Currency Determination No. 2 of 1994

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2008B00103 In force Legislative Instrument

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Commonwealth of Australia

Currency Act 1965

Currency Determination No. 2 of 1994

I, PAUL ELLIOTT, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, acting for the Treasurer, make the following Determination under subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965.

Dated 2 may 1994.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer

Citation

1. This Determination may be cited as Currency Determination No. 2 of 1994.

Commencement

2. This Determination commences on 6 May 1994.

Application

3. This Determination does not affect any other determination of the specifications or design of a coin.

 

Specifications and design of $1 silver coins

4. (1) This clause sets out the specifications and design of 2 coins each of the denomination of $1 and the standard composition of which includes not less than 99.9% silver.

(2)        The shape of each coin is circular.

(3)        The edge of the first coin is milled.

(4)        The edge of the second coin consists of 12 segments, of which 6 are coarse milled and 6 are plain.

(5)        The standard weight of each coin is 31.635 grams.

(6)        A variation of 0.50 grams from the standard weight is allowed.

(7)        The diameter of each coin is 40.60 millimetres.

(8)        The thickness of each coin is 4.00 millimetres.

(9)        The obverse of each coin bears:

(a)         an effigy of the Queen; and

(b)        the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and “1994”.

(10) The reverse of each coin bears:

(a)        a representation of a leaping kangaroo; and

(b)        the inscriptions “ONE DOLLAR” and “ONE OUNCE FINE SILVER”.

Specifications and designs of $5 silver coins

5. (1) This clause sets out the specifications and design of 5 coins each of the denomination of $5 and the standard composition of which consists of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metal.

(2)        The shape of each coin is circular.

(3)        The edge of each coin is milled.

(4)        The standard weight of each coin is 35.79 grams.

(5)        A variation of 0.63 grams from the standard weight is allowed.

(6)        The diameter of each coin is 38.90 millimetres.

(7)        The thickness of each coin is 3.50 millimetres.

(8)        The obverse of each coin bears:

(a)         an effigy of the Queen; and

(b)        the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and “1994”.

(9) The reverse of the first coin bears:

(a)         an effigy of Charles Sturt against a background representation of a map of the State of Victoria; and

(b)        the inscriptions “5 DOLLARS”, “CHARLES STURT”, “NEW SOUTH WALES” and “VICTORIA”.

(10) The reverse of the second coin bears:

(a)         an effigy of Ludwig Leichhardt against a background representation of a map of the State of Queensland and part of the Northern Territory; and

(b)        the inscriptions “5 DOLLARS”, “LUDWIG LEICHHARDT”, “QUEENSLAND” and “N.T.”.

(11) The reverse of the third coin bears:

(a)         an effigy of John McDouall Stuart against a background representation of a map of the State of South Australia and the Northern Territory; and

(b)        the inscriptions “5 DOLLARS”, “JOHN McDOUALL STUART”, “N.T.” and “S.A.”.

(12) The reverse of the fourth coin bears:

(a)        an effigy of Sir John Forrest against a background representation of a map of the State of Western Australia; and

(b)        the inscriptions “5 DOLLARS”, “SIR JOHN FORREST” and “W.A.”.

(13) The reverse of the fifth coin bears:

(a)         a representation of Sir Douglas Mawson against a background representation of a map of part of Antarctica; and

(b)        the inscriptions “5 DOLLARS”, “SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON” and “ANTARCTICA”.

Specifications and designs of $10 silver coins

6. (1) This clause sets out the specifications and design of 2 coins each of the denomination of $10 and the standard composition of which includes not less than 99.9% silver.

(2)        The shape of each coin is circular.

(3)        The edge of each coin is plain.

(4)        The standard weight of each coin is 20.77 grams.

(5)        A variation of 0.50 grams from the standard weight is allowed.

(6)        The diameter of each coin is 34.10 millimetres.

(7)        The thickness of each coin is 2.90 millimetres.

(8)        The obverse of each coin bears:

(a)         an effigy of the Queen; and

(b)        the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and “1994”.

(9) The reverse of the first coin bears:

(a)         a representation of a running male athlete; and

(b)        a representation of a torch and a wreath; and

(c)         the inscriptions “TEN DOLLARS”, “AUSTRALIA’S 1ST GOLD MEDALLISTS” and “EDWIN FLACK 1896”.

(10) The reverse of the second coin bears:

(a)         a representation of a female swimmer; and

(b)        a representation of a medal and a wreath; and

(c)         the inscriptions “TEN DOLLARS”, “AUSTRALIA’S 1ST GOLD MEDALLISTS” and “SARAH DURACK”.

Specifications and design of a $200 gold coin

7. (1) This clause sets out the specifications and design of a coin of the denomination of $200 the standard composition of which consists of gold and other metal.

(2)        The shape of the coin is circular.

(3)        The edge of the coin is milled.

(4)        The standard weight of the coin is 10.00 grams.

(5)        A variation of 0.06 grams from the standard weight is allowed.

(6)        The diameter of each coin is 24.20 millimetres.

(7)        The thickness of each coin is 2.00 millimetres.

(8)        The obverse of each coin bears:

(a)         an effigy of the Queen; and

(b)         the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and “1994”.

(9) The reverse of the coin bears:

(a)         a representation of a Tasmanian Devil; and

(b)        the inscriptions “TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS” and “PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA”.

Overview

The Currency Determination No. 2 of 1994 is a legislative instrument made under the Currency Act 1965 by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Paul Elliott, acting on behalf of the Treasurer. This determination was introduced to specify the design and physical properties of certain silver and gold coins minted by the Commonwealth of Australia. The determination outlines the specifications and designs for $1, $5, $10, and $200 coins, ensuring consistency in their production and circulation. This legal instrument aims to maintain the integrity and uniformity of Australia's currency by providing detailed standards for these coins, including their weight, diameter, thickness, and the images and inscriptions they should bear. The determination commenced on 6 May 1994 and applies without affecting other determinations related to coin specifications or design.

Scope and Application

The Currency Determination No. 2 of 1994 applies to the specifications and design of certain coins issued under the authority of the Currency Act 1965. This legislative instrument sets out detailed specifications for $1, $5, $10, and $200 silver and gold coins, including their shape, weight, diameter, thickness, edge, and the inscriptions and images on both the obverse and reverse sides. The coins specified in this determination are issued within the Commonwealth of Australia, thus extending its reach across the entire nation. This Determination does not affect any other determination of the specifications or design of a coin, ensuring that other coins remain governed by their specific regulations. The Act allows for the extension and restriction of application through subordinate instruments, meaning that further specifications or changes to the coins can be implemented through additional legislative instruments if necessary.

Key Provisions

The Currency Determination No. 2 of 1994, made under subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965, sets forth the specifications and design of several coins including $1, $5, $10, and $200 silver and gold coins. Clause 4 details the specifications for $1 silver coins, stipulating their weight, diameter, thickness, and design elements. Clause 5 outlines the specifications and designs for $5 silver coins, which also include the weight, diameter, thickness, and specific design elements for each coin. Clause 6 sets out the specifications and design for $10 silver coins, again including weight, diameter, thickness, and design details. Lastly, Clause 7 describes the specifications and design for a $200 gold coin, detailing its weight, diameter, thickness, and design elements. The Determination imposes specific requirements on the design and composition of the coins. For instance, $1 silver coins must be circular with a milled edge, while $5 silver coins should also be circular but with a milled edge consisting of 12 segments. Similarly, $10 silver coins are to be circular with a plain edge. The $200 gold coin must also be circular with a milled edge. Each coin must meet specific weight, diameter, and thickness requirements, with allowable variations noted in the clauses. Violations of the specifications and designs set forth in the Determination may lead to legal consequences. Although the Determination itself does not explicitly state penalties for breaches, the Currency Act 1965 under which the Determination is made may impose penalties for counterfeiting or producing coins that do not meet legal specifications. Such offences could potentially result in substantial fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity and intent of the breach. The exact penalties would be governed by the broader provisions of the Currency Act 1965 and any relevant case law.

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Currency Law
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Definitions & Interpretation
Commencement Provisions
Specifications and Design

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