Overview

The Currency Act 1965, as amended by F2007L02285, addresses the need to issue commemorative coins to celebrate significant national events and anniversaries. This particular determination, made by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer under subsection 13A(1), specifies the characteristics of a special 50c coin commemorating the 60th Wedding Anniversary of HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The coin, featuring a unique design by Stuart Devlin, includes a silhouette of the royal couple and a representation of a sparkling diamond inscribed with "60th". The coin's design also includes an outer ring depicting 60 Royal Trumpets and the relevant commemorative text. This determination, effective from the day after registration, outlines the coin's composition, weight, dimensions, and proposed mintage and pricing, ensuring it meets the statutory requirements and serves as a collector’s item.

Scope and Application

Under the Currency Act 1965, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer has specified the characteristics of a commemorative coin designed to celebrate the 60th Wedding Anniversary of HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. This determination, which is a disallowable instrument, outlines the coin’s standard composition, weight, allowable variations, design, and dimensions. The coin, a 50 cent cupro nickel uncirculated coin, features a unique design including a silhouette of the Queen and Prince Philip, a sparkling diamond inscribed with '60th', and an outer ring representing 60 Royal Trumpets, along with the words 'ELIZABETH AND PHILIP', 'WEDDING ANNIVERSARY' and 'FIFTY CENTS'. The coin is packaged in a blister with a collector card, has a proposed mintage of 20,000, and is set to be released on 3 September 2007. The proposed issue price is $4.95 AUD. The determination applies to the entities responsible for minting and distributing the coin, ensuring compliance with the specified standards and characteristics as mandated by the Currency Act 1965.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of this determination, pursuant to subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965, outline the specific details required for the coins that are proposed to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint. Section 13A(1) mandates that the determination must include the standard composition, standard weight, allowable variation from standard weight, design, and dimensions of the coins. In this case, the coin in question is a 50 cent piece commemorating the 60th Wedding Anniversary of HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The reverse design features a silhouette of the Queen and Prince Philip with a sparkling diamond inscribed with "60th", surrounded by an outer ring depicting 60 Royal Trumpets and the words "ELIZABETH AND PHILIP", "WEDDING ANNIVERSARY", and "FIFTY CENTS". Additionally, the coin includes the initials of the designer, Stuart Devlin, "SD". The Currency Act 1965 imposes several obligations on the parties involved in the minting and issuing of these coins. Firstly, the determination must adhere to the specifications outlined in section 13A(1), ensuring the coins meet the required standards for composition, weight, and design. Furthermore, the determination must be registered, as stipulated in section 13A(4) of the Currency Act 1965, and it becomes effective on the day after registration. The determination also stipulates the format of the coin, which is uncirculated and packaged in a blister with a collector card, and specifies the proposed mintage of 20,000 coins and the proposed issue price of $4.95. Failure to comply with the requirements of this determination could result in various legal consequences. The Currency Act 1965 does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties for breaches of this determination. However, breaches of legislative instruments such as this one may be subject to the general provisions of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. Under section 42 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, this determination is classified as a disallowable instrument, meaning it can be disallowed by either House of Parliament. Additionally, section 57 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 provides for the potential imposition of civil or criminal penalties for breaches, although the exact penalties are not specified in this particular determination. It is important to note that the consequences of non-compliance would depend on the specific breach and the applicable laws.