{"id":"F2008B00125","name":"Currency Determination No. 4 of 1997","slug":"currency-determination-no-4-of-1997","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":72582,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008B00125-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Currency Determination No. 4 of 1997","content":"Commonwealth of Australia\n\nCurrency Act 1965\n\nCurrency Determination No. 4 of 1997\n\nI, CHARLES RODERICK KEMP, Assistant Treasurer, acting for the Treasurer, make the following Determination under subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965.\n\nDated 28 July 1997.\n\nC.R. KEMP\n\nAssistant Treasurer\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nCitation\n\n1. This Determination may be cited as Currency Determination No. 4 of 1997.\n\nCommencement\n\n2. This Determination commences on 29 September 1997.\n\nSpecifications of coins\n\n3. This Determination specifies, for a coin of a kind having the denomination and standard composition specified in columns 1 and 2, respectively, in Part 1 of the Schedule, and a design specified in column 5 of that Part:\n\n(a) the standard weight, and allowable variation from that weight, specified for a coin of that kind in column 3 of that Part; and\n\n(b) the dimensions specified for a coin of that kind in column 4 of that Part.\n\nApplication of Determination\n\n4. This Determination does not affect any other determination of the specifications of a coin.\n\nSCHEDULE Clause 3\n\nPART 1—SPECIFICATIONS OF COINS\n\n```html\n

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Column 5

Denom‑

ination

Standard

composition

Standard weight

Dimensions

Design

and allowable

variation (g)

(1)

Diameter

(mm)

(2)

Thickness

(mm)

(1)

Shape

(2)

Edge

(3)

Obverse

(4)

Reverse

$5

Copper, zinc, aluminium and tin

20.00 0.50

38.90

2.65

S1

E1

O3

R44

$5

Copper, zinc, aluminium and tin

20.00 0.50

38.90

2.65

S1

E1

O3

R45

$5

99.9% silver

31.635 0.50

40.60

4.00

S1

E5

O4

R46

$5

99.9% silver

31.635 0.50

40.60

4.00

S1

E5

O4

R47

$100

99.99% gold

10.021 0.020

25.10

2.40

S1

E1

O4

R48

\n```\n\nPART 2—EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS\n\n| Design Feature | Symbol | Explanation |\n| -------------- | ------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Shape | S1 | Circular |\n| Edge | E1 | Milled |\n| Edge | E5 | Plain edge with 2 of the inscription “GAMES OF THE XXVII OLYMPIAD” evenly spaced around the edge to read with the reverse of the coin facing up. |\n| Obverse | O3 | An effigy of the Queen, surrounded by the inscriptions:(a) “ELIZABETH II”; and(b) “AUSTRALIA 2000”. |\n| Obverse | O4 | An effigy of the Queen, surrounded by:(a) the inscriptions:(i) “ELIZABETH II”; and(ii) “AUSTRALIA 2000”; and(b) an inscription stating, in Arabic numerals, the amount in dollars of the denomination of the coin, followed by the word “DOLLARS”. |\n| Design Feature | Symbol | Explanation |\n| Reverse | R44 | A representation of a female hockey player superimposed on a representation of Olympic flames, surrounded by:(a) the inscriptions:(i) “Sydney 2000”; and(ii) “5 DOLLARS”; and(b) a representation of the Olympic rings. |\n| Reverse | R45 | A representation of a male weight lifter performing the “clean and jerk” weight‑lifting action superimposed on a representation of Olympic flames, surrounded by:(a) the inscriptions:(i) “Sydney 2000”; and(ii) “5 DOLLARS”; and(b) a representation of the Olympic rings. |\n| Reverse | R46 | The following inscriptions in 2 separate circles immediately inside the rim:(a) “CELEBRATING THE UNIQUE ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISH AND FLORA OF AUSTRALIA AND THE SPIRIT OF THE GAMES OF THE XXVII OLYMPIAD.”; and(b) “COMMEMORATING THE OLYMPIC GAMES OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM IN SYDNEY IN THE YEAR 2000 A.D.”;surrounding:(c) a representation of 19 Australian grass trees (xanthorrhoea australis); and(d) a representation of a female kangaroo with a joey in her pouch; and(e) a smaller shape enclosing:(i) the inscription “Sydney 2000”; and(ii) a representation of the Olympic rings printed in Olympic colours. |\n| Reverse | R47 | Representations of a component of the Sydney 2000 Olympic logo arranged in a circle immediately inside the rim surrounding:(a) representations of reef fish, sting‑rays, sharks, crocodiles, sea snakes and turtles in “swimming‑dreaming”; and(b) a representation of “two people dreaming”; and(c) a smaller shape enclosing:(i) the inscription “Sydney 2000”; and(ii) a representation of the Olympic rings printed in Olympic colours. |\n| Reverse | R48 | Representations of the Olympic flame and torches arranged in a circle immediately inside the rim surrounding a representation of the Sydney 2000 Olympic logo printed in Olympic colours. |\n\n> Note: \\[NOTE: E2 and O1 are referred to in Currency Determination No. 6 of 1996 and E3, E4 and O2 are referred to in Currency Determination No. 7 of 1996.\\]","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This determination serves exactly its original purpose: specifying technical details for commemorative Olympic coins. It has not expanded beyond this narrow, specific function."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument: only 4 operative clauses plus a schedule","No defined terms section; meanings are self-evident or described in the table","Single cross-reference (to the parent Currency Act 1965)","Simple tabular format for specifications with straightforward column references","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Design symbols (S1, E1, O3, etc.) are explained in plain English in Part 2"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument authorises the Royal Australian Mint to produce five Sydney 2000 commemorative coins and prescribes their exact specifications (weight, diameter, thickness, metal composition and designs). It affects the Mint, collectors and traders of these coins. By defining legal standards and materials it makes the coins valid Australian currency, enforces quality, helps prevent counterfeiting and preserves the official record of their appearance."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination stays within the Currency Act’s original purpose of allowing the Treasurer to specify coin characteristics. It adds technical specifications for a set of commemorative Olympic coins (metal, weights, dimensions and designs) but does not expand the statutory power or introduce functions outside the recognised scope (manufacture/specification). In that sense the statutory scope has not changed significantly beyond the Act’s original intent."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose determination (4 clauses plus a Schedule)","Schedule contains a table with 6 coin entries (multiple $5 variants and one $100 coin)","9 design/feature symbols explained in Part 2 (S1, E1, E5, O3, O4, R44–R48) requiring cross‑reference inside the document","Numeric tolerances and dimensions create precise manufacturing conditions (weights with ± variations, diameters, thicknesses)","Minor cross-reference/note to other Currency Determinations (external references to E2, E3, E4, O1, O2)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanics)**\n\n- This is a Treasurer’s Determination made under the Currency Act 1965 that sets out technical specifications for a set of Australian coins. (See Clause 3 and the Schedule.)\n- It started to operate on 29 September 1997. (Clause 2.)\n- The Determination lists, for each listed coin: the metal composition, the standard weight and allowable variation, diameter and thickness, the coin shape and edge type, and coded references to the obverse (front) and reverse (back) designs. (Clause 3 and Schedule, Part 1.)\n- It does not change or override any other Determination about coin specifications. (Clause 4.)\n\n**Who it affects**\n\n- The Royal Australian Mint and any contractor that mints or specifies coins (they must manufacture to these specifications).\n- Financial institutions, coin dealers and other businesses that handle coin deliveries and coin-based inventory (so they can identify and process the specified items correctly).\n- Coin collectors and purchasers: the listed items include precious‑metal commemorative coins that are primarily of interest to collectors and investors.\n\n**What coins are specified (summary of the Schedule)**\n\n- Several $5 commemorative coins in either a copper/zinc/aluminium/tin alloy or in 99.9% silver, with detailed weight, diameter and thickness requirements and specified Olympic‑themed reverse designs (design codes R44–R47 and obverse codes O3/O4). (Schedule, Part 1 & Part 2.)\n- A $100 coin in 99.99% gold, with its weight, dimensions and design code (R48). (Schedule, Part 1 & Part 2.)\n- Design features are explained in Part 2 (e.g. S1 = circular shape, E1 = milled edge, E5 = plain edge with an edge inscription, O3/O4 = Queen’s effigy variants, R44–R48 = particular Olympic/Sydney 2000 motifs). (Schedule, Part 2.)\n\n**Stated or evident purpose (attribution)**\n\n- The content and the designs plainly indicate the Determination is for coins commemorating the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games (references throughout the reverse designs and to “Sydney 2000”). This is a specification exercise: it prescribes how those coins must be manufactured (Clause 3 and the Schedule). The Determination itself does not explain pricing, distribution or whether the coins will be sold at a premium or issued into general circulation.\n\n**Practical consequences, incentives and implementation considerations**\n\n- Precious‑metal content vs face value: the silver coins weigh about 31.635 g (≈1.02 troy ounce) and the gold coin about 10.021 g. That metal content is likely to have market value separate from the coin’s face value, so these items will mostly function as collector/bullion products rather than circulating change. Mechanism: the Mint will typically sell such coins at a price that reflects metal content and collectability rather than at face value.\n\n- Seigniorage and fiscal effect: if sold at a premium, the government/Mint may recover more than the face value; if sold at face value while metal value exceeds face value, the government would absorb a cost. The Determination sets manufacturing parameters but does not set sale price or distribution.\n\n- Production and quality control burden: the Mint must meet precise weight, dimensional and design requirements (Clause 3 and Schedule), which requires production tolerances, testing and inspection processes.\n\n- Licensing and marks: use of Olympic names, rings and logo elements is regulated in external intellectual property / sponsorship regimes; complying with those restrictions and any licensing terms is an implementation requirement though not set out in this Determination (the Schedule shows Olympic wording and ring representations). This can entail transaction costs or conditions for the Mint.\n\n- Public handling and acceptance: because some coins are made in precious metal and carry commemorative designs and edge inscriptions (E5), they may be accepted differently by businesses; banks and cash-handling operators need to recognise and sort them correctly.\n\n- Counterfeiting and specification clarity: precise specifications (weights, diameters, edge types and inscriptions) reduce ambiguity and give law enforcement and banks concrete measures to check authenticity, but they require clear dissemination and enforcement.\n\n**Trade‑offs and opportunity costs**\n\n- Producing commemorative precious‑metal coins uses Mint capacity and design resources that might otherwise be used for circulating coinage or other products. Those are internal opportunity costs to the Mint.\n- The Determination grants the Mint a route to produce collector/bullion items that can generate revenue if sold above face value; the document itself does not allocate those revenues or set policy on sales channels.\n\n**Scope and limits of the instrument**\n\n- This Determination is narrowly technical: it prescribes manufacture and appearance. It does not itself change legal tender law in narrative form, set prices, or alter broader Currency Act powers. Clause 4 preserves other existing determinations."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/currency-determination-no-4-of-1997","history":"/api/acts/currency-determination-no-4-of-1997/history","analysis":"/api/acts/currency-determination-no-4-of-1997/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/currency-determination-no-4-of-1997/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/currency-determination-no-4-of-1997/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/currency-determination-no-4-of-1997/documents"}}