{"id":"F2006L00935","name":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2006 (No. 1)","slug":"currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2006-no-1","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":436767,"registerId":"F2006L00935-fast-fetch-1775953860549","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2006 (No. 1)","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 2006 (No. 1)\n\nI, CHRIS PEARCE, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, make this Determination under subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965.\n\nDated 16 March 2006\n\n \n\nCHRIS PEARCE\n\nParliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer\n\nContents\n\n 1 Name of Determination \n\n 2 Commencement \n\n 3 Specification for 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 2006 (No. 1).\n\n2 Commencement\n\n This Determination commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3 Specification for coins\n\n For subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965, 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\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 | $1 coin |\n| --- | --- |\n| Denomination | $1 |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 62.77g ± 0.50g |\n| Maximum diameter | 50.30mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 3.80mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | Continuously milled |\n| Obverse design | The following design:
(a) an outer ring consisting of:
(i) an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the monogram ‘IRB’; and
(ii) the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA 2006”;
(b) a centre section consisting of a representation of the obverse design of an 18th Century Spanish silver dollar, including:
(i) an 18th Century Spanish Coat of Arms; and
(ii) the inscriptions “MM” and “8”; and
(iii) the inscription “FERDND·VI·DG·HISPAN·ET IND·REX”. |\n| Reverse design | The following design:
(a) an outer ring consisting of the inscriptions “PILLAR DOLLAR” and “ONE DOLLAR”;
(b) a centre section consisting of a representation of the reverse design of an 18th Century Spanish silver dollar, including:
(i) a representation of two pillars (representing the Pillars of Hercules); and
(ii) a representation of two interlocking globes of the world that symbolise the old and new worlds; and
(iii) the inscriptions “VTRAQUE VNUM” and “M” (twice); and
(iv) a year denoting a year in which the 18th Century Spanish silver dollar was made or issued. |\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination has a narrow, specific purpose consistent with its title and the enabling provision (Currency Act 1965, s 13A). It specifies technical details for a single commemorative coin issue and does not expand beyond this limited scope."},"complexity_factors":["Only 4 operative sections plus a schedule","No defined terms section","Minimal cross-referencing (only references to Currency Act 1965, subsection 13A(1))","Single purpose: specifications for one specific commemorative coin","Straightforward tabular format in Schedule 1 with clear physical parameters","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"This law sets out the technical specifications for a special $1 coin minted by the Royal Australian Mint in 2006. It describes exactly what the coin is made of (at least 99.9% silver), how much it weighs (62.77 grams, give or take half a gram), its size (about 50mm across), and what it looks like on both sides. The coin commemorates the 18th Century Spanish silver dollar (also known as the 'Pillar Dollar'), which was an important early currency in Australia. The front (obverse) features Queen Elizabeth II and a copy of the Spanish Coat of Arms. The back (reverse) shows two pillars and two interlocking globes representing the old and new worlds, just like the original Spanish coin. This Determination sits under the Currency Act 1965, which gives the government power to decide what Australian coins look like and what they're made of."},"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination is narrowly focused on specifying a single commemorative/bullion $1 coin and does not broaden the statutory purpose of authorising coin specifications under the Currency Act. It stays within the Act’s delegated power (subsection 13A(1)) and does not introduce new regulatory domains or significant additional discretion beyond prescribing technical details (see section 3 and Schedule 1)."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (4 clauses plus one Schedule)","Single statutory cross‑reference: subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965","One defined object (a single $1 coin) listed in Schedule 1","No nested conditional logic or multiple exceptions","One measurable tolerance (weight ±0.50g) and several fixed maxima (diameter, thickness)","Limited number of technical specifications (composition, weight, dimensions, shape, edge, obverse and reverse design)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanics)\n\n- This Determination, made under subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965, sets out the physical and design specifications for a particular $1 coin to be produced by the Royal Australian Mint (see section 3 and Schedule 1).\n- The document prescribes denomination, metal composition, weight (with allowable variation), maximum diameter and thickness, shape, edge type, and the precise obverse and reverse designs for the coin (Schedule 1). It also says the Determination takes effect the day after registration (section 2) and that these specifications do not override or alter any other coin-specification determinations (section 4).\n\nKey technical points (Schedule 1)\n\n- Denomination: $1.\n- Composition: at least 99.9% silver.\n- Weight: standard 62.77 grams with an allowable variation of ±0.50 grams.\n- Maximum diameter: 50.30 mm; maximum thickness: 3.80 mm; shape: circular; edge: continuously milled.\n- Obverse (front) design: an outer ring with the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, the monogram ‘IRB’, and the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “AUSTRALIA 2006”; a centre section reproducing the obverse of an 18th‑century Spanish silver dollar including an 18th‑century Spanish coat of arms and specified inscriptions.\n- Reverse (back) design: an outer ring with “PILLAR DOLLAR” and “ONE DOLLAR”; a centre reproducing the reverse of an 18th‑century Spanish silver dollar (pillars, interlocking globes, inscriptions “VTRAQUE VNUM” and “M” twice, and a historical year).\n\nWho this affects\n\n- Royal Australian Mint: must manufacture the coin to these specifications (section 3 and Schedule 1).\n- Purchasers/collectors and coin dealers: these parties will engage with the coin on a retail/bullion/collector market; the coin’s high silver content means it will have bullion value in addition to its $1 face value.\n- Businesses and the public: the coin is formally a $1 denomination, but because of its silver content and commemorative design it is likely to be treated as a collectible or bullion item rather than a circulating coin.\n\nWhy it matters (practical effects and trade‑offs)\n\n- The Determination legally authorises a specific collectible/commemorative $1 coin by defining its form and appearance (gives the Mint authority and a clear production specification) (section 3; Schedule 1).\n- The high silver content and substantial weight give the coin significant intrinsic (bullion) value compared with its $1 face value; this changes incentives for holders (e.g. hoarding or sale for metal value rather than ordinary circulation). That effect is mechanical: metal content and weight are specified in Schedule 1.\n- Benefits of the measure are concentrated (collectors, bullion market actors, and the Mint as issuer/seller). Costs or frictions are diffuse (possible public confusion over treating it as circulating money, administrative costs of minting), and implementation is straightforward because the Determination is prescriptive rather than discretionary (section 3; Schedule 1).\n\nImplementation, compliance and discretion\n\n- Implementation burden on government is limited to Mint production and quality control to the stated metrics (weight tolerance, dimensions, and design elements). The text leaves little discretion to alter the specifications once made (Schedule 1).\n- The Determination does not displace other coin specifications made under the Currency Act (section 4).\n\nSource‑claimed purpose and practical check\n\n- The Determination’s effect is to authorize a $1 coin modelled on an 18th‑century Spanish silver “pillar dollar” with very high silver content. If the stated purpose is to issue a commemorative or bullion $1 coin, the specification aligns mechanically with that purpose (precise design and bullion composition). The trade‑offs are higher production metal costs and the coin carrying bullion value that will influence how it is used in practice (collector/bullion market rather than general circulation)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2006-no-1","history":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2006-no-1/history","analysis":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2006-no-1/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2006-no-1/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2006-no-1/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2006-no-1/documents"}}