EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by authority of the Assistant Treasurer
Currency Act 1965
Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination (No. 4) 2019
Subsection 13(2) and section 13A of the Currency Act 1965 (the Act) provide that the Treasurer may, by legislative instrument, determine details of Australian coin characteristics including denomination, standard composition, standard weight, allowable variation from standard weight, design and dimensions.
The purpose of this legislative instrument is to determine the characteristics of 25 new non-circulating coins proposed to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint.
The Treasurer may authorise the making and issuing of coins specified, or taken to be specified, in the Schedule to the Currency Act 1965. A payment of money is a legal tender if it is made in coins that are made and issued under the Currency Act 1965. Through the issue of a currency determination, the Treasurer can add, remove and alter the coin characteristics specified, or taken to be specified, in the Schedule to the Currency Act 1965.
In accordance with section 19 of the Acts Interpretations Act 1901, any Minister in the Treasury portfolio may, by legislative instrument, determine details of Australian coin characteristics.
Details of the legislative instrument are set out in the Attachment.
The legislative instrument commenced on the day after it was registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.
The legislative instrument is subject to disallowance under section 42 of the Legislation Act 2003.
Consultation
No public consultation was undertaken in relation to this legislative instrument. The effect of this instrument is to determine details of new Australian coin characteristics which will enable the Royal Australian Mint to continue its production of circulating and numismatic coins.
Members of the public have the opportunity to contact the Royal Australian Mint to present any themes they would like to see commemorated on Australian legal tender. These concepts are then researched and assessed in accordance with the Royal Australian Mint’s Coin Design Policy. The Royal Australian Mint also uses market based tools to identify interested parties and gauge interest in coin themes.
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination (No. 4) 2019
This Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview of the Legislative Instrument
The purpose of this legislative instrument is to determine the characteristics of 25 new collector coins proposed to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint.
Human rights implications
This Legislative Instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.
Conclusion
This Legislative Instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.
ATTACHMENT
Details of the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination (No. 4) 2019
This Attachment sets out further details of the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination (No. 4) 2019 (the Determination).
Section 1 – Name
This section specifies the name of the Determination is the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination (No. 4) 2019.
Section 2 – Commencement
This section prescribes that the Determination commences the day after the Determination is registered.
Section 3 – Authority
This section provides that the Determination is made under the Currency Act 1965.
Section 4 – Definitions
This section provides definitions for the purposes of the Determination.
Sections 5 and 6 – Coin characteristics
These sections provide that the coin characteristics set out in Schedule 1 are taken to be specified in the Schedule to the Currency Act 1965. The Treasurer may authorise the making and issuing coins specified, or taken to be specified by currency determinations, in the Schedule to the Currency Act 1965. A payment of money is a legal tender if it is made in coins that are made and issued under the Currency Act 1965.
Schedule 1 – Standard composition, standard weight, design and dimensions of coins of specified denominations
Schedule 1 sets out the details of new coin characteristics. The newly determined coins characteristics are set out below.
$1 Copper, Aluminium and Nickel Coin – Year of the Rat
A representation of a rat standing on the convex side of a crescent shape. In the background there are six lychees and six leaves hanging from a branch. The design includes the Chinese language character pronounced shŭ under the Pinyin system and meaning rat. The design also includes the inscriptions “YEAR OF THE RAT” and a stylised representation of the initials of the designer Bronwyn King ‘BK’.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’ and “1 DOLLAR”.
$1 Copper, Aluminium and Nickel Coin – Lunar Wheel
A central circle enclosing an ornamental border comprising of stylised representations of clouds and a stylised representation of the Chinese language character pronounced fú under the Pinyin system and meaning good luck. Surrounding the central circle is an ornamental border with stylised representations of splashing water. Immediately inside the rim of the coin there is a representation of each of the following: a rat, a pig, a dog, a rooster, a monkey, a goat, a horse, a snake, a dragon, a rabbit, a tiger and an ox. The design includes a stylised representation of the initials of the designer Bronwyn King ‘BK’.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’ and “1 DOLLAR”.
$1 Silver Ingot – Year of the Rat
A representation of a rat standing on the convex side of a crescent shape. In the background there are eight lychees and fourteen leaves hanging from a branch. The design includes the inscriptions ‘YEAR OF THE RAT’ and the Chinese language character pronounced shŭ under the Pinyin system and meaning rat. The design is enclosed by a rectangular border with rounded corners and convex edges.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear in the centre of the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’ and “1 DOLLAR”. At the top of the design there is a representation of three lychees and three leaves hanging from a branch. At the bottom of the design there is a representation of two lychees and three leaves hanging from a branch and of a lychee and a leaf hanging from another branch. The design is enclosed by a rectangular border with rounded corners and convex edges.
$5 Silver Domed Coin – Year of the Rat
A representation of a rat standing on the convex side of a crescent shape. In the background there are six lychees and six leaves hanging from a branch. The design includes the Chinese language character pronounced shŭ under the Pinyin system and meaning rat. The design also includes the inscriptions “YEAR OF THE RAT”, “1 oz .999 Ag” and a stylised representation of the initials of the designer Bronwyn King ‘BK’.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear in the centre of the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’ and “5 DOLLARS”. Immediately inside the rim of the coin there is a representation of each of the following: a rat, a pig, a dog, a rooster, a monkey, a goat, a horse, a snake, a dragon, a rabbit, a tiger and an ox.
$100 Gold Domed Coin – Year of the Rat
A representation of a rat standing on the convex side of a crescent shape. In the background there are 6 lychees and 6 leaves hanging from a branch. The design includes the Chinese language character pronounced shŭ under the Pinyin system and meaning rat. The design also includes the inscriptions “YEAR OF THE RAT”, “1 oz .9999 Au” and a stylised representation of the initials of the designer Bronwyn King ‘BK’.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear in the centre of the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’ and “100 DOLLARS”. Immediately inside the rim of the coin there is a representation of each of the following: a rat, a pig, a dog, a rooster, a monkey, a goat, a horse, a snake, a dragon, a rabbit, a tiger and an ox.
$100 Gold Coin – 50th Anniversary of the Lunar Landing
A representation of a rocket, with an exhaust plume streams emanating from its base. In the background there is a representation of the moon. On the left, there is a representation of an astronaut. On the right, there is a representation of a footprint on the moon’s surface. The design includes two curved lines and the inscriptions “50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOON LANDING”, “ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS” and “1 oz .9999 Au”.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’.
$1 Silver Coin – 50th Anniversary of the Lunar Landing
A representation of a rocket, with an exhaust plume emanating from its base. In the background there is a representation of the moon. On the left, there is a representation of an astronaut. On the right, there is a representation of a footprint on the moon’s surface. The design includes two curved lines and the inscriptions “50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOON LANDING”, “ONE DOLLAR” and “1 oz .999 Ag”.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’.
$2 Copper, Aluminium and Nickel Coin – Wallabies
A central circle containing a stylised representation of a wallaby holding a football (the Australian national rugby union team logo) and standing next to a partially obscured 5-pointed star. In the background, and partially obscured by that central circle is another circle containing a coloured pattern with dark green, light green and yellow irregular shapes. The design includes four representations of a 7-pointed star, each partially obscured, placed at quarter intervals around the outer edge of the coin. The design also includes the inscriptions “TWO DOLLARS” and “WALLABIES AUSTRALIA”.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’.
$5 Silver Coin – Bottlenose Dolphin
A circular border enclosing a representation of the sun, the horizon and a body of water. In the foreground, and partially obscuring that border, there is a representation of a bottlenose dolphin. The design includes the inscriptions “BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN”, “1 oz .999” and “FINE SILVER”.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’ and “5 DOLLARS”.
50¢ Copper and Nickel Coloured Coin – Possum Magic
A coloured cartoon representation of characters from the book Possum Magic (1983). The coloured design includes the illustration by Julie Vivas on the published book cover. The design also includes the inscriptions “POSSUM MAGIC” and “50”.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’.
50¢ Copper and Nickel Coin – Possum Magic
A cartoon representation of characters from the book Possum Magic (1983). The design includes the illustration by Julie Vivas on the published book cover. The design also includes the inscriptions “POSSUM MAGIC” and “50”.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’.
$25 Gold Coin – Kangaroos at Dawn
A representation of two kangaroos. In the foreground and partially obscuring those kangaroos, there is a representation of reeds and stylised rocks. In the background there is a representation of the sun and clouds. The design includes the inscription “1/5 oz .9999 Au” and the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic ‘AS’.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’ and “25 DOLLARS”.
$1 Silver Coin – Kangaroos at Dawn
A representation of two kangaroos. In the foreground and partially obscuring those kangaroos, there is a representation of reeds and stylised rocks. In the background there is a representation of the sun and clouds. The design includes the inscription “1/2 oz .999 Ag” and the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic ‘AS’.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’ and “1 DOLLAR”.
$1 Copper, Aluminium and Nickel Coin – 75th Anniversary of D-Day
A central circle enclosing an aerial view representation of ten World War II warplanes in flight and nine warships in sail wherein some of those planes and ships are partially obscured. Superimposed on a part of that central circle is a representation of another warplane, a representation of a kangaroo facing left and the inscriptions “1 DOLLAR” and “75TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY”. The design also includes the initials of the designer Bronwyn King ‘BK’.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’.
$100 Gold Coin – Spinner Dolphin
A circular border enclosing a representation of the sun, the horizon and a body of water. In the foreground, and partially obscuring that border, is a representation of a spinner dolphin emerging from splashing water. The design includes the inscriptions “SPINNER DOLPHIN”, “1 oz .9999” and “FINE GOLD”.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’ and “100 DOLLARS”.
$1 Silver Coin – Spinner Dolphin
A circular border enclosing a representation of the sun, the horizon and a body of water. In the foreground, and partially obscuring that border, is a representation of a spinner dolphin emerging from splashing water. The design includes the inscriptions “SPINNER DOLPHIN”, “1 oz .999” and “FINE SILVER”.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions ‘ELIZABETH II .’ and ‘AUSTRALIA’ and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’ and “1 DOLLAR”.
$1 Silver Coin – Willis Tower Privy Mark – Chicago Coin Show
A stylised representation of five kangaroos. The design includes the inscription “1 DOLLAR”. The design also includes a square enclosing a stylised representation of the Willis Tower in Chicago.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’.
$1 Silver Coin – Panda Privy Mark – Beijing Coin Show
A stylised representation of five kangaroos. The design includes the inscription “1 DOLLAR”. The design also includes a square enclosing a stylised representation of the head and upper chest of a giant panda.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’.
$1 Silver Coin – Berlin Bear Privy Mark – Berlin Coin Show
A stylised representation of five kangaroos. The design includes the inscription “1 DOLLAR”. The design also includes a square enclosing a stylised drawing of a bear standing derived from the Berlin Coat of Arms.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’.
$1 Silver Coin with Selective Gold Plating – Mob of Roos
A stylised representation of five kangaroos wherein one of those kangaroos is gold‑plated. The design includes the inscription “1 DOLLAR”. The design is enclosed by a gold-plated border.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, a gold-plated effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’. The design is enclosed by a gold-plated circular border.
$100 Gold Coin – Red-back Spider
A representation of a red-back spider spinning a tangled web. The design includes the inscriptions “REDBACK SPIDER” and “1 oz .9999 GOLD” and the initials of the designer Adam William Ball ‘AWB’.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’ and “100 DOLLARS”.
$1 Silver Coin – Red-back Spider
A representation of a red-back spider spinning a tangled web. The design includes the inscriptions “REDBACK SPIDER” and “1 oz .999 SILVER” and the initials of the designer Adam William Ball ‘AWB’.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’ and “1 DOLLAR”.
$1 Copper, Aluminium and Nickel Coin – Letter A – The Great Aussie Coin Hunt
A representation of a postman, wherein the postman is facing left, wearing a helmet and riding a bike with a bag above the front wheel, two saddlebags and a flag on the rear of the bike. Positioned on one of the saddlebags is a stylised representation of the Australia Post logo. The design includes 11 thin concave lines with identical curvatures and three thick convex lines with identical curvatures. The design also includes a representation of an envelope and the inscriptions “A”, “ONE DOLLAR” and “AUSTRALIA POST”.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’.
$200 Gold Coin – Double Header
An effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II together with the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’. The design includes the inscriptions “AUSTRALIAN COINAGE PORTRAIT 1998-2019” and “TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS”.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’.
50¢ Copper and Nickel Coin – 70th Anniversary of ASIO
A circle enclosing a representation of a camera lens with a serrated edge and the inscriptions “12.5MM”, “7A” and “1-2.5”. The design includes a circle enclosing a representation of another camera lens. The design also includes a circle with a serrated edge enclosing a representation of a scorpion. In the background there is a stylised representation of the number “70”. The design includes the initials of the designer Adam William Ball ‘AWB’ and the inscriptions “AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION”, “1949 – 2019”, “50” and a representation of a coded message.
Consistent with all Australian legal tender coinage, an effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse side of the coin together with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II”, “AUSTRALIA” and the inscription, in numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’.