EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by authority of the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury
Currency Act 1965
Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2026 Royal Australian Mint No. 5) 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 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 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 (2026 Royal Australian Mint No. 5) 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 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 (2026 Royal Australian Mint No. 5) Determination 2026
This Attachment sets out further details of the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2026 Royal Australian Mint No. 5) Determination 2026 (the Determination).
Section 1 – Name
This section provides that the name of the Determination is the Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2026 Royal Australian Mint No. 5) Determination 2026.
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 $1 Uncirculated Coin – International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists
2026 $1 ‘Envelope’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists
2026 $1 Silver Proof Coin – International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists
The design on the 2026 $1 coins – International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists consists of a circular border immediately inside the rim. In the foreground, partially obscuring the border, there are stylised representations of the following:
- a female pastoralist riding a horse;
- a border collie (a breed of British herding dog);
- a flying wedge-tailed eagle with its wings outstretched; and
- Spinifex grass.
In the background, partially obscured by the border, there are stylised representations of the following:
- a rangeland landscape featuring other grasses, rolling hills and a eucalyptus tree; and
- to the left of the pastoralist and horse, a cow and two sheep standing together.
The design includes the following inscriptions: “RANGELANDS AND PASTORALISTS”; and “AWB” (being the initials of the designer Adam William Ball). The ‘envelope’ privy mark coin also includes a stylised representation of an envelope.
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 Arabic numerals, of a year, 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”.
2026 $2 Uncirculated Coin – Australian Inventions
2026 $2 Proof Coin – Australian Inventions
2026 $2 ‘Light Bulb’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Australian Inventions
The design on the 2026 $2 coins – Australian Inventions consists of stylised representations of:
- in the centre of the coin, a light bulb containing a stylised outline of a map of Australia, surrounded by rays of light; and
- below and partially obscuring the light bulb, a stump-jump plough (also titled the “Vixen”; and
- partially obscured by the stump-jump plough, an open pie iron (also known as a jaffle maker or sandwich toaster); and
- partially obscured by the jaffle maker, an oscilloscope; and
- partially obscured by the stump-jump plough, a baby capsule; and
- partially obscured by the baby capsule, a flight recorder (also known as a “black box”); and
- six stars.
The design includes the following inscription: “AUSTRALIAN INVENTIONS”. The ‘light bulb’ privy mark coin also includes a stylised representation of a light bulb, 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”, and the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year, 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”.
2026 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Jaffle Maker
2026 $1 ‘Light Bulb’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Jaffle Maker
The design on the 2026 $1 uncirculated coins – Jaffle Maker consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of an open pie iron (also known as a jaffle maker or sandwich toaster). Partially obscured by the rim of the coin, there is a stylised representation of a jaffle or toasted sandwich, with melted cheese dripping from the jaffle. There is a stylised representation of a small portion of cheese enclosed in a reticle. There is also a stylised representation of a small loaf of bread enclosed in another reticle. The design includes the following inscriptions: “JAFFLE MAKER”; 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 ‘light bulb’ privy mark coin also includes a stylised representation of a light bulb, 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”, and the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2026 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Baby Safety Capsule
2026 $1 ‘Light Bulb’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Baby Safety Capsule
The design on the 2026 $1 uncirculated coins – Baby Safety Capsule consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of a baby capsule. Partially obscured by the rim of the coin, there is a stylised representation of the right-side profile of a crash test baby dummy’s head, neck and chest, facing toward the baby capsule. Above the baby capsule, there is a stylised representation of a small car seat with a seat belt enclosed in a reticle. Above the car seat, there is a stylised representation of a small car enclosed in a reticle. The design includes the following inscriptions: “BABY SAFETY CAPSULE”; 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 ‘light bulb’ privy mark coin also includes a stylised representation of a light bulb, 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”, and the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2026 $1 Uncirculated Coin – WLAN
2026 $1 ‘Light Bulb’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – WLAN
The design on the 2026 $1 uncirculated coins – WLAN consists of a stylised representation of the Parkes radio telescope ‘Murriyang’. In the foreground, there is a stylised representation of an oscilloscope. Above the radio telescope and oscilloscope, there is a stylised representation of two small laptops, with curved lines representing radio signal waves between them, enclosed in a reticle. Above the oscilloscope, there is a stylised representation of radio waves enclosed in a reticle. The design includes the following inscriptions: “WLAN”; 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 ‘light bulb’ privy mark coin also includes a stylised representation of a light bulb, 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”, and the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2026 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Stump Jump Plough
2026 $1 ‘Light Bulb’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Stump Jump Plough
The design on the 2026 $1 uncirculated coins – Stump Jump Plough consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of a stump-jump plough (also titled the “Vixen”). To the left of the stump-jump plough, there are stylised representations of three ears of wheat. Above the stump-jump plough, there is a stylised representation of a plant, with its roots below rocky ground, enclosed in a reticle. There are three non-straight lines representing dirt enclosed in a reticle. The design includes the following inscriptions: “STUMP JUMP PLOUGH”; 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 ‘light bulb’ privy mark coin also includes a stylised representation of a light bulb, 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”, and the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.
2026 $1 Uncirculated Coin – Black Box Flight Recorder
2026 $1 Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Black Box Flight Recorder
2026 $1 ‘Light Bulb’ Privy Mark Uncirculated Coin – Black Box Flight Recorder
2026 $1 ‘Light Bulb’ Privy Mark Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Black Box Flight Recorder
The design on the 2026 $1 uncirculated coins – Black Box Flight Recorder consists of, in the foreground, a stylised representation of a flight recorder (also known as a “black box”). Partially obscured by the rim of the coin, there is a stylised representation of a plane, viewed from above. Above the black box flight recorder, there is a stylised representation of an audio recording enclosed in a reticle. Below the black box flight recorder, there is a stylised representation of a jet engine diagram with three arrows enclosed in a reticle. The design includes the following inscriptions: “BLACK BOX FLIGHT RECORDER”; 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. On the coloured coin, the flight recorder is coloured. The ‘light bulb’ privy mark coins also include a stylised representation of a light bulb, 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”, and the inscription, in Arabic numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Dan Thorne “DT”.