EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by authority of the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury
Currency Act 1965
Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2025 Royal Australian Mint No. 11) 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 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 (2025 Royal Australian Mint No. 11) 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 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 (2025 Royal Australian Mint No. 11) Determination 2025
This Attachment sets out further details of the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2025 Royal Australian Mint No. 11) Determination 2025 (the Determination).
Section 1 – Name
This section provides that the name of the Determination is the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2025 Royal Australian Mint No. 11) Determination 2025.
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
2026 $2 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Bluey
The design on the 2026 $2 coloured uncirculated coin – Bluey – Bluey consists of a central circle enclosing the character Bluey from the animated television series, Bluey, in mid-air and holding onto her knees (frame from Series 1, Episode 34: ‘Trampoline’, 2019). Surrounding the central circle is a round border overlaid by a coloured pattern of dark blue, blue, light blue and yellow shapes representing the design of the markings on Bluey. The design includes the following inscriptions (in a stylised form): the denomination of the coin in words, followed by “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires; “BUCKS”; and “BLUEY – FOR REAL LIFE”.
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 Dan Thorne “DT”.
2026 $2 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Bingo
The design on the 2026 $2 coloured uncirculated coin – Bluey – Bingo consists of a central circle enclosing the character Bingo from the animated television series, Bluey, in mid-air and holding onto her knees (frame from Series 1, Episode 34: ‘Trampoline’, 2019). Surrounding the central circle is a round border overlaid by a coloured pattern of dark orange, light orange and white shapes representing the design of the markings on Bingo. The design includes the following inscriptions (in a stylised form): the denomination of the coin in words, followed by “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires; “BUCKS”; and “BINGO – HOORAY”.
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 Dan Thorne “DT”.
2026 $2 Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Camping
2026 $2 ‘Bluey’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Camping
The design on the 2026 $2 uncirculated coins – Bluey – Camping consists of the characters Bluey, Jean-Luc and Bandit from the animated television series, Bluey, where Bluey and Jean-Luc are wearing body paint, holding branches with leaves, and standing together on the back of Bandit, and where Bluey and Jean-Luc are facing away from, but looking towards, each other (frame from Series 1, Episode 43: ‘Camping’, 2019). In the background, partially obscured by the characters and text, there are stylised representations of a landscape featuring trees, tall grass, rocky ground and tufts of grass. The design includes the following inscriptions (in a stylised form): “CAMPING”; and “BLUEY”. The privy mark coin includes a stylised representation of a five-pointed star enclosed in a square.
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”.
2026 $2 Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Baby Race
2026 $2 ‘Bluey’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Baby Race
The design on the 2026 $2 uncirculated coins – Bluey – Baby Race consists of the characters Bandit, Chilli and baby Bluey from the animated television series, Bluey, where Bandit and Chilli are sitting down and facing towards each other with their forelimbs raised, cheering baby Bluey who is wearing a nappy and crawling (frame from Series 2, Episode 49: ‘Baby Race’, 2020). In the background, partially obscured by the characters and text, there are stylised representations of a cushion, a ball and a rattle on a wooden floor in a room with a circular rug and spotted wallpaper. The design includes the following inscriptions (in a stylised form): “BABY RACE”; and “BLUEY”. The privy mark coin includes a stylised representation of a five-pointed star enclosed in a square.
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”.
2026 $2 Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Granny Mobile
2026 $2 ‘Bluey’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Granny Mobile
The design on the 2026 $2 uncirculated coins – Bluey – Granny Mobile consists of the characters Janet (played by Bluey), Rita (played by Bingo) and ‘Grouchy Granny’ (played by Muffin), collectively called ‘The Grannies’, and Bandit, from the animated television series, Bluey, where Janet and Rita are standing together facing Bandit who is pushing Grouchy Granny in a mobility scooter (frame from Series 3, Episode 33: ‘Granny Mobile’, 2022). In the background, partially obscured by the characters and text, there is a stylised representation of a footpath and the front of a house (in the architecture style of a ‘Queenslander’) with a staircase, a veranda, a door, windows and bushes. The design includes the following inscriptions (in a stylised form): “GRANNY MOBILE”; and “BLUEY”. The privy mark coin includes a stylised representation of a five-pointed star enclosed in a square.
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”.
2026 $2 Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Rain
2026 $2 ‘Bluey’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Rain
The design on the 2026 $2 uncirculated coins – Bluey – Rain consists of the characters Bluey and Chilli from the animated television series, Bluey, crouching down and looking down at a stylised representation of flowing water on a footpath while using their limbs and a stylised representation of a toy house to dam the water (frame from Series 3, Episode 18: ‘Rain’, 2021). In the background, partially obscured by the characters and the text, there is a stylised representation of clouds, grass, a letterbox and brick edges of the footpath. In the foreground, partially obscuring the background and characters, and partially obscured by the text, are straight lines representing falling rain. The design includes the following inscriptions (in a stylised form): “RAIN”; and “BLUEY”. The privy mark coin includes a stylised representation of a five-pointed star enclosed in a square.
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”.
2026 $2 Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Sleepytime
2026 $2 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Sleepytime
2026 $2 ‘Bluey’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Bluey – Sleepytime
The design on the 2026 $2 uncirculated coins – Bluey – Sleepytime consists of the character Bingo from the animated television series, Bluey, sitting in a representation of the planet Earth stylised to represent a hatched egg with droplets of lava spilling forth. In the background, there are stylised representations of stars. The design includes the following inscriptions (in a stylised form): “SLEEPYTIME”; and “BLUEY”. The privy mark coin includes a stylised representation of a five-pointed star enclosed in a square. On the coloured coin, the character of Bingo, the Earth and droplets of lava are coloured.
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”.
2026 $2 Coloured Proof Coin – Bluey – The Heeler Family
2026 $2 Coloured Fine Silver Proof Coin – Bluey – The Heeler Family
The design on the 2026 $2 coloured proof coins – Bluey – The Heeler Family consists of the characters Bandit, Bingo, Chilli and Bluey from the animated television series, Bluey, in colour, where Bingo is being held in the arms of Bandit, and Chilli and Bluey are holding hands. In the background is a blue-coloured area. The design includes the following inscriptions (in a stylised form): “BLUEY”; “BUCKS”; 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.
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”, and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2026 $2 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Matildas
2026 $2 Coloured Proof Coin – Matildas
The design on the 2026 $2 coloured coins – Matildas consists of, in the background, the word “MATILDAS” repeated and presented in three rows. There is a central circle enclosing a stylised representation of a soccer net. Superimposed over the central circle is a coloured representation of the Football Australia logo. The design includes the following inscription (in a stylised form): “TWO DOLLARS”.
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”, and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.