Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2025 Perth Mint No. 1) Determination 2025

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

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

Currency Act 1965

Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2025 Perth Mint No. 1) Determination 2025

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 25 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 (2025 Perth Mint No. 1) Determination 2025

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 25 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 (2025 Perth Mint No. 1) Determination 2025

Section 1 – Name

This section provides that the name of the Determination is the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2025 Perth Mint No. 1) Determination 2025.

Section 2 – Commencement

This section prescribes that the Determination commences on the day after the Determination is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.

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 Christmas 13.5g Base Metal Coloured Coin

The design on the $1 2025 Christmas 13.5g base metal coloured coin consists of a  coloured representation of a teacup, sitting in a saucer, with a snowflake adorning the side of the tea cup. Inside the teacup is a coloured stylised representation of:

1.               hot chocolate;
2.               a gingerbread man;
3.               a candy cane;
4.               foliage;
5.               berries; and
6.               a marshmallow.

Surrounding the teacup are coloured spots. The design includes the following inscriptions: “MERRY CHRISTMAS”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “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 coin 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 Double Phoenix Coin
$1 2025 1oz Silver Double Phoenix Coloured Coin (Blue)
$1 2025 1oz Silver Double Phoenix Coloured Coin (Orange)
$100 2025 1oz Gold Double Phoenix Coin

The design on the 2025 1oz double phoenix coins consists of in the centre of the coin, in a circular shape, a stylised representation of the Chinese language character (囍), pronounced xǐ under the Pinyin system, and meaning double happiness. In the foreground, surrounding the Chinese language character, a stylised representation of two phoenixes in flight. In the background, partially obscured by the phoenixes, there is a stylised representation of clouds. The design includes the following inscriptions: an inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “LB” (being the initials of designer Lucas Bowers); and “P”.

On the coloured coin (blue), the two phoenixes are multicoloured. On the coloured coin (orange), the two phoenixes are coloured in shades of orange and yellow colour. The silver coins 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”, 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 Emu Coin
$100 2025 1oz Gold Emu Coin

The design on the 2025 1oz emu coins consists of a partial circular border enclosing a representation of an emu and five emu chicks walking. In the background, partially obscured by the emus, there is a circle representing the sun, and a landscape featuring rocky ground. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIAN EMU”; 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); “NH” (being the initials of the designer Neil Hollis); “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 2025 1oz Silver Great Barrier Reef – Stingray Coin
$25 2025 1/4oz Gold Great Barrier Reef – Stingray Coin

The design on the 2025 Great Barrier Reef – stingray coins consists of a stylised representation of a stingray in the foreground, surrounded by a stylised representation of a coral reef. In the background, there is a stylised representation of fish swimming. The design includes the following inscriptions: “GREAT BARRIER REEF”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “SR” (being the initials of the designer Sean Rogers); and “P”. The silver 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 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”.

$200 2025 2oz Gold Great Southern Land – Air with Lepidolite Insert Coin
$1 2025 1oz Silver Great Southern Land – Desert with Snakeskin Jasper Insert Coin

The design on the 2025 great southern land coins consists of, in the centre of the coin, a circular Australian gem inset representing a map of Australia. Surrounding that gem inset is a plain border.

On the gold coin, surrounding that plain border is a representation of a landscape of hills, flowers, tree branches and the sun, and representations of the following Australian animals:

1.             an eagle;
2.               a kookaburra;
3.               a wren;
4.               a bee;
5.               a butterfly;
6.               a sugar glider;
7.               a cockatoo; and
8.               a willy wag tail.

On the silver coin, surrounding that plain border is a representation of a desert landscape of sand, rocks and a cloudy sky, and representations of the following Australian animals:

1.             a cockatoo;
2.             a dingo;
3.             a snake;
4.             a thorny devil;
5.             an ant;
6.             a scorpion;
7.             a bilby;
8.             a bearded dragon; and
9.             a rock wallaby.

The design includes the following inscriptions: 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); “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.

$2 2025 2oz Silver Honey Bee Antiqued Coloured Coin

The design on the $2 2025 2oz silver honey bee antiqued coloured coin consists of a coloured stylised representation of three honey bees and a stylised representation of rhodanthe chlorocephala (also known as everlasting flowers), one of which is coloured. In the background, partially obscured by the bees and flowers, is a representation of a honeycomb with bees. There is a stylised ribbon banner with the inscription “HONEY BEE”. 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 a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “JM” (being the initials of the designer Jennifer McKenna); 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 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 with Opal Insert Coin

The design on the $1 2026 1oz silver horse with opal insert coin consists of, in the centre of the coin, a circular inset opal incorporating a stylised representation of a horse. Surrounding the inset opal is a plain border. Surrounding the plain border is a representation of tagetes (also known as marigold flowers) with foliage. Immediately inside the rim, there is a stylised Chinese themed border. The design includes the following inscriptions: “YEAR OF THE HORSE”; the Chinese language character (馬), pronounced mǎ under the Pinyin system, and meaning horse; 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 coin 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.

$2 2025 2oz Silver Indigenous Emu “Utingat” Antiqued Coloured Coin

The design on the $2 2025 2oz silver Indigenous emu “Utingat” antiqued coloured coin consists of stylised representations of a feather, three coloured emu chicks, and a coloured emu, in Australian Indigenous dot painting style by Indigenous artist Chern’ee Sutton. Surrounding the emus is a pattern of dots, lines and circles (some of which are coloured) representing the water, land and sky. The design includes the following inscriptions: the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “CS” (being the initials of the designer Chern’ee Sutton); 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 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 Silver Quokka Coloured Coin

The design on the $1 2025 1oz silver quokka coloured coin consists of, in the foreground, a coloured stylised representation of three quokkas on uneven ground, one standing on its hind legs and the other two crouching down. Surrounding the quokkas is a coloured stylised representation of the plant trachymene coerulea (also known as Rottnest Island daisies) and the plant carpobrotus glaucescens (also known as pig face). In the background, and partially obscured by the quokkas, there is a stylised representation of a cloudy sky, a coloured coastline featuring the ocean, and a coloured lighthouse on a rocky headland. The design includes the following inscriptions: “QUOKKA”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “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 coin 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”.

$100 2025 Gold St George & The Dragon Coin
$25 2025 Gold St George & The Dragon Coin
$15 2025 Gold St George & The Dragon Coin
$5 2025 Gold St George & The Dragon Coin
$4 2025 Gold St George & The Dragon Coin

The design on the 2025 gold St George and the dragon coins consists of a pattern of dots immediately inside the rim forming a circle and a representation of St George and the dragon, inspired by the legend as depicted in coins, paintings and engravings over the centuries. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIA”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “JM” (being the initials of the designer Jennifer McKenna); 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”.

$8 2025 5oz Silver Swan High Relief Coin

The design on the $8 2025 5oz silver swan high relief coin 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”; 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); 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 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 2oz Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle Ultra High Relief Rose Gold-Plated Coin
$10 2025 10oz Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle Ultra High Relief Rose Gold-Plated Coin

The design of the 2025 silver wedge-tailed eagle ultra high relief rose gold-plated coins consists of a circular border immediately inside the rose gold-plated rim that is partially obscuring a rose gold-plated stylised representation of an eagle standing on the ground with its wings outstretched. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIAN WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE”; 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); “JM” (being the initials of the designer John Mercanti); 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 rim of the coins is rose gold-plated.

$1 2025 1oz Silver Dragon Rectangle Coin
$100 2025 1oz Gold Dragon Rectangle Coin

The 2025 1oz dragon rectangle coins are rectangular in shape with rounded corners. The design on the 2025 dragon rectangle coins consists of a stylised representation of a Chinese dragon. The design includes the following inscriptions: the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “LB” (being the initials of the designer Lucas Bowers); “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 superimposed over a square, 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 Au” or “Xoz 9999 Ag” 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”.