Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2008 (No. 6)

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2008L02949 In force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

 

Under subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965, the Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law has made a determination regarding the specification of coins proposed to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint.

 

Subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965 requires that the determination provides details of the coins characteristics including standard composition, standard weight, allowable variation from standard weight, design and dimensions.

 

This determination is a disallowable instrument for the purposes of section 42 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (Subsection 13(6) and 13A (4) of the Currency Act 1965, Section 57 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003).

 

The determination commences on the day after it is registered.

Item 1 & 2

 

$1 Coin

(2009 $1 Silver Proof and $1 Aluminium Bronze ‘C’ Mintmark Coin - 60th Anniversary of Australian Citizenship)

 

A design consisting of a representation of Earth in the centre, surrounded by 7 different faces, superimposed on the Star of Federation. This star is surrounded by 7 rectangles all consisting of various pieces that make up the map of Australia.

 

The design also features the inscriptions 60th ANNIVERSARY OF AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP the coin designer’s mark of initials ‘WP’, ‘ONE DOLLAR’ and a ‘C’ Mintmark which denotes its minting in Canberra.

 

Coins will be packed in individual coin holders.

 

Item 3, 5 & 7

$1 Coin

(2009 $1 Aluminium Bronze ‘S, ‘B’ & ‘M’ Privy mark Coin - 60th Anniversary of Australian Citizenship)

 

A design consisting of a representation of Earth in the centre, surrounded by 7 different faces, superimposed on the Star of Federation. This star is surrounded by 7 rectangles all consisting of various pieces that make up the map of Australia.

 

The design also features the inscriptions ‘60th ANNIVERSARY OF AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP’ the coin designer’s mark of initials ‘WP’, ‘ONE DOLLAR’ and either a ‘S’, ‘B’ or ‘M’ in a square surround. This is referred to as a privy mark.

 

Privy marks are struck on these coins to signify capital cities other than Canberra. In the case of the Australian Citizenship coins the S, B and M represent Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. All Privy marks are identified with a letter in a square surround.

 

All coins will be packed in individual coin holders.

 

Item 4, 6 & 8

$1 Coin

(2009 $1 Aluminium Bronze ‘S, ‘B’ & ‘M’ Counterstamp Coin - 60th Anniversary of Australian Citizenship)

 

A design consisting of a representation of Earth in the centre, surrounded by 7 different faces, superimposed on the Star of Federation. This star is surrounded by 7 rectangles all consisting of various pieces that make up the map of Australia.

 

The design also features the inscriptions ‘60th ANNIVERSARY OF AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP’ the coin designer’s mark of initials ‘WP’, ‘ONE DOLLAR’ and either a ‘S’, ‘B’ or ‘M’ in a circle surround. This is referred to as a counterstamp.

 

The S, B and M counterstamps are added to pre struck coins by the Mint using mobile presses at coin and agricultural shows in Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. All counterstamps are identified with a letter in a circular surround.

 

All coins will be packed in individual coin holders.

 

Item 9

$1 Coin

(2009 $1 Aluminium Bronze Uncirculated Coin - Dorothy Wall)

The design features a portrait of Dorothy Wall surrounded on one side by four images of Blinky Bill. The images of Blinky Bill consist of, Blinky Bill climbing a tree; Blinky Bill standing holding a sling shot; Blinky Bill running; and Blinky Bill sitting with his legs in the air.

The inscription on the reverse of the coin reads Dorothy Wall; One Dollar and Blinky Bill.

This coin will be packed in 6 coin blister and collector card, along with the standard design 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c and $2 coins.

 

Item 10

$5 Coin

(2009 $5 Gold Proof Little Dinkum Coin - Petey Platypus)

A design consisting of a cartoon representation of a swimming platypus and bubbles.

The design also features the inscriptions5 DOLLARS’ and ‘1/25th oz 99.99 Au’.

Coins will be encapsulated and packed in a case and outer box with an accompanying certificate of authenticity.

 

Item 11

$5 Coin

(2009 $5 Gold Proof Little Dinkum Coin - Lillypilly Lizard)

A design consisting of a cartoon representation of a Frilled neck lizard standing upright.

The design also features the inscriptions ‘5 DOLLARS’ and ‘1/25th oz 99.99 Au’

Coins will be encapsulated and packed in a case and outer box with an accompanying certificate of authenticity.

Item 12

$5 Coin

(2010 $5 Gold Proof Little Dinkum Coin - Kato Cockatoo)

A design consisting of a cartoon representation of a perched cockatoo looking to it’s right.

The design also features the inscriptions ‘5 DOLLARS’ and ‘1/25th oz 99.99 Au’

Coins will be encapsulated and packed in a case and outer box with an accompanying certificate of authenticity.

Item 13

$5 Coin

(2010 $5 Gold Proof Little Dinkum Coin - Tinga Tasmanian Devil)

A design consisting of a cartoon representation of a Tasmanian devil sitting with its arms crossed.

The design also features the inscriptions ‘5 DOLLARS’ and ‘1/25th oz 99.99 Au’

Coins will be encapsulated and packed in a case and outer box with an accompanying certificate of authenticity.

 

Obverse

 

Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, and either the year 2009 or 2010 will appear on the obverse side of the coin.

 

The coins covered in the determination are part of the Mint’s annual 2009 and 2010 collector coin program. Consultation has been undertaken with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for the 2009 Mintmark theme - 60th Anniversary of Australian Citizenship, to ensure that the coin design aligned with key DIAC themes and messages for the anniversary year. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has endorsed the coin design for items 1 to 8.

 

The Dorothy Wall coin was developed in consultation with HarperCollins Publishers Australia as the copyright to the original Blinky Bill was owned by Angus & Robertson, now an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

 

The Little Dinkums characters are created by the Royal Australian Mint, the illustrations and coins design have been produced by an illustrator commission by the Mint; therefore no stakeholder consultation was required for the product.

 

No wider public consultation was undertaken in respect of the actual specifications of these coins as they do not have a direct, or a substantially indirect, effect on business, nor do they restrict competition.

 

 

Overview

The Currency Act 1965, enacted by the Parliament of Australia, provides the framework for the issuance of legal tender coins in Australia. It was introduced to address the need for a structured legal basis for the minting and circulation of coins. Under this Act, the Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law has the authority to specify the characteristics of coins to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint, ensuring that these coins meet certain standards of composition, weight, design, and dimensions. This particular determination, made under subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965, details the specifications for a series of commemorative coins issued in 2009 and 2010, including designs commemorating the 60th anniversary of Australian citizenship and notable Australian literary and faunal figures. The coins, which are part of the Mint's annual collector coin program, are subject to disallowance under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, and their specifications have been developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders to align with national themes and messages.

Scope and Application

The determination under subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965 specifies the characteristics of coins proposed to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint, including their composition, weight, design, and dimensions. This legislation applies to the Royal Australian Mint, which is responsible for producing these coins. The coins covered in this determination are part of the Mint’s annual collector coin program for 2009 and 2010, commemorating significant Australian themes and anniversaries. This Act has a national reach, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia. The coins are subject to the Minister's determination, which provides detailed specifications and is a disallowable instrument under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. The coins themselves are legal tender and feature various designs, including commemorative themes endorsed by relevant government departments. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions in the text, and the application of the Act is not extended or restricted through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of this determination under the Currency Act 1965 (subsection 13A(1)) specify the characteristics of eight coins proposed to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint. These coins include various designs and commemorative themes, with each coin having unique specifications such as composition, weight, design, and dimensions. The coins are part of the Mint’s annual collector coin program for 2009 and 2010, with certain coins commemorating the 60th anniversary of Australian citizenship and featuring designs related to notable Australian figures and wildlife. The determination requires the Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law to provide detailed specifications for each coin, including standard composition, standard weight, allowable variation from standard weight, design, and dimensions. These specifications must be clearly outlined to ensure the coins meet legal standards and serve their intended commemorative purposes. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has endorsed the design of the coins related to the 60th anniversary of Australian citizenship, while the design of the Blinky Bill coin was developed in consultation with HarperCollins Publishers Australia, the copyright owner. The obligations imposed by the Act on the Royal Australian Mint and other relevant entities include ensuring that all coins adhere to the specifications outlined in the determination. The Mint must produce the coins according to the prescribed designs and characteristics, ensuring that each coin is accurately minted and packed as specified. Additionally, the Mint must ensure that any commemorative coins, such as those with privy marks or counterstamps, are correctly applied and identifiable, maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the coins. Failure to comply with the specifications or the obligations imposed by the Act may result in legal consequences. While the determination does not explicitly outline specific penalties for breaches, non-compliance with currency regulations can lead to enforcement actions under the Currency Act 1965 or other relevant legislation. The penalties for such breaches can include fines and, in severe cases, criminal charges. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, but they are intended to ensure adherence to legal standards and protect the integrity of the currency system.

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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.