paralympic team consists of in the foreground, a stylised representation of two Paralympic athletes competing in events, in gold plating. Partially obscured by the athletes is a stylised representation of a running track. Behind and partially obscuring the running track is a stylised representation of the Paris, France skyline including a representation of the Eiffel Tower. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIAN PARALYMPIC TEAM”; “PARIS 2024”; and “AWB” (being the initials of the designer Adam William Ball).
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”.
2024 $2 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Olympic Team – Community
The design on the 2024 $2 coloured uncirculated coin – Australian Olympic team – community consists of a central circle enclosing a representation of the official logo of the Australian Olympic Committee. Surrounding the central circle, a round border consisting of concentric blue circles overlaid by the pattern of yellow and lime green shapes representing wattle sprigs over a field of dark green. The design includes the following inscriptions: “2024 AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM”; and “COMMUNITY”.
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”.
2024 $2 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Olympic Team – AllezAus
The design on the 2024 $2 coloured uncirculated coin – Australian Olympic team – allezaus consists of a central circle enclosing a stylised representation of the official mascot of the Australian Olympic team, the Boxing Kangaroo™, breakdancing (also known as breaking) in front of a representation of Paris, France. Surrounding the central circle is a round border consisting of one blue and one yellow circle, overlaid by a pattern of yellow and lime green shapes representing wattle sprigs over a field of dark green. The design includes the following inscriptions: “2024 AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM”; “ALLEZAUS”; and “PARIS”.
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”.
2024 $2 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Olympic Team – Olympism
The design on the 2024 $2 coloured uncirculated coin – Australian Olympic team – olympism consists of a central circle enclosing a stylised representation the official mascot of the Australian Olympic team, the Boxing Kangaroo™, wearing a beret in front of a representation of Paris, France. Surrounding the central circle, is a round border consisting of one blue and one yellow circle, overlaid by a pattern of yellow and lime green shapes representing wattle sprigs over a field of dark green. The design includes the following inscriptions: “2024 AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM”; “OLYMPISM”; and “PARIS”.
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”.
2024 $2 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Australian Paralympic Team
The design on the 2024 $2 coloured uncirculated coin – Australian Paralympic team consists of a stylised representation of the Australian Paralympic mascot from the 2000 Summer Paralympics, Lizzie the frilled-necked lizard, playing goalball. Partially obscuring the mascot is a central centre of concentric circles. Superimposed over the circles is a green- and yellow- pattern inspired by the official branding of Paralympics Australia. The design includes the following inscriptions: “2024”; and “AUSTRALIAN PARALYMPIC TEAM”.
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”.