EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by authority of the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury
Currency Act 1965
Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2026 Perth Mint No. 4) Determination 2026
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 30 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 (2026 Perth Mint No. 4) Determination 2026
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 30 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 (2026 Perth Mint No. 4) Determination 2026
Section 1 – Name
This section provides that the name of the Determination is the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2026 Perth Mint No. 4) Determination 2026.
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 2027 1oz Silver Australia & Germany Friendship Coin
$25 2027 1/4oz Gold Australia & Germany Friendship Coin
$1 2027 13.5g Base Metal Australia & Germany Friendship Coin
The design on the 2027 Australia & Germany friendship coins consists of a pattern of dots forming a circle. Enclosed by and partially obscuring the circle, there is a stylised representation of a kangaroo and a golden eagle on either side of an ornamental shield with the inscription “75”. Below the shield, there is a stylised ribbon banner. Below the ribbon banner, there are stylised representations of the following:
- golden wattle flowers with foliage; and
- acorns with foliage.
In the background, and partially obscured by the kangaroo and golden eagle, there are stylised representations of mantling. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIA”; “DEUTSCHLAND”; “DIPLOMACY & FRIENDSHIP”; “2027”; “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”, and Arabic numerals for the amount, in dollars or cents, of the denomination of the coin, followed by “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”. The silver and gold coins include the inscription “Xoz 9999 Ag” or “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), as the case requires.
$1 2027 13.5g Base Metal ANZAC Day Coin
The design on the $1 2027 13.5g base metal ANZAC day coin consists of a circular border enclosing, and partially obscuring, a representation of a tacked-up horse with a silhouette of a soldier playing a bugle and riding the horse. There is a stylised representation of a flaming torch. The design includes the following inscriptions: “LEST WE FORGET”; “25 APRIL”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “LB” (being the initials of the designer Lucas Bowers); 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 “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
$100 2027 1oz Gold Brumby Coin
The design on the $100 2027 1oz gold brumby coin consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of a horse, standing on three legs (with one of its front legs raised off the ground) on a rocky ledge, looking backwards, surrounded by shrubs and trees. In the background, and partially obscured by the horse, there is a stylised representation of hills and the moon. The design includes the following inscriptions: “AUSTRALIAN BRUMBY”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “Xoz 9999 GOLD” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “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”, and Arabic numerals for the amount, in dollars or cents, of the denomination of the coin, followed by “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
$100 2027 1oz Gold Dragon & Horse Coin
The design on the $100 2027 1oz gold dragon & horse coin consists of, in the foreground, and partially obscured by the rim of the coin, a stylised representation of a rearing horse and a Chinese dragon facing each other. In the background, partially obscured by the horse and dragon, there is a stylised representation of swirling 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 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 “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” 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 2026 1oz Silver Emu Coloured Coin
The design on the $1 2026 1oz silver emu coloured coin consists of a partial circular border enclosing a coloured representation of an emu walking leftward on uneven ground. Partially obscuring the border, and partially obscured by the emu, there is a stylised representation of a landscape consisting of shrubs, tufts of grass, a windmill, a stack of tyres, and a shed with a broken gate leaning on it. In the background, and enclosed by the partial circular border, a coloured stylised representation of a cloudy sky. 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); “JM” (being the initials of the designer Jennifer McKenna); “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 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 “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
$30 2027 1kg Silver Frill-Necked Lizard Coin
$1 2027 1oz Silver Frill-Necked Lizard Coin
$1 2027 1oz Silver Frill-Necked Lizard Coloured Coin
$100 2027 1oz Gold Frill-Necked Lizard High Relief Coin
The design on the 2027 frill-necked lizard coins consists of in the foreground, a stylised representation of a frilled-necked lizard on a rock, with its tail overhead forming a partial border. In the background, and partially obscured by the frilled-necked lizard, there are stylised representations of the following:
- termite mounds; and
- rough ground; and
- tufts of grass.
The design includes the following inscriptions: “FRILL-NECKED LIZARD”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “JM” (being the initials of the designer Jennifer McKenna); “P”; and a microscopic “P”.
On the coloured coin, the frilled-necked lizard and rock are coloured. The high relief coin does not 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 “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires, and “XKILO 9999 Ag”, “Xoz 9999 Ag”, or “Xoz 9999 Au” as the case requires (where “X” is the nominal weight in kilograms or 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 2027 1oz Gold Kangaroo High Relief Coin
The design on the $100 2027 1oz gold kangaroo high relief coin consists of a partial circular border enclosing a representation of two kangaroos next to a stream and tufts of grass, one standing looking leftward, and the other crouching down and drinking from the stream. Partially obscured by the kangaroos, there is a stylised representation of a landscape consisting of a grassy plain and mountains on the horizon. The design includes the following inscriptions: “KANGAROO”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “Xoz 9999 GOLD” (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “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 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 “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
$8 2027 5oz Silver Kookaburra Incused Coin
$2 2027 2oz Silver Kookaburra High Relief Gold-Plated Coin
$500 2027 5oz Gold Kookaburra High Relief Coin
$200 2027 2oz Gold Kookaburra High Relief Coin
$100 2027 1oz Gold Kookaburra High Relief Coin
$25 2027 1/4oz Gold Kookaburra Coin
$2 2027 0.5g Gold Mini Kookaburra Coin
The design on the 2027 kookaburra coins consists of a partial circular border enclosing a representation of a kookaburra perched on a branch. The design includes the following inscriptions: “KOOKABURRA”; the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “Xoz 9999 SILVER”, “Xoz 9999 GOLD” or “Xg 9999 GOLD” as the case requires (where “X” is the nominal weight in ounces or grams of the coin, expressed as a whole number or a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “WR” (being the initials of the designer Wade Robinson) and “P”.
On the gold-plated coin, the rim of the coin and the representation of the kookaburra are gold-plated.
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 “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”. On the gold-plated coin, the rim of the coin is gold-plated.
$1 2027 1oz Silver Kookaburra Coloured Coin with Ampelmann Privy
The design on the $1 2027 1oz silver kookaburra coloured coin with Ampelmann privy consists of a partial circular border enclosing a coloured representation of a kookaburra perched on a branch. Partially obscured by the kookaburra and the branch, there are coloured representations of a bottlebrush flower, gum blossom, gum nuts, wattle flowers and foliage. The design includes the following inscriptions: “KOOKABURRA”; 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); “WR” (being the initials of the designer Wade Robinson); “P”; a microscopic “P”; and a coloured representation of a green Ampelmännchen (Berlin’s ‘traffic light man’) and a green outline of an Ampelmännchen enclosed in an oval.
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 “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
$2 2027 0.5g Gold Mini Goat Coin
The design on the $2 2027 0.5g gold mini goat coin consists of, in the foreground, a representation of a goat standing on snow-covered rocky ground. In the background, there is a representation of a pine tree on the edge of a snow-covered mountain cliff. The design includes the following inscriptions: the Chinese language character (羊), pronounced yáng under the Pinyin system and meaning goat; “GOAT”; 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 or a common fraction in Arabic numerals); “WR” (being the initials of 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 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 “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
$1 2027 1oz Silver Swan Coin
$1 2027 1oz Silver White Swan Coloured Coin
$1 2027 1oz Silver Black Swan Coloured Coin
$8 2027 5oz Silver Swan High Relief Coin
$100 2027 1oz Gold Swan Coin
$100 2027 1oz Gold Swan High Relief Coin
The design on the 2027 swan coins consists of a circular border immediately inside the rim enclosing, and partially obscured by, a representation of a swan and three cygnets (with one of the cygnets on the swan’s back). There is stylised water rippling around the swan and cygnets. 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”; “IJ” (being the initials of the designer Ing Ing Jong); “P”; and a microscopic “P”.
On the white swan coloured coin, the swan and cygnets are coloured based on the colours of a mute swan.
On the black swan coloured coin, the swan and cygnets are coloured based on the colours of a black swan.
The high relief coins do not 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 “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
$100 2027 1oz Platinum Wonders of Australia – Great Barrier Reef Coin
$1 2027 1oz Silver Wonders of Australia – Great Barrier Reef Coin
$100 2027 1oz Gold Wonders of Australia – Great Barrier Reef Coin
The design on the 2027 1oz wonders of Australia – Great Barrier Reef coins consists of a stylised representation of a coral reef. Amongst the coral reef, there are stylised representations of the following marine animals:
- a sea turtle; and
- an octopus; and
- two butterflyfish; and
- three clownfish; and
- a giant moray; and
- a starfish; and
- a blacktip reef shark; and
- three emperor angelfish; and
- various schools of smaller fish.
The design includes the following inscriptions: the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year; “JM” (being the initials of the designer Jennifer McKenna); “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 “DOLLARS”, “DOLLAR” or “CENTS” as the case requires, and “Xoz 9999 Au”, “Xoz 9999 Ag” 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”. Immediately inside the rim of the coins is an ornamental border comprising stylised representations of saltbush, poached egg daisies (Polycalymma stuartii), termite mounds, coral, anemones, epiphyte and an ant plant.