Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2003 (No. 6)

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2005B03081 In force Legislative Instrument

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Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2003 (No. 6)

I, IAN GORDON CAMPBELL, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, make this Determination under paragraph 14 (2) (b) and subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965.

Dated 22 September 2003

IAN CAMPBELL

Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer

Contents

 1 Name of Determination 

 2 Commencement 

 3 Specification of coins 

 4 Application of Determination 

Schedule 1 

Part 1 Specifications of coins 

Part 2 Explanation of symbols 

 

 

 

1 Name of Determination

  This Determination is the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2003 (No. 6).

2 Commencement

  This Determination commences on gazettal.

3 Specification of coins

 (1) This Determination specifies, for a coin having the denomination and standard composition specified in columns 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 1, the standard weight, the allowable variation from that weight, the dimensions and the design specified in columns 4, 5 and 6 of that Part.

 (2) A reference in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the diameter of a coin is, for a coin that is not circular, a reference to the distance between 2 parallel faces of the edge of the coin.

4 Application of Determination

  The specifications in Schedule 1 to this Determination do not affect any other determination of the specifications of a coin.

Schedule 1    

(section 3)

Part 1 Specifications of coins

 

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Column 5

Column 6

Item

Denomination

Standard composition

Standard weight and allowable variation (g)

Dimensions

Design

(1)
Diameter
(mm)

(2)
Thickness
(mm)

(1)
Shape

(2)
Edge

(3)
Obverse

(4)
Reverse

101

$1

Copper, aluminium and nickel

9.00 0.280

25.12

2.80

S1

E3

O41

R324

102

$1

Not less than 99.9% silver

11.66 0.240

25.12

2.80

S1

E3

O41

R325

103

$1

Not less than 99.9% silver

31.635 0.50

40.15

3.50

S1

E1

O41

R326

104

$1

Not less than 99.9% silver, partially plated with 99.99% gold

31.635 0.50

40.15

3.50

S1

E1

O41

R327

105

$1

Copper, aluminium and nickel

9.00 0.280

25.12

2.80

S1

E3

O41

R328

106

$5

Not less than 99.9% silver

31.635 0.50

40.15

3.50

S1

E1

O40

R329

Part 2 Explanation of symbols

 

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Item

Design Feature

Symbol

Explanation

201

Shape

S1

Circular

202

Edge

E1

Continuously milled

203

Edge

E3

14 segments, of which 7 are milled and 7 are plain

204

Obverse

O40

An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the monogram ‘IRB’, surrounded by the inscriptions:

 (a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and

 (b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2004’; and

 (c) ‘FIVE DOLLARS’.

205

Obverse

O41

An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the monogram ‘IRB’, surrounded by the inscriptions:

 (a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and

 (b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2004’.

206

Reverse

R324

A representation of:

 (a) the ‘Eureka’ flag flying from a flag post; and

 (b) two huts; and

 (c) a wooden stockade; and

 (d) stylised images of soldiers holding rifles;

and the inscriptions:

 (e) ‘EUREKA STOCKADE 1854’; and

 (f) ‘1 DOLLAR’; and

 (g) the letter ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘M’ or ‘S’.

207

Reverse

R325

A representation of:

 (a) the ‘Eureka’ flag flying from a flag post; and

 (b) two huts; and

 (c) a wooden stockade; and

 (d) stylised images of soldiers holding rifles;

and the inscriptions:

 (e) ‘EUREKA STOCKADE 1854’; and

 (f) ‘1 DOLLAR’.

208

Reverse

R326

A representation of a kangaroo behind which are:

 (a) the design elements of a horizontal line across the table of the coin, dividing the coin into two halves; and

 (b) a circle;

surrounded by the inscriptions:

 (c) ‘1 ounce fine silver’; and

 (d) ‘ONE DOLLAR’.

209

Reverse

R327

A representation of a kangaroo behind which are:

 (a) the design elements of a horizontal line across the table of the coin, dividing the coin into two halves; and

 (b) a circle, the top half of which is plated in 99.99% gold;

surrounded by the inscriptions:

 (c) ‘1 ounce fine silver’; and

 (d) ‘ONE DOLLAR’.

210

Reverse

R328

A representation of five kangaroos:

 (a) in holographic colour; and

 (b) with vertical holographic coloured lines behind them;

and the inscription ‘1 DOLLAR’.

211

Reverse

R329

A design consisting of:

 (a) a representation of an outline of Australia, on which are two rail tracks running into the distance; and

 (b) an image of a goods train pulled by a diesel locomotive; and

 (c) the inscriptions:

 (i) ‘DARWIN’; and

 (ii) ‘ALICE SPRINGS’; and

 (iii) ‘2004’; and

 (iv) ‘ADELAIDE’.

 

Overview

The Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2003 (No. 6) was made under the authority of the Currency Act 1965 by Ian Gordon Campbell, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, to specify the standards for various coins minted by the Royal Australian Mint. This determination was enacted to ensure consistency and quality in the production of Australian currency by detailing the precise specifications of the coins, including their weight, dimensions, composition, and design. The Determination aims to maintain the integrity of the currency by providing a clear and enforceable standard for the minting process. It applies specifically to the coins listed in Schedule 1, which detail the characteristics of each coin, including their denomination, standard composition, weight, dimensions, and design elements. The enactment of this Determination by the relevant authority serves to uphold the policy objective of providing a reliable and standardised form of currency within Australia.

Scope and Application

The Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2003 (No. 6) is a legislative instrument made under the Currency Act 1965. It specifies the standard weight, allowable variation from that weight, dimensions, and design of particular coins issued by the Royal Australian Mint, effective from its gazettal. This Determination applies to coins with specified denominations and standard compositions, detailing their physical attributes and design features. It applies to entities and individuals involved in the minting and circulation of these coins, including the Royal Australian Mint and those who use or trade these coins. This instrument applies nationally across Australia, as it falls under Commonwealth legislation. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the Determination, though it is noted that the specifications do not affect any other determination of coin specifications. The application of the Determination can be extended or modified through subordinate instruments as authorised by the Currency Act 1965.

Key Provisions

The Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2003 (No. 6) specifies the standards for various coins minted by the Royal Australian Mint, as detailed in Schedule 1 of the Determination. These standards include the denomination, standard composition, standard weight, allowable variation from that weight, dimensions, and design of each coin (section 3). For instance, the $1 coin made from copper, aluminium and nickel must weigh 9.00 grams with a permissible variation of 0.28 grams, and must be 25.1 millimetres in diameter and 2.8 millimetres thick (Schedule 1, Part 1). The design of the coin must be as specified in columns 5 and 6 of Schedule 1, such as the obverse featuring an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the reverse depicting a specific design related to Australian history or culture. Under this Determination, the Royal Australian Mint and any other entity producing coins in Australia are required to adhere to the specifications outlined in Schedule 1. This includes ensuring that the coins meet the prescribed weight, dimensions, and design criteria. The Mint must also use the specified materials and compositions for the coins, such as using not less than 99.9% silver for certain $1 coins (Schedule 1, Part 1). Any deviation from these specifications would result in non-compliance with the Determination. Failure to comply with the specifications set out in this Determination can result in legal consequences. Although the Determination itself does not explicitly state offences or penalties, contravention of the Currency Act 1965, under which this Determination is made, may lead to criminal or civil penalties. For example, under section 139 of the Currency Act, a person who makes a counterfeit coin, or has a counterfeit coin in their possession with intent to use it as genuine, can be subject to a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment. Similarly, offences related to the unauthorised production of coins can also attract significant penalties.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.