{"id":"F2011L00577","name":"Currency (Perth Mint) Determination 2011 (No. 1)","slug":"currency-perth-mint-determination-2011-no-1","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":86083,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2011L00577-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Currency (Perth Mint) Determination 2011 (No. 1)","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\nCurrency (Perth Mint) Determination 2011 (No. 1)1\n\nCurrency Act 1965\n\nI, BILL SHORTEN, Assistant Treasurer, make this Determination under subsections 13 (2) and 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965.\n\nDated 31 March 2011\n\nBILL SHORTEN\n\nAssistant Treasurer\n\n1 Name of Determination\n\nThis Determination is the Currency (Perth Mint) Determination 2011 (No. 1).\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis Determination commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3 Definition\n\nIn this Determination:\n\n> Act means the Currency Act 1965.\n\n4 Standard compositions of $1 coins\n\n(1) For subsection 13 (2) of the Act, the Act is to have effect, on and after the day on which this Determination commences, as if:\n\n(a) there were included in the Schedule a reference to a denomination of $1; and\n\n(b) there were specified in the Schedule opposite to that denomination, as the standard composition of coins of that denomination, the following standard compositions:\n\n(i) 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metal;\n\n(ii) 99.9% silver;\n\n(iii) aluminium and bronze;\n\n(iv) aluminium bronze;\n\n(v) at least 99.9% gold;\n\n(vi) at least 99.99% gold;\n\n(vii) at least 99.9% silver;\n\n(viii) at least 99.99% silver;\n\n(ix) copper, aluminium and nickel;\n\n(x) copper, aluminium, zinc and tin;\n\n(xi) copper and nickel;\n\n(xii) copper and zinc;\n\n(xiii) not less than 99.9% copper;\n\n(xiv) not less than 99.9% silver;\n\n(xv) not less than 99.99% silver;\n\n(xvi) not less than 99.99% gold.\n\n(2) Subsection (1) does not affect any other determination of the standard composition of a coin made under subsection 13 (2) of the Act.\n\n5 Specification of standard weight, variation, design and dimension\n\n(1) For subsection 13A (1) of the Act, on and after the day on which this Determination commences, each item in Part 1 of Schedule 1 specifies, for a coin having the denomination and standard composition mentioned in the item (being a coin whose denomination is specified, or taken to be specified, in the Schedule to the Act):\n\n(a) the coin’s standard weight; and\n\n(b) the allowable variation from that standard weight; and\n\n(c) the coin’s dimensions; and\n\n(d) the coin’s design.\n\n(2) Subsection (1) does not affect any other determination of the standard weight and allowable variation, dimensions or design of a coin made under subsection 13A (1) of the Act.\n\n6 Design — explanation of symbols\n\nEach item in the table in Part 2 of Schedule 1 explains a symbol used to describe the design of coins in Part 1 of Schedule 1.\n\nSchedule 1\n\n(sections 5 and 6)\n\nPart 1 Specifications of coins\n\n```html\n

Item

Denomination

Standard composition

Standard weight and allowable variation (g)

Dimensions

Design

Maximum diameter (mm)

Maximum thickness (mm)

Shape

Edge

Obverse

Reverse

1

$1

At least 99.9% silver

31.635 ± 0.500

40.60

4.00

S1

E1

O1

R1

2

$1

Aluminium and bronze

14.300± 0.500

30.60

3.10

S1

E1

O1

R2

\n```\n\nPart 2 Design of coin — explanation of symbols\n\n| Item | Design Feature | Symbol | Explanation |\n| ---- | -------------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 1 | Shape | S1 | Circular |\n| 2 | Edge | E1 | Continuously milled |\n| 3 | Obverse | O1 | A design consisting of an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the following:(a) ‘IRB’;(b) ‘ELIZABETH II’;(c) ‘AUSTRALIA 2011’;(d) ‘1 DOLLAR’ |\n| 4 | Reverse | R1 | A design consisting of a representation of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton superimposed on a representation of Westminster Abbey, and the following:(a) ‘ROYAL WEDDING’;(b) ‘29.04.2011’;(c) ‘H.R.H. PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES & MISS CATHERINE MIDDLETON’;(d) ‘1oz 999 SILVER’;(e) ‘AH’;(f) ‘P’The representation of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton is in colour |\n| 5 | Reverse | R2 | A design consisting of a representation of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton superimposed on a representation of Westminster Abbey, and the following:(a) ‘ROYAL WEDDING’;(b) ‘29.04.2011’;(c) ‘H.R.H. PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES & MISS CATHERINE MIDDLETON’;(d) ‘AH’;(e) ‘P’ |\n\n> Note\n\n> Note: 1. All legislative instruments and compilations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments kept under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. See http://www.frli.gov.au.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: authorising specific commemorative coins for the 2011 royal wedding. The multiple metal compositions listed in section 4 represent manufacturing flexibility rather than scope creep, and the detailed specifications in Schedule 1 serve the core function of defining what constitutes legal tender."},"complexity_factors":["Only 1 defined term ('Act') in the interpretation section","Straightforward structure: name, commencement, definition, 3 operative sections, and a schedule","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond simple 'does not affect other determinations' clauses","Technical complexity limited to the detailed specifications table (weight tolerances, metal percentages, dimensions)","Single-purpose instrument with no cross-references to other legislation beyond the parent Currency Act 1965"],"plain_english_summary":"Authorises the Perth Mint to produce $1 commemorative coins for the 2011 royal wedding in up to 16 metal compositions, including a 99.9% silver coin (~31.6 g) and an aluminium‑bronze coin (~14.3 g). \n\nSpecifies required obverse and reverse designs (Queen’s effigy with denomination and a “ROYAL WEDDING” reverse showing the couple and date), making the coins legal tender and subject to strict weight, purity and design standards—affecting the Perth Mint, collectors, and anyone trading these coins."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination stays within the Currency Act’s existing subject-matter: it specifies compositions, weights, dimensions and designs for $1 coins (powers derived from subsections 13(2) and 13A(1)). It adds a list of permitted compositions and two specific $1 coin specifications (including a 1 oz silver commemorative design) but does not expand the Act’s legal powers or create new regulatory domains. In short, it narrows in on particular coin specifications rather than growing the statute’s scope beyond its original purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose instrument (few pages).","Limited number of defined terms (only 'Act' defined) and few operative clauses (clauses 1–6).","Clause 4 contains a list of 16 enumerated standard compositions for a $1 denomination.","Schedule 1 contains a table with two concrete coin specifications (weight, tolerances, dimensions, design codes).","Part 2 of Schedule 1 explains 5 design-symbol entries (S1, E1, O1, R1, R2).","Minimal cross-referencing: relies only on subsections 13(2) and 13A(1) of the Currency Act and preserves other determinations by explicit savings clauses (4(2), 5(2))."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does, in plain English**\n\n- This Determination is a technical addition to the Currency Act 1965 that tells the law what $1 coins made by the Perth Mint may be made of, how big and heavy they must be, and what their designs may look like (see the opening paragraph and clauses 4–6). It operates by treating those specifications as if they were part of the Schedule to the Currency Act (clause 4 and clause 5).\n\n- Mechanically: the Determination (a) inserts a list of permitted standard metal compositions for a $1 denomination (clause 4(1)(a)–(b)), and (b) records two specific $1 coin specifications (weight, allowable variation, diameter, thickness, shape, edge, obverse and reverse design) in Schedule 1 (clause 5 and Schedule 1, Part 1). Part 2 of Schedule 1 explains the design symbols used in Part 1 (clause 6 and Schedule 1, Part 2).\n\n- The particular specifications shown in Schedule 1 include:\n - A 1-ounce (approximately 31.635 g) coin made of at least 99.9% silver, with a coloured reverse showing representations of Prince William and Catherine Middleton and inscriptions marking the Royal Wedding (Schedule 1, item 1; Part 2, R1). The obverse carries the Queen's effigy and required inscriptions (Part 2, O1).\n - A lighter $1 coin in aluminium–bronze (approx. 14.300 g) with the same obverse and a slightly different reverse coding (Schedule 1, item 2; Part 2, R2).\n\n- Who this affects and why it matters\n - Perth Mint (the minting authority): the Determination authorises and constrains what $1 coins it may issue in terms of composition, weight tolerances, dimensions and the approved designs (clauses 4–6 and Schedule 1). The mint must make coins that match these technical specifications if it markets them as $1 coins under the Currency Act.\n - Buyers, collectors and investors: these specifications allow the Perth Mint to issue commemorative and bullion $1 coins (for example a 1 oz silver commemorative coin) that carry a face value of $1 but whose bullion (metal) value will typically exceed that face value. Buyers pay market prices set by the Perth Mint (not the face value) for such coins.\n - Businesses and currency handlers: the Determination clarifies what is legally a $1 coin (composition and dimensions), which matters for identification, sale, resale and any regulatory or accounting treatment tied to legal tender coinage.\n\n- The instrument’s stated purpose and a short test of that purpose\n - The Determination itself establishes technical specifications and specific commemorative designs (see Schedule 1, especially R1 and R2). Taken at face value, the purpose is to permit the Perth Mint to produce and market $1 coins in the listed metal compositions and to fix the exact technical and design parameters for particular issues (clauses 4–6).\n - Cost and incentives: the Determination does not appropriate money or require government spending. Minting costs are borne by the Perth Mint; purchasers pay the mint’s sale price (the law sets what a $1 coin must be, not the retail price). The main incentive created is commercial: the Perth Mint can sell bullion and commemorative $1 coins to collectors and investors at prices reflecting metal and numismatic value, while those coins retain a legal face value of $1.\n - Trade-offs and risks: issuing $1 coins in precious metals (marked as 1 oz 999 silver) means the coin’s intrinsic metal value will usually exceed its face value, which is normal for bullion/commemorative coins but may create public confusion if such coins enter ordinary circulation. The Determination limits this risk by specifying designs and typical bullion markings (e.g. ‘1oz 999 SILVER’ in R1) so purchasers can identify the coin as a bullion/commemorative item.\n - Implementation and compliance: the Perth Mint must meet the listed weights, tolerances and design elements (clause 5 and Schedule 1, Part 1). The Determination expressly does not disturb other existing determinations under the Act (clause 4(2) and clause 5(2)). Enforcement of technical standards would be a matter for the authorities administering the Currency Act.\n - Effects on competition and private choice: the Determination does not prevent other lawful issuers from producing different legal tender coin types where the Act permits; it specifically authorises Perth Mint $1 types described here. It preserves private choice by enabling the market sale of bullion/commemorative coins; it does not fix retail prices or create purchase obligations.\n\n- Who decides, who pays, and what behaviour changes (plainly stated, with legal pointers)\n - Who decides: the Assistant Treasurer made this Determination under subsections 13(2) and 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965 (instrument header and opening paragraph). The Determination treats the listed specifications as part of the Act’s Schedule (clause 4 and clause 5).\n - Who pays: the Determination itself imposes no charge on the public purse. Minting and distribution costs are borne by the Perth Mint; purchasers pay the Perth Mint’s sale price for commemorative/bullion coins (implicit in the commercial context of Schedule 1 items; the instrument sets technical form, not price).\n - Behaviour change required: Perth Mint must manufacture $1 coins that match the standard compositions, weights (with allowable variation), dimensions and designs recorded in Schedule 1 if it intends to market them as $1 coins under the Currency Act (clause 5 and Schedule 1). Currency handlers and intermediaries should treat coins meeting those specifications as officially sanctioned $1 coins.\n\n- Other practical notes and implementation risks\n - The Determination lists a wide range of permitted $1 metal compositions in clause 4(1)(b) (including several high-purity gold and silver entries and many copper/alloy combinations). That gives legal scope for future $1 issues in a variety of metals, although only two specific coin items are entered in Schedule 1 here.\n - The Determination explicitly preserves other determinations (clauses 4(2) and 5(2)), so it is an additive, not a replacement, instrument.\n\n(References in parentheses refer to clauses and Schedule items in the Determination.)"},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/currency-perth-mint-determination-2011-no-1","history":"/api/acts/currency-perth-mint-determination-2011-no-1/history","analysis":"/api/acts/currency-perth-mint-determination-2011-no-1/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/currency-perth-mint-determination-2011-no-1/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/currency-perth-mint-determination-2011-no-1/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/currency-perth-mint-determination-2011-no-1/documents"}}