Australian Decimal Coins (1966 - present)

History of Australian Decimal Coin Currency

The transition to decimal currency in Australia marked a significant milestone in the nation’s economic and cultural history. Before 1966, Australia used a currency system inherited from the British, which included pounds, shillings, and pence. The British system was complex and cumbersome, especially for arithmetic calculations. This complexity prompted the consideration of a decimal system, which would simplify financial transactions and aligned Australia more closely with international standards. This page details the history of Australian decimal coin currency from its inception to the present day.

Transition to Decimal Currency

• The decision to adopt decimal currency was made in the early 1960s. The Decimal Currency Act 1965 was passed, and the Decimal Currency Board was established to oversee the transition. The new system was based on the Australian dollar ($), divided into 100 cents (¢).

• Introduction Date: February 14, 1966

• Known as "C-Day", this date marked the official changeover to decimal currency. The slogan "Decimal Currency – The Dollar and the Cent" was used to promote the new system.

Coin Designs

The designs for the new decimal coins were created by Stuart Devlin, a renowned Australian artist and metalworker. His designs featured iconic Australian fauna, making the coins instantly recognizable and uniquely Australian.

Initial Decimal Coins (1966)

Coins Introduced The initial set of decimal coins included:

• 1 cent: Feathertail glider
• 2 cents: Frill-necked lizard
• 5 cents: Echidna
• 10 cents: Lyrebird
• 20 cents: Platypus
• 50 cents: Coat of Arms

The coins, their mints, varieties and collector sets of the first decimal year are covered in detail on Australian Coins of 1966.

Special Considerations

The 50-cent coin initially introduced was round and made of 80% silver. Due to its high silver content, it was withdrawn and replaced in 1969 by a dodecagonal (12-sided) coin made from a copper-nickel alloy.

Evolution and Changes

Introduction of New Denominations

• 1984: The 1-dollar ($1) coin was introduced, replacing the banknote of the same denomination. It features a design of five kangaroos.

• 1988: The 2-dollar ($2) coin was introduced, replacing the banknote of the same denomination. It features an image of an Aboriginal elder.

Withdrawal of 1 and 2 Cent Coins

• 1992: The 1 and 2 cent coins were withdrawn from circulation due to their low value and high cost of production. Prices were rounded to the nearest 5 cents.

Coins by Year

The year pages gather everything struck for a given year in one place - the circulating coins and their mintages, the varieties, the uncirculated year set and the proof set. This is the recommended path for collecting date runs and for studying a single year in depth; the finish-based pages above remain the reference for each category.

Coins by year, 1966 - 2026

Year	Notes
1966	The changeover year - coins struck at four mints, the wavy baseline 20 cent, five uncirculated set packagings and the first decimal proof set
1967	The first quiet year - five denominations struck, but no 50 cent and no year sets
1968	Bronze key dates: the 1968 1 cent and 2 cent, and the no-SD two cent variety
1969	The dodecagonal 50 cent debuts; year sets resume - see the 1969 set page
1970	Captain Cook Bicentenary 50 cent, the first circulating decimal commemorative - see the 1970 set page
1971	Standard designs
1972	Standard designs
1973	Standard designs
1974	Standard designs; the rarest year set
1975	Standard designs
1976	Standard designs
1977	Silver Jubilee commemorative 50 cent - see the 1977 set page
1978	Standard designs
1979	Standard designs
1980	Standard designs
1981	Standard designs; circulating 20 cent coins also struck in Canada and Wales
1982	Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50 cent - see the 1982 set page
1983	Standard designs
1984	The one dollar coin enters circulation
1985	The one dollar joins the year set; the 5 cent is a set-only date
1986	Six of the year set's seven coins were never issued for circulation
1987	Five set-only dates in the year set
1988	Bicentenary; the two dollar coin debuts and the record 250,000-set year - see the 1988 set page
1989	Standard designs; three set-only dates in the year set
1990	Standard designs; the last circulating 1 cent date
1991	The farewell 1 and 2 cent year set, for the 25th anniversary of decimal currency
1992	Barcelona Olympics one dollar and the first six-coin set; the 1 and 2 cent coins are withdrawn - see the 1992 set page
1993	Landcare one dollar; the 20 cent is a set-only date
1994	Year of the Family one dollar
1995	End of World War II 50th anniversary; the 10 cent is a set-only date
1996	Sir Henry Parkes one dollar; the 10 cent is again a set-only date
1997	Sir Charles Kingsford Smith one dollar
1998	Bass and Flinders one dollar
1999	International Year of Older Persons one dollar
2000	Millennium 50 cent, whose colour trials created the rare incused flag variety
2001	Centenary of Federation; the world's first double-hologram coin
2002	Year of the Outback
2003	Australia's Volunteers
2004	"Coins Come Alive", remembered for its obverse die varieties
2005	60th anniversary of the end of World War II
2006	40 years of decimal currency; the 1 and 2 cent return for one year - see the 2006 set page
2007	Year of the Surf Lifesaver
2008	Year of Planet Earth
2009	Year of Astronomy
2010	Standard designs
2011	Standard designs
2012	Hyper-metallic 50 cent in the Special Edition set; the set-only one dollar; Australia's first coloured circulating coin
2013	Coloured Centenary of Canberra 20 cent in the year set
2014	Coloured one dollar in the year set
2015	The Mint's own 50th anniversary
2016	The Changeover - 50th anniversary obverses on every coin in the set - see the 2016 set page
2017	Effigy of an Era
2018	Armistice Centenary
2019	Moon Landing 50th anniversary
2020	The Jody Clark effigy debuts on all six coins
2021	Aboriginal Flag 50th anniversary
2022	Frontline Workers
2023	Vegemite Centenary; only the one dollar circulated - the set is the only source of the other five dates
2024	Change of Monarch - a different effigy on every coin in the set - see the 2024 set page
2025	Australian Honours System 50th anniversary
2026	60 years of decimal currency, with custom 10 cent and 50 cent reverses in the year set

The year pages are being added progressively; a red year above is a page still to be written. Years with an existing set page are noted until their full year page is prepared.

Commemorative and Special Edition Coins

Australia has issued numerous commemorative coins to celebrate significant events, anniversaries, and cultural milestones. These coins often feature special designs and are popular among collectors.

Coin Variety Types

In Australia, the Royal Australian Mint and the Perth Mint produce a variety of coin types to cater to different purposes and audiences. Here are the main types of coins produced:

Circulated Coins

• Purpose: Everyday transactions.
• Finish: Durable, less polished.

Uncirculated (UNC) Coins

• Purpose: Collecting.
• Finish: Mint condition, sharper than circulated coins.

Proof Coins

• Purpose: Collecting, displaying.
• Finish: Highly polished, detailed.

Not Intended for Circulation (NIFC) Coins

• Purpose: Collecting.
• Finish: Varies, often better than circulated coins.

Bullion Coins

• Purpose: Investment.
• Finish: High purity, typically matte or semi-matte.