{"id":"F2006B00530","name":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2004 (No. 3)","slug":"currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2004-no-3","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":436735,"registerId":"F2006B00530-fast-fetch-1775953841769","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2004 (No. 3)","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 2004 (No. 3)\n\nI, ROSS CAMERON, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, make this Determination under subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965.\n\nDated 24 May 2004\n\nROSS CAMERON\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 Specifications of coins \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n1 Name of Determination\n\n This Determination is the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2004 (No. 3).\n\n2 Commencement\n\n This Determination commences on the date of its notification in the Gazette.\n\n3 Specification of coins\n\n (1) For subsections 13 (2) and 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965, each item in Schedule 1 specifies:\n\n (a) the denomination of a coin; and\n\n (b) the coin’s standard composition; and\n\n (c) the coin’s standard weight, and the allowable variation from that weight; and\n\n (d) the coin’s dimensions; and\n\n (e) the coin’s design.\n\n (2) A reference in Schedule 1 to the diameter of a coin is, for a coin that is not circular, a reference to the distance between two parallel faces of the edge of the coin.\n\n4 Application of Determination\n\n The specifications in Schedule 1 do not affect any other determination of the specifications of a coin.\n\nSchedule 1 Specifications of coins\n\n(section 3)\n\n \n\n \n\n| Item 1 | 5c coin |\n| --- | --- |\n| Denomination | 5c |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 3.24g ± 0.12g |\n| Maximum diameter | 19.53mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 1.55mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | Continuously milled |\n| Obverse design | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the monogram ‘IRB’, surrounded by the inscriptions:
(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and
(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2004’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:
(a) a representation of an echidna; and
(b) the inscription ‘5’. |\n\n\n \n\n| Item 2 | 10c coin |\n| --- | --- |\n| Denomination | 10c |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 6.57g ± 0.17g |\n| Maximum diameter | 23.72mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 1.98mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | Continuously milled |\n| Obverse design | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the monogram ‘IRB’ surrounded by the inscriptions:
(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and
(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2004’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:
(a) a representation of a lyrebird; and
(b) the inscription ‘10’. |\n\n\n \n\n| Item 3 | 20c coin |\n| --- | --- |\n| Denomination | 20c |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 13.36g ± 0.30g |\n| Maximum diameter | 28.65mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 2.52mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | Continuously milled |\n| Obverse design | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the monogram ‘IRB’ surrounded by the inscriptions:
(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and
(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2004’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:
(a) a representation of a platypus with water swirls; and
(b) the inscription ‘20’. |\n\n\n \n\n| Item 4 | 50c coin |\n| --- | --- |\n| Denomination | 50c |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 18.24g ± 0.40g |\n| Maximum diameter | 31.65mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 2.80mm |\n| Shape | Dodecahedral |\n| Edge | Plain |\n| Obverse design | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the monogram ‘IRB’ surrounded by the inscriptions:
(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and
(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2004’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:
(a) a representation of the coat of arms of Australia; and
(b) the inscription ‘50’. |\n\n\n \n\n| Item 5 | $1 coin |\n| --- | --- |\n| Denomination | $1 |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 11.66g ± 0.24g |\n| Maximum diameter | 25.12mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 2.80mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | 14 segments, of which 7 are milled and 7 are plain |\n| Obverse design | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the monogram ‘IRB’ surrounded by the inscriptions:
(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and
(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2004’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:
(a) a representation of 5 kangaroos; and
(b) the inscription ‘1 DOLLAR’. |\n\n\n \n\n| Item 6 | $2 coin |\n| --- | --- |\n| Denomination | $2 |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 8.55g ± 0.21g |\n| Maximum diameter | 20.62mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 3.00mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | 8 segments, of which 4 are milled and 4 are plain |\n| Obverse design | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the monogram ‘IRB’ surrounded by the inscriptions:
(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and
(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2004’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:
(a) a representation of an Aboriginal elder; and
(b) the Southern Cross constellation; and
(c) a ‘grass tree’; and
(d) the inscription ‘2 DOLLARS’. |\n\n \n","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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Determination stays within the statutory power to specify coin characteristics under the Currency Act (it does not create new legal categories, regulatory duties, or expand regulatory reach). It changes the technical specifications of particular coins (notably the metal composition), but that change is an expected exercise of the power to define coin characteristics rather than a material enlargement of the legislation's scope. The instrument expressly preserves other determinations (section 4)."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument: 4 substantive sections plus a single Schedule","Schedule contains 6 distinct coin-specification items (5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2)","Limited cross-references: refers to Currency Act 1965 subsections 13(2) and 13A(1) (section 3)","One minor technical provision on 'diameter' for non-circular coins (section 3(2))","Numeric tolerances specified for weights (e.g. 3.24g ±0.12g), requiring manufacturing precision","No definitions section, no nested exceptions, no conditional multi-part exceptions","All composition entries uniformly read 'At least 99.9% silver' — notable technical specification but not a drafting complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)**\n\n- This is a Ministerial (Parliamentary Secretary) Determination that sets the physical specifications for six Australian coins by denomination: 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2. (See section 3 and Schedule 1.)\n- For each coin the Determination lists: the denomination, the metal composition, the standard weight and allowable variation, maximum diameter and thickness, shape and edge details, and the obverse and reverse designs. (Schedule 1.)\n- A small technical rule says that where a coin is not circular the listed \"diameter\" means the distance between two parallel faces on the coin's edge. (Section 3(2).)\n- The Determination takes effect on the date it is published in the Gazette. (Section 2.)\n- The listed specifications do not override or remove specifications set by any other Determination. (Section 4.)\n\n**Who makes the decisions**\n\n- The Determination is made under the powers in the Currency Act 1965; in this instrument the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer exercised that power (the office-holder named on the Determination). (Preamble and section 3 reference to the Currency Act.)\n\n**Who is affected and how**\n\n- Royal Australian Mint (the producer) — it must produce coins that meet these physical specifications if minting under this Determination. (Section 3 and Schedule 1.)\n- Government/taxpayers — changing the metal composition (see below) can alter minting costs paid from government appropriations or Mint revenues.\n- Businesses and the public — the coins remain coins of the stated legal denomination, but changes in metal content can affect their market value relative to face value and therefore public behaviour (see \"Economic and practical effects\").\n\n**Key content details to note**\n\n- All six denominations are specified to be made of \"at least 99.9% silver\" (Schedule 1 entries for composition). That is a high silver purity and differs from the typical base-metal alloys used for circulating coinage.\n- The obverse design specified for every coin is an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with the monogram \"IRB\" and inscriptions including \"ELIZABETH II\" and \"AUSTRALIA 2004\". Reverse designs are specified individually (native animals, coat of arms, kangaroos, Aboriginal elder, etc.). (Schedule 1.)\n\n**Why this matters (practical implications and trade-offs)**\n\n- Implementation cost: Silver at 99.9% purity is materially more expensive than base-metal alloys normally used for circulating coins. If these coins are produced in quantity, the Mint's material cost per coin will be higher and the government (or the Mint) will incur higher production costs (section: Schedule 1 composition entries). Financing those increased costs is a budgetary decision separate from the Determination.\n\n- Incentives and substitution effects: If the market value of the silver content exceeds the coin's face value, there is an economic incentive for hoarding, collection, or melting for bullion value. That can reduce availability for day-to-day transactions and cause substitution toward other means of payment.\n\n- Administrative burden and discretion: The Determination is concise and prescriptive; it imposes no ongoing regulatory reporting or compliance burden on third parties beyond the Mint producing coins to the specified design and dimensions. The decision-maker (under the Currency Act power) retains the ability to make future determinations with different specifications.\n\n- Legal scope: The instrument specifies physical characteristics; it does not alter the legal denomination (face value) or change legal tender rules in the Currency Act itself. It also expressly does not affect other Determinations of coin specifications. (Section 4.)\n\n**Costs, trade-offs and implementation risks (brief)**\n\n- Concentrated cost: Costs of higher-purity silver fall on the producer/government budget, while any premium resale gains (if coins are sold as collectible items) could chiefly benefit buyers/resellers and the Mint.\n- Risk of unintended market behaviour: Higher intrinsic metal value may cause hoarding, reduce circulation utility, or encourage arbitrage (melting/resale), depending on market prices at the time of minting.\n- Low compliance complexity: Technical manufacturing tolerances are specified (weights and allowable variations), so compliance is a matter of production quality control rather than ongoing regulation.\n\n**Relevant provisions**\n\n- Section 3 and Schedule 1 — the heart of the instrument: coin specifications.\n- Section 3(2) — diameter rule for non-circular coins.\n- Section 4 — clarifies this Determination does not affect any other coin-specification Determination.\n\n(Analyst note: the instrument is narrowly framed to set physical specifications. It does not itself explain the policy rationale for using high-purity silver, nor does it change legal tender status; the economic consequences described above follow from the change in material and are relevant implementation considerations.)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: specifying the technical characteristics of a particular coin issue. It does not expand beyond the standard function of a Currency Determination under the Currency Act 1965."},"complexity_factors":["Straightforward tabular structure with 6 items in Schedule 1","Only 4 operative sections plus Schedule","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the empowering Currency Act 1965","Minimal conditional language — mostly declarative specifications","Single interpretation provision (section 3(2)) for non-circular coins","No exceptions, exemptions, or nested provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument authorises the Royal Australian Mint to produce a limited 2004 series of silver commemorative coins and sets their legal specifications — exact physical dimensions, at least 99.9% silver purity, and required obverse and reverse imagery. It affects the Mint and coin collectors (not everyday circulating coinage) and matters because it legally permits, standardises and authenticates these special Australian coins for collectors and official recognition."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2004-no-3","history":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2004-no-3/history","analysis":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2004-no-3/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2004-no-3/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2004-no-3/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2004-no-3/documents"}}