{"id":"F2008L00710","name":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2008 (No. 2)","slug":"currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2008-no-2","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":72751,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008L00710-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2008 (No. 2)","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\nCurrency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2008 (No. 2)\n\nCurrency Act 1965\n\nI, NICK SHERRY, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, make this Determination under subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965.\n\nDated 3 March 2008\n\nNICK SHERRY\n\nMinister for Superannuation and Corporate Law\n\n1 Name of Determination\n\nThis Determination is the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2008 (No. 2).\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis Determination commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3 Specifications of coin\n\nFor subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965, the 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\n4 Application of Determination\n\nThe specifications in Schedule 1 do not affect any other determination of the specifications of a coin.\n\nSchedule 1 Specifications of coin\n\n(section 3)\n\n| Item 1 | $1 coin |\n| -------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Denomination | $1 |\n| Standard composition | Copper, aluminium and nickel |\n| Standard weight andallowable variation | 9.00 g ± 0.27 g |\n| Maximum diameter | 25.12 mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 2.80 mm |\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 initials ‘IRB’, surrounded by the inscriptions:(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2008’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:(a) in the centre — a representation of a piece of luggage:(i) in the shape of Australia; and(ii) partially obscured by a beagle in harness for quarantine duty; and(iii) decorated by iconic luggage labels representing quarantine work of monitoring imports, exports and threats to Australian industry from items that require quarantine inspection and the designer’s mark of initials ‘WP’; and(b) inside a wide rim and outside the central design — the inscriptions:(i) ‘CENTENARY OF QUARANTINE 1908–2008’; and(ii) ‘1 DOLLAR’. |\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":"This instrument performs exactly the function intended by section 13A of the Currency Act 1965 — authorising specific coin specifications. It has not expanded beyond this narrow technical purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (4 sections plus a single-item schedule)","Only 1 defined term implicitly used (the reference to 'subsection 13A(1)' of the parent Act)","No cross-references beyond the empowering provision in the Currency Act 1965","Straightforward tabular format for specifications with minimal conditional logic","Single purpose instrument with no exceptions, exemptions, or nested provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"This Determination authorises the Royal Australian Mint to strike a commemorative $1 coin for the 100th anniversary of Australia’s quarantine service, specifying its metal composition, weight, diameter, edge pattern and the obverse/reverse designs (Queen Elizabeth II; a beagle sniffer dog with luggage shaped like Australia). \n\nIt gives the Mint legal authority to issue the coin, affects collectors and the public who acquire it, and preserves existing coin specifications via a savings clause so current $1 coins remain valid."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination remains within the original, narrow statutory purpose: to specify the physical and design characteristics of a coin under the Currency Act. It does not broaden the Minister’s power, add regulatory burdens, or extend to other denominations or policy areas. Its effect is limited to authorising a commemorative $1 coin with the detailed specifications set out in Schedule 1."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (4 clauses plus one Schedule).","One defined operational power invoked: subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965 (single cross‑reference).","Single subject matter: specifications for one denomination ($1 coin).","Schedule contains a single table with technical measurements and design features (few conditional rules).","No nested exceptions, few or no defined terms, and no regulatory obligations or enforcement mechanisms."],"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 technical specifications for a particular Australian $1 coin. (See clause 3 and Schedule 1.)\n- It prescribes the coin’s denomination, metal composition, weight (with allowable variation), maximum diameter and thickness, shape, edge treatment, and the obverse and reverse designs. (Schedule 1.)\n- The Determination takes effect the day after it is registered. (Clause 2.)\n- It expressly says these specifications do not alter any other determination about coin specifications. (Clause 4.)\n\nWho decides and who is affected\n\n- Who decides: the responsible Minister (here, the Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) exercises the statutory power to make this Determination under the Currency Act. (Preamble and clause 3.)\n- Who is directly affected: the Royal Australian Mint (which mints the coin), cash handling businesses (banks, retailers, vending and parking machine operators), coin processors and sorters, and coin collectors and dealers. The general public is affected to the extent they receive, use or collect the coin.\n\nWhy it matters (practical effects)\n\n- Legal tender and production: the Determination authorises a specific design and technical standard for a $1 coin so the Mint can produce it as legal tender. That lets the Mint place coins in circulation or issue them for collectors.\n- Machine acceptance and handling: because the instrument specifies weight, diameter, thickness and edge, it determines whether existing coin-operated machines and counting equipment will accept the coin. Matching standard dimensions reduces the need for machine reconfiguration.\n- Collector and distribution effects: a commemorative design (here, marking the Centenary of Quarantine 1908–2008) creates an opportunity for the Mint to market collector items, with potential revenue to the Mint and demand from numismatists.\n\nStated purpose and practical trade-offs\n\n- The Determination’s stated design purpose is commemorative (the reverse inscription reads \"CENTENARY OF QUARANTINE 1908–2008\"). That explains why a particular visual motif and inscriptions are required (Schedule 1, reverse design).\n- Costs and who pays: producing the coin is performed by the Mint (a government entity); production and distribution costs are borne by the Mint and, ultimately, government accounts. The coin’s face value is $1; whether minting is profitable (seigniorage) depends on production costs relative to face value and the amount sold to collectors vs. put into circulation.\n- Effects on private actors: suppliers of coin-operated equipment face low implementation risk provided the technical measurements match existing $1 coins. Retailers and banks must continue to accept the coin as $1 legal tender. Collectors may pay premium prices to the Mint for commemorative versions (proof or uncirculated sets), shifting some cost from taxpayers to purchasers.\n- Administrative discretion and limits: the Determination is narrow and technical in scope; it does not expand the Minister’s power beyond specifying coin characteristics and it does not displace other determinations (clause 4).\n\nImplementation and compliance risks\n\n- Low regulatory complexity: the instrument imposes no reporting or administrative duties on businesses beyond the usual acceptance and handling of $1 coins.\n- Machine compatibility risk: only material if the dimensions, weight or edge differ materially from previously issued $1 coins. The Determination gives precise tolerances to manage that risk (Schedule 1).\n\nConcrete changes to behaviour\n\n- The Mint will use these specifications when producing the commemorative $1 coin.\n- Cash handlers and machine operators will check compatibility with the specified dimensions/weight; where compatible, no action is needed. Where incompatible (unlikely here), operators may need recalibration.\n\nReference points in the instrument: clause 2 (commencement), clause 3 (power to specify), clause 4 (non‑affectation of other determinations), Schedule 1 (full technical and design specs)."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2008-no-2","history":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2008-no-2/history","analysis":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2008-no-2/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2008-no-2/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2008-no-2/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2008-no-2/documents"}}