{"id":"F2005B03080","name":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2003 (No. 5)","slug":"currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2003-no-5","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":436644,"registerId":"F2005B03080-fast-fetch-1775953773274","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2003 (No. 5)","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n\n\nCurrency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2003 (No. 5)\n\nI, IAN GORDON CAMPBELL, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, make this Determination under subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965.\n\nDated 29 July 2003\n\nIAN CAMPBELL\n\nParliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer\n\nContents\n\n 1 Name of Determination \n\n 2 Commencement \n\n 3 Specification of coins \n\n 4 Application of Determination \n\nSchedule 1 \n\nPart 1 Specifications of coins \n\nPart 2 Explanation of symbols \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n1 Name of Determination\n\n This Determination is the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2003 (No. 5).\n\n2 Commencement\n\n This Determination commences on gazettal.\n\n3 Specification of coins\n\n This Determination specifies, for a coin having the denomination and standard composition specified in columns 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 1, the standard weight, the allowable variation from that weight, the dimensions and the design specified in columns 4, 5 and 6 of that Part.\n\n4 Application of Determination\n\n The specifications in Schedule 1 to this Determination do not affect any other Determination of the specification of a coin.\n\nSchedule 1 \n\n(section 3)\n\nPart 1 Specifications of coins\n\n \n\n- Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6\n- Item Denomination Standard composition Standard weight and allowable variation (g) Dimensions Design\n- (1) Diameter (mm) (2) Thickness (mm) (1) Shape (2) Edge (3) Obverse (4) Reverse\n- 101 $5 Not less than 99.9% silver 36.31 ± 0.64 38.90 3.50 S1 E1 O38 R322\n- 102 $10 Not less than 99.9% silver with a central ring of silver, plated with gold of not less than 99.99% 60.50 ± 0.80 50.10 3.80 S1 E1 O39 R323\n\n\nPart 2 Explanation of symbols\n\n \n\n| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Item | Design Feature | Symbol | Explanation |\n| 201 | Shape | S1 | Circular |\n| 202 | Edge | E1 | Continuously milled |\n| 203 | Obverse | O38 | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the monogram ‘IRB’, surrounded by the inscriptions:
(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and
(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2003’; and
(c) ‘FIVE DOLLARS’. |\n| 204 | Obverse | O39 | A design consisting of a circle of raised beads, immediately inside the rim, surrounding:
(a) the inscriptions:
(i) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and
(ii) ‘AUSTRALIA 2003’; and
(b) an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the monogram ‘IRB’;
that, in turn, surround a wreath of wattle leaves underneath a gold-plated representation of the obverse of the 1853 Sydney Mint sovereign pattern coin, comprising an effigy of Queen Victoria surrounded by the inscriptions:
(c) ‘VICTORIA’; and
(d) ‘D:G:’; and
(e) ‘BRITANNIAR:’; and
(f) ‘REGINA’; and
(g) ‘F:D:’; and
(h) ‘1853’. |\n| 205 | Reverse | R322 | A design consisting of a holographic representation of the faces of three Australians that, on changing the angle of viewing, turns into a representation, in colour, of volunteer-associated equipment or images, being a hard hat, fire hose, flames, SES tape, red cross, a twig of the Wollemi pine, a figure cradling a child and a life saving flag, surrounded by a representation of a struck design of an interlocking jigsaw, surrounded by the inscriptions:
(a) ‘AUSTRALIA’S VOLUNTEERS’; and
(b) ‘MAKING A DIFFERENCE’. |\n| 206 | Reverse | R323 | A design comprising:
(a) a wreath of wattle leaves tied with a ribbon; and
(b) the inscription ‘1853 SYDNEY 2003’;
surrounding the inscriptions:
(c) ‘MINT PATTERN’; and
(d) ‘TEN DOLLARS’;
that, in turn, surround a gold plated representation of the reverse of the Sydney Mint pattern sovereign coin, comprising a circle of raised beads, immediately inside the rim, surrounding the inscriptions:
(e) ‘SYDNEY MINT’; and
(f) ‘ONE SOVEREIGN’;
that, in turn, surround a wreath of wattle leaves tied with a ribbon, surmounted by a crown, that in turn surrounds the inscription ‘AUSTRALIA’. |\n\n \n","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: specifying the physical characteristics of two particular commemorative coin issues. There is no scope creep; it does exactly what the enabling legislation (Currency Act 1965) authorises—prescribing coin specifications—and nothing more."},"complexity_factors":["Only 4 operative sections (Name, Commencement, Specification, Application)","Single cross-reference to the Currency Act 1965 (enabling power only)","No conditional logic or exceptions beyond the standard 'does not affect other determinations' clause","Technical specifications presented in straightforward tabular format","Limited defined terms (symbols explained in dedicated Part 2 table)","Highly specific but mechanically simple content (physical dimensions and artistic designs)"],"plain_english_summary":"This law sets the official technical specifications for two special commemorative coins to be made by the Royal Australian Mint in 2003.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Creates legal standards for a **$5 silver coin** and a **$10 silver coin with a gold-plated centre ring**, both celebrating Australia's volunteers and the 150th anniversary of the Sydney Mint.\n- Specifies exact physical details: weight (down to fractions of a gram), size, shape, and what images must appear on each side.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **The Royal Australian Mint** — must follow these specifications when manufacturing the coins.\n- **Collectors and the public** — anyone who buys or owns these coins can rely on these specifications as the legal definition of what constitutes genuine currency.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nWithout this determination, these coins wouldn't legally exist as Australian currency. The law ensures:\n- Coins are uniform and trustworthy\n- Counterfeiting is harder (precise specifications make fakes easier to spot)\n- The commemorative designs (including holographic images and historical tributes) are protected as official\n\n**Key features of the coins:**\n- The **$5 coin** features a holographic design showing volunteers' faces that transforms into emergency services imagery when tilted\n- The **$10 coin** contains a gold-plated replica of an 1853 Sydney Mint sovereign pattern coin at its centre, marking 150 years of Australian coin production"},"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination stays within the usual and stated function of Currency Act determinations: it prescribes the physical and design specifications of particular coins. It does not broaden the regulatory scope beyond specifying coin characteristics, nor does it amend other determinations (section 4). Therefore it does not represent a substantive change in scope compared with the standard purpose of such instruments."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument (4 substantive clauses plus a Schedule)","Two coin items specified (Item 101 and Item 102) — limited scope","Six symbolic design codes (S1, E1, O38, O39, R322, R323) defined within the same Schedule (simple cross‑references)","Simple numeric tolerances and physical dimensions (weights, diameters, thicknesses)","No layered exceptions, few conditional provisions, and an express non‑derogation clause (s4)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanics)\n\n- Makes a formal specification for two commemorative coins to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint: a $5 silver coin and a $10 silver coin with a gold‑plated central ring (see section 3 and Schedule 1, Part 1).\n- Sets the metal composition, standard weight and allowable variation, diameter, thickness, shape and edge treatment, and the exact obverse and reverse designs for each coin (Schedule 1, columns 2–6 and Part 2 for symbol explanations).\n- Comes into effect on gazettal (section 2).\n- States that these specifications do not alter any other existing coin specification determinations (section 4).\n\nWho is affected\n\n- The Royal Australian Mint: must use these specifications when producing the two listed coins (s3 and Schedule 1).\n- Collectors, dealers and purchasers of commemorative coins: the physical and design features (including precious‑metal content and special finishes such as gold plating and holograms) determine intrinsic metal value, rarity and collectible appeal.\n- Coin manufacturers and suppliers to the Mint: manufacturing requirements (e.g. holographic elements, gold plating, strict weight tolerances) affect production methods and costs.\n- Cash‑handling businesses and the payments system generally: practically unaffected. These are commemorative specifications and do not change ordinary circulating coinage; the Determination also preserves other existing specifications (s4).\n\nKey technical details (what the coin actually is)\n\n- $5 coin (Item 101): at least 99.9% silver; standard weight 36.31 g ± 0.64 g; diameter 38.90 mm; thickness 3.50 mm; circular; continuously milled edge; obverse: an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with monogram 'IRB' and inscriptions ‘ELIZABETH II’, ‘AUSTRALIA 2003’ and ‘FIVE DOLLARS’ (Schedule 1, Part 1 and Part 2, items 101 and 203). Reverse (R322) is a holographic design that shifts between faces of three Australians and volunteer‑related images, surrounded by interlocking jigsaw design and inscriptions ‘AUSTRALIA’S VOLUNTEERS’ and ‘MAKING A DIFFERENCE’ (Part 2, item 205).\n- $10 coin (Item 102): at least 99.9% silver with a central silver ring plated with at least 99.99% gold; standard weight 60.50 g ± 0.80 g; diameter 50.10 mm; thickness 3.80 mm; circular; continuously milled edge; obverse (O39) features a raised‑bead inner circle, inscriptions and an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II surrounding a gold‑plated representation of the obverse of an 1853 Sydney Mint sovereign pattern (Part 2, item 204). Reverse (R323) features a wreath, inscriptions including ‘1853 SYDNEY 2003’ and a gold‑plated representation of the reverse of the Sydney Mint pattern sovereign (Part 2, item 206).\n\nPurpose statements and practical test against costs and incentives\n\n- The Determination’s purpose (implicit in its text) is to legally fix the physical and design characteristics of two commemorative coins so the Mint can produce them consistently and purchasers know their specifications (s3 and Schedule 1). That purpose is accomplished by prescribing metal content, weight tolerances and exact design elements.\n\n- Who pays: the financial cost of producing these higher‑specification, precious‑metal and gold‑plated coins is borne by the Mint (borne economically and recouped through sale prices). Buyers/collectors pay higher prices reflecting metal content, manufacturing complexity and numismatic value.\n\n- Incentives and trade‑offs: specifying holographic elements and gold plating raises production complexity and unit cost; it also provides product differentiation that supports a higher sale price to collectors. The specification locks in manufacturing tolerances and design details, reducing ambiguity but also limiting later design variation unless a new Determination is made.\n\n- Opportunity costs and implementation risk: minting these coins uses physical capacity and specialist processes (holography, plating) that could crowd out other commemorative projects during production runs. Manufacturing tolerances allow a specific degree of weight variation (noted in schedule), but finer elements (holograms, plating) increase quality‑control demands and the risk of rejects if production does not meet the specification.\n\n- Compliance burden and bureaucratic discretion: the Determination is prescriptive and mechanically enforceable by the Mint; it does not create ongoing compliance obligations for third parties beyond informing the market of the coins’ specifications. Section 4 expressly preserves other determinations, limiting unexpected re‑specification.\n\nMarket and legal effects to note\n\n- Competition and private enterprise: the Determination affects the Mint’s product offering; private firms that produce commemorative items are unaffected in their freedom to produce non‑legal‑tender replicas or medallions, but the Mint’s official specification can influence secondary market pricing for official coins versus private products.\n- Prices and property: specifying high‑purity silver and gold plating implies a commodity‑linked floor to intrinsic metal value; the market price of the coins will reflect metal content plus numismatic premium.\n- Speech and content: the Determination prescribes representational content (effigies, inscriptions, volunteer symbolism). It regulates the official imagery on these coins but does not otherwise regulate private speech.\n\nConcrete implementation details to watch (practicalities)\n\n- Manufacturing must meet the stated weight tolerances (Schedule 1, Part 1) and exact design descriptions (Part 2 symbols O38/O39, R322/R323).\n- The Determination uses symbolic references (S1, E1, O38, O39, R322, R323) to keep the table compact; one must read Part 2 to interpret the symbolic codes.\n\nBottom line\n\n- This is a straightforward, technical legal instrument that fixes precise minting and design specifications for two commemorative coins. It directs what the Mint must produce and sets the expectations for collectors and distributors, while preserving existing coin specifications elsewhere (s4). It creates production and cost implications for the Mint and buyers, but imposes minimal regulatory burden on other actors."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2003-no-5","history":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2003-no-5/history","analysis":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2003-no-5/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2003-no-5/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2003-no-5/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2003-no-5/documents"}}