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 Due to its high silver content, it was withdrawn and replaced in 1969 by a dodecagonal (12-sided) coin made from a copper-nickel alloy.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- 1992: The 1 and 2 cent coins were withdrawn from circulation due to their low value and high cost of production.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.
| 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.
