Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination (No. 5) 2018

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au F2018L01202 In force Legislative Instrument

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Explanatory Statement

 

Currency Act 1965

 

Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination (No. 5) 2018

 

Under paragraph 13(2)(b) and subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965, the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services has made a determination regarding the specification of coins proposed to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint.

Paragraph 13(2)(b) and subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965 require that the determination provides details of the coins’ denomination and characteristics, including standard composition, standard weight, allowable variation from standard weight, design and dimensions. Each item in the table below explains a corresponding item in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to this determination.

 

Item 1

$1 Copper, Aluminium and Nickel Coin – New Effigy

 

Reverse

An effigy of 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     . ONE DOLLAR.’.

 

Obverse

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 Arabic numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’.

Item 2

$1 Silver Coin – New Effigy

 

Reverse

An effigy of 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     . ONE DOLLAR.’.

 

Obverse

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 Arabic numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Jody Clark ‘JC’.

Item 3

$1 Copper, Aluminium and Nickel Coloured Coin – Invictus Games

 

Reverse

In the upper sector there is a coloured semicircle containing 2 white dotted lines, 2 grey dotted lines and 2 yellow dotted lines, all superimposed on a black background. Superimposed on that coloured semicircle is a representation of a male athlete in a crouch start position, wearing running blades. Below that athlete is a horizontal line and a representation of the word ‘Sydney’ and the number ‘13’ in braille print. The design includes 3 horizontal lines and 2 vertical lines. The design also includes the inscriptions ‘INVICTUS GAMES’, ‘SYDNEY 2018’ and the initials of the designer Aleksandra Stokic ‘AS’.

 

Obverse

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 Arabic numerals, of a year. The obverse design includes the initials of the designer Ian Rank-Broadley ‘IRB’ and ‘.1 DOLLAR.’.

 

Consultation

No public consultation was undertaken in relation to the currency determination. The effect of this instrument is to determine the denomination, weight, design and dimension of coins to enable the Royal Australian Mint to continue its production of circulating and numismatic coins. The Mint receives public submissions on coin designs and determines appropriate designs in accordance with its Coin Design Policy. The Mint used market based tools to identify interested parties and gauge interest in coin themes.

 

Commencement

The determination commences on the day after it is registered.

 

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

This 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. The purpose of the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination (No. 5) 2018 is to determine the denomination, weight, design and dimension of circulating and numismatic coins. This instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms. This instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues. This determination has been made by the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, in accordance with paragraph 13(2)(b) and subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965.

Overview

The Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination (No. 5) 2018 was enacted by the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services under the Currency Act 1965. This determination was introduced to specify the denomination, weight, design, and dimensions of coins proposed to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint, in line with the requirements set out in the Currency Act 1965. The objective of this determination is to enable the Mint to continue its production of circulating and numismatic coins. The determination details the characteristics of the coins, including their composition, weight, allowable variations, design elements, and dimensions, without engaging any human rights issues, as confirmed by the Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights.

Scope and Application

The Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination (No. 5) 2018, made under the Currency Act 1965, applies to the Royal Australian Mint, which is responsible for the production of circulating and numismatic coins in Australia. The Act specifies the details of the coins' denomination, characteristics, including composition, weight, allowable variation, design, and dimensions, and thus governs the specifications of coins proposed to be issued by the Mint. This determination sets out the specific details for three coins: a $1 copper, aluminium and nickel coin featuring a new effigy, a $1 silver coin with a new effigy, and a $1 coloured coin commemorating the Invictus Games. The determination does not extend to other entities or industries outside the scope of the Currency Act 1965. The geographic reach of this Act is national, as it applies throughout Australia. The determination does not specify any exclusions or exemptions but provides detailed specifications that the Royal Australian Mint must adhere to in its coin production. The application of the Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, although no such instruments are mentioned in the explanatory statement.

Key Provisions

The Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination (No. 5) 2018 outlines specific details about the coins proposed to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint under sections 13(2)(b) and 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965. This determination specifies the denomination, standard composition, weight, allowable variation, design and dimensions for each coin type. For instance, the $1 Copper, Aluminium and Nickel Coin – New Effigy features an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and specific inscriptions on both the obverse and reverse sides. Similarly, the $1 Silver Coin – New Effigy shares similar design elements but differs in composition. The $1 Copper, Aluminium and Nickel Coloured Coin – Invictus Games includes a unique design related to the Invictus Games, along with the standard effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. Each coin adheres to the legal tender requirements of Australian coinage. The Act imposes several obligations on the Royal Australian Mint. Firstly, it must ensure that the coins comply with the specified denominations, weights, compositions, and designs as outlined in the determination. The Mint is also responsible for producing coins that meet these standards to ensure they function as legal tender. Additionally, the Mint must follow its Coin Design Policy when determining coin designs, ensuring that public interest and potential market demand are considered. This involves using market-based tools to gauge interest in various coin themes and incorporating public feedback where appropriate. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination (No. 5) 2018 can result in legal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the determination, breaches of the Currency Act 1965 can generally lead to civil or criminal penalties, depending on the severity of the offence. Civil penalties may include fines, while criminal offences can result in more severe penalties, including imprisonment. The exact penalties would be determined based on the specific breach and the provisions of the Currency Act 1965. It is essential for the Mint to adhere strictly to the specifications to avoid any legal repercussions.

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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.