Commonwealth of Australia
Currency Act 1965
Currency Determination No. 7 of 1997
I, CHARLES RODERICK KEMP, Assistant Treasurer, make this Determination under subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965.
Dated 11 November 1997.
C.R. KEMP
Assistant Treasurer
Citation
1. This Determination may be cited as the Currency Determination No. 7 of 1997.
Commencement
2. This Determination commences on 1 January 1998.
Specification of coins
3. This Determination specifies, for a coin of a kind having the denomination and standard composition specified in columns 1 and 2 in Part 1 of the Schedule, and a design specified in column 5 of that Part:
(a) the standard weight, and allowable variation from that weight, specified for a coin of that kind in column 3 of that Part; and
(b) the dimensions specified for a coin of that kind in column 4 of that Part.
Application of Determination
4. This Determination does not affect any other determination of the specifications of a coin.
SCHEDULE Clause 3
PART 1—SPECIFICATIONS OF COIN
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
Denomination | Standard composition | Standard weight and allowable | Dimensions | Design |
| | variation (g) | (1) Diameter (mm) | (2) Thickness (mm) | (1) Shape | (2) Edge | (3) Obverse | (4) Reverse |
50 cents | Copper and nickel | 15.55 0.40 | 31.65 | 2.80 | S3 | E4 | O5 | R54 |
$1 | Copper, aluminium and nickel | 9.00 0.28 | 25.12 | 2.80 | S1 | E3 | O5 | R55 |
$1 | Not less than 99.9% silver | 11.66 0.24 | 25.12 | 2.80 | S1 | E3 | O5 | R55 |
| | 31.635 0.50 | 40.60 | 4.00 | S1 | E1 | O5 | R56 |
| | 31.635 0.50 | 40.60 | 4.00 | S1 | E1 | O5 | R57 |
$5 | Copper, aluminium and nickel | 28.00 0.80 | 38.90 | 3.50 | S1 | E1 | O5 | R58 |
$5 | Austenitic stainless steel, copper, aluminium and nickel | 10.60 0.50 | 28.12 | 2.60 | S2 | E4 | O5 | R59 |
PART 2—EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS
Design Feature | Symbol | Explanation |
Shape | S1 S2 S3 | Circular Regular 24‑sided polygon Dodecahedral |
Edge | E1 E3 E4 | Continuous milled 14 segments, of which 7 are milled and 7 are plain Plain |
Design Feature | Symbol | Explanation |
Obverse | O5 | An effigy of the Queen, surrounded by the inscriptions: (a) “ELIZABETH II”; and (b) “AUSTRALIA”; and (c) “1998”. |
Reverse | R54 | An effigy of George Bass and an effigy of Matthew Flinders, superimposed on a representation of the South Eastern sector of the Australian mainland and the island of Tasmania showing the approximate route of their exploration of that sector, with the inscriptions: (a) “GEORGE BASS”; and (b) “MATTHEW FLINDERS”; and (c) “DISCOVERY OF BASS STRAIT”; and (d) “1798 ‑ 1998”; and (e) “50”. |
Reverse | R55 | An effigy of Howard Florey, with the inscriptions: (a) “HOWARD FLOREY CENTENARY”; and (b) “1 DOLLAR”; and (c) “C”, “S”, “M”, “B” or “A”; and (d) the monogram “HH”. |
Reverse | R56 | A representation of a hopping kangaroo surrounded by the inscriptions: (a) “C”; and (b) “1 OUNCE FINE SILVER”; and (c) “ONE DOLLAR”; and (d) the monogram “HH”. |
Reverse | R57 | A representation of New Parliament House, Canberra, above a representation of the reverse of a 1988 $5 coin, with the inscriptions: (a) “1988”; and (b) “1998”; and (c) “ONE DOLLAR”; and (d) the monogram “HH”. |
Reverse | R58 | A representation of a woman operating a pedal radio and, in the background, an aircraft in flight, with the inscriptions: (a) “ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR”; and (b) “70 YEARS OF SERVICE”; and (c) “DOLLARS 5”. |
Design Feature | Symbol | Explanation |
Reverse | R59 | A representation of a single‑engined bi‑plane with the crest of the Royal Flying Doctor Service above and the years 1928 and 1998, all enclosed in a circle which is surrounded by the inscriptions: (a) “70 YEARS OF THE ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE”; and (b) “5 DOLLARS”. |
Overview
The Currency Determination No. 7 of 1997 was made under the Currency Act 1965 and commenced on 1 January 1998. The Determination was made by Charles Roderick Kemp, the Assistant Treasurer at the time, to specify the design and physical characteristics of certain coins. The purpose of this legislative instrument is to outline the specifications of coins including their denomination, standard composition, standard weight, allowable variation from that weight, dimensions, and design. This Determination does not affect any other determination of the specifications of a coin, and its primary focus is to ensure consistency and quality in the physical attributes of the specified coins.
Scope and Application
The Currency Determination No. 7 of 1997 is a legislative instrument under the Currency Act 1965 that establishes the specifications for certain Australian coins, including their denomination, standard composition, standard weight and allowable variation, dimensions, and design. The determination applies to coins of the types and specifications detailed in the Schedule of the Determination, which includes specific details such as the weight, diameter, thickness, shape, edge, and design features including obverse and reverse inscriptions and imagery. The determination is applicable to all coins minted in accordance with the specifications set out in the Schedule and does not affect any other determination of the specifications of a coin. It is important to note that this Determination does not extend or restrict the application of the Currency Act 1965 in any way, and any other provisions of the Act remain in full force and effect. The Currency Determination No. 7 of 1997 applies to the entire Commonwealth of Australia and is applicable to all persons and entities who are involved in the minting, issuing, or circulation of coins specified in the Schedule.
The Currency Determination No. 7 of 1997 specifies the physical characteristics of certain Australian coins and does not apply to any other coins or currency not specified in the Schedule. The determination applies to the minting of coins by the Royal Australian Mint or any other authorised mint and to the issuance and circulation of those coins by authorised persons or entities. The determination does not apply to any other determination of the specifications of a coin, and any other provisions of the Currency Act 1965 remain in full force and effect. The Currency Determination No. 7 of 1997 is a specific legislative instrument that applies to the physical characteristics of certain coins, and it does not extend or restrict the application of the Currency Act 1965 in any way.
Key Provisions
The Currency Determination No. 7 of 1997, made under the Currency Act 1965, specifies the design, weight, and dimensions of certain coins issued by the Commonwealth of Australia (sections 3 and Schedule Part 1). This Determination applies to coins with denominations of 50 cents, $1, and $5, detailing their standard composition, weight (including allowable variations), and dimensions. Additionally, the coins must have specific designs, as outlined in columns 5 of the Schedule. For example, a 50-cent coin must be made of copper and nickel, weigh 15.55 grams with an allowable variation of 0.40 grams, and have a diameter of 31.65 millimetres and a thickness of 2.80 millimetres.
The obligations imposed by this Determination are primarily concerned with the specifications that must be met for the coins to be considered legal tender. Manufacturers and issuers of coins must ensure that the coins conform to the standards set out in the Schedule. This includes adhering to the specified weights, dimensions, materials, and designs. For instance, the 50-cent coin must be a regular 24-sided polygon (S3), have a continuous milled edge (E4), and display an obverse design featuring an effigy of the Queen (O5) and a reverse design commemorating George Bass and Matthew Flinders (R54).
Failure to comply with the specifications set out in the Currency Determination No. 7 of 1997 can result in legal consequences. While the Determination itself does not explicitly state offences or penalties for non-compliance, the Currency Act 1965 provides a framework for such matters. Under the Act, any person who knowingly deals in counterfeit currency or knowingly possesses, imports, or exports such currency can face criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The severity of the penalties depends on the nature and extent of the offence, but they can be substantial. Civil actions may also be pursued for breaches of the Act, including claims for damages and injunctive relief to prevent further non-compliance.