{"id":"F2009L02540","name":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2009 (No. 4)","slug":"currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-4","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":79459,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2009L02540-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2009 (No. 4)","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\nCurrency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2009 (No. 4)1\n\nCurrency Act 1965\n\nI, NICK SHERRY, Assistant Treasurer, make this Determination under paragraph 13 (2) (a) and subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965.\n\nDated 22 June 2009\n\nNICK SHERRY\n\nAssistant Treasurer\n\n1 Name of Determination\n\nThis Determination is the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2009 (No. 4).\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 Specification of standard composition for coin denomination already specified in Act\n\nFor paragraph 13 (2) (a) of the Act, the Act has effect, on and after the day on which this Determination commences, as if the reference in the Schedule to the Act, opposite the reference to the denomination ‘Ten dollars’, to the standard composition of coins of that denomination included a reference to the standard composition ‘At least 99.99% gold’.\n\n5 Specification of coins\n\nFor subsection 13A (1) of the Act, each item in Schedule 1 specifies, for a coin having the denomination and standard composition mentioned in the item:\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\n6 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 coins\n\n(section 5)\n\n| Item 1 | $5 coin |\n| --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Denomination | $5 |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 36.31 g ± 0.54 g |\n| Maximum diameter | 38.94 mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 3.50 mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | Continuously milled |\n| Obverse design | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the initials ‘IRB’, surrounded by the inscriptions:(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2010’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:(a) a representation of a S.25 Sandringham aeroplane; and(b) a stylised representation of 2 windows side-by-side, one of which contains a representation of a second S.25 Sandringham aeroplane; and |\n| | (c) the inscriptions:(i) ‘AVIATION HISTORY — S.25 SANDRINGHAM’; and(ii) ‘5 DOLLARS’; and(d) the initials ‘WP’. |\n| | |\n| Item 2 | $5 coin |\n| Denomination | $5 |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 36.31 g ± 0.54 g |\n| Maximum diameter | 38.94 mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 3.50 mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | Continuously milled |\n| Obverse design | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the initials ‘IRB’, surrounded by the inscriptions:(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2010’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:(a) a representation of 2 Boeing 747 aeroplanes; and(b) a stylised representation of a window framing the smaller aeroplane; and(c) the inscriptions:(i) ‘AVIATION HISTORY — BOEING 747’; and(ii) ‘5 DOLLARS’; and(d) the initials ‘WP’. |\n| | |\n| Item 3 | $1 coin |\n| Denomination | $1 |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 31.635 g ± 0.500 g |\n| Maximum diameter | 40.20 mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 3.50 mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | Continuously milled |\n| Obverse design | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the initials ‘IRB’, surrounded by the inscriptions:(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2010’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:(a) a stylised representation of a tiger; and(b) a stylised representation of 2 phoenixes facing one another; and(c) a Chinese character for which the Pin-yin word is ‘gēng’ (being the name of the seventh Heavenly Stem used in the Chinese calendar); and(d) a Chinese character for which the Pin-yin word is ‘yín’ (being the name of the third Earthly Branch used in the Chinese calendar); and(e) the inscriptions:(i) ‘1 DOLLAR’; and(ii) ‘1 oz .999 silver’. |\n| | |\n| Item 4 | $10 coin |\n| Denomination | $10 |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.99% gold |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 3.11 g + 0.09 g, - 0.00 g |\n| Maximum diameter | 17.73 mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 1.58 mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | Continuously milled |\n| Obverse design | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the initials ‘IRB’, surrounded by the inscriptions:(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2010’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:(a) a stylised representation of a tiger; and(b) a stylised representation of 2 phoenixes facing one another; and(c) a Chinese character for which the Pin-yin word is ‘gēng’ (being the name of the seventh Heavenly Stem used in the Chinese calendar); and(d) a Chinese character for which the Pin-yin word is ‘yín’ (being the name of the third Earthly Branch used in the Chinese calendar); and(e) the inscriptions:(i) ‘10 DOLLARS’; and(ii) ‘1/10 oz .9999Au’. |\n| | |\n| Item 5 | $25 coin |\n| Denomination | $25 |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.99% gold |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 15.55 g + 0.09 g, - 0.00 g |\n| Maximum diameter | 30.25 mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 2.00 mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | Continuously milled |\n| Obverse design | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the initials ‘IRB’, surrounded by the inscriptions:(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2010’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:(a) a stylised representation of a tiger; and(b) a stylised representation of 2 phoenixes facing one another; and(c) a Chinese character for which the Pin-yin word is ‘gēng’ (being the name of the seventh Heavenly Stem used in the Chinese calendar); and(d) a Chinese character for which the Pin-yin word is ‘yín’ (being the name of the third Earthly Branch used in the Chinese calendar); and(e) the inscriptions:(i) ‘25 DOLLARS’; and(ii) ‘1/2 oz .9999Au’. |\n| | |\n| Item 6 | $5 coin |\n| Denomination | $5 |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 36.31 g ± 0.54 g |\n| Maximum diameter | 38.94 mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 3.50 mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | Continuously milled |\n| Obverse design | An effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the initials ‘IRB’, surrounded by the inscriptions:(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and(b) ‘AUSTRALIA 2009’; and(c) ‘5 DOLLARS’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:(a) a pad printed image of a 2-storey building, also showing a portion of an adjacent 1‑storey building with a sign on its roof including the word ‘MERCHANTS’; and(b) the inscriptions:(i) ‘200 years’; and(ii) ‘OF POSTAL SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA’. |\n| | |\n| Item 7 | $5 coin |\n| Denomination | $5 |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 50.00 g ± 1.50 g |\n| Maximum diameter | 50.2 mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 3.85 mm |\n| Shape | Annular |\n| Edge | Continuously milled |\n| Obverse design | A design consisting of:(a) a stylised representation of the solar system; and(b) superimposed on the representation — an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the initials ‘IRB’; and(c) the inscriptions:(i) ‘ELIZABETH II’; and(ii) ‘AUSTRALIA 2009’; and(iii) ‘5 DOLLARS’. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:(a) stylised representations of 4 figures placed at quarter intervals around the coin, looking towards the centre of the coin; and(b) between the figures — a representation of each of the following landmarks:(i) Egyptian pyramids;(ii) the Burj Al Arab in United Arab Emirates;(iii) the Taj Mahal in India;(iv) Mount Fuji in Japan;(v) the Australian Parliament House;(vi) the Sydney Opera House;(vii) Uluru in Australia;(viii) a radio telescope at Parkes Observatory in Australia;(ix) a Moai statue on Easter Island;(x) a Mesoamerican pyramid in Mexico;(xi) the Golden Gate Bridge in the United States of America;(xii) the Statue of Liberty in the United States of America;(xiii) Stonehenge in the United Kingdom;(xiv) the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy;(xv) the Eiffel Tower in France;(xvi) Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Russia; and |\n| | (c) around the outer edge of the coin — the inscriptions:(i) ‘INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY’; and(ii) ‘2009’. |\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 determination serves its original narrow purpose: authorising specific commemorative coins. It does not expand beyond the standard function of Currency Act determinations, which routinely specify coin designs and compositions for the Royal Australian Mint."},"complexity_factors":["Only 1 defined term ('Act') in the interpretation section","Straightforward structure: name, commencement, definition, 3 operative sections, and a schedule","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the parent Currency Act 1965","No conditional logic or exceptions (beyond a simple 'savings' clause in section 6 stating these specs don't override other determinations)","Schedule 1 contains detailed but purely descriptive specifications (weights, dimensions, designs) rather than legal rules","Total length is approximately 2 pages of substantive content"],"plain_english_summary":"This law authorises the Royal Australian Mint to issue seven specific commemorative coins for 2009–2010, prescribing their exact weight, dimensions, composition, and designs so they are legal Australian currency. It affects the Mint, collectors, investors, and anyone accepting the coins.\n\nIt also amends the Currency Act to permit $10 coins in 99.99% gold. The coins mark themes like aviation history, the Chinese Year of the Tiger, 200 years of postal services, and the International Year of Astronomy."},"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":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination operates within the statutory power given by the Currency Act to specify coin standards and designs. It updates and adds specific technical specifications and increases the recorded gold purity for the $10 denomination, but it does not expand the legislative purpose or create new regulatory frameworks beyond the Act’s original remit. The change is an exercise of the existing specification power rather than a growth in scope of the law."},"complexity_factors":["Single short instrument (6 clauses) plus Schedule 1 with 7 detailed items","One defined term in interpretation section ('Act')","Direct cross-reference to two provisions of the Currency Act: paragraph 13(2)(a) and subsection 13A(1)","Repeated, largely uniform technical fields (weight, tolerance, diameter, thickness, shape, edge, obverse/reverse designs) reducing conditional complexity","A small substantive amendment to the Act’s Schedule for the $10 denomination (clause 4) but no wide-ranging new powers or layered exceptions","Design descriptions include non-standard elements (artist initials, pad-printed images, multi-part reverse motifs) that require precise manufacture but do not add legal conditionality"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanics)**\n\n- This Determination, made under the Currency Act 1965, sets out technical specifications for a number of Australian coins to be produced by the Royal Australian Mint. It does two principal things:\n - it amends the statutory reference for the $10 coin so that the standard composition recorded in the Act’s Schedule will, from the Determination’s commencement, read “At least 99.99% gold” (clause 4); and\n - it publishes a set of specifications in Schedule 1 for particular coins (denomination, metal purity, standard weight and allowable variation, maximum diameter and thickness, shape, edge, obverse and reverse designs) and declares that each Schedule item supplies the matters required by subsection 13A(1) of the Act (clause 5).\n\n- Clause 6 says the specifications in Schedule 1 do not override or affect other determinations about coin specifications.\n\n**Which coins and what is specified**\n\n- Schedule 1 lists seven coin items (various $5, $1, $10 and $25 coins). For each item the Determination specifies:\n - denomination (face value), standard metal composition (for example, “At least 99.99% gold” for certain $10 and $25 coins; “At least 99.9% silver” or “.999 silver” for others), precise weights with allowable tolerances, maximum diameters and thicknesses, shape and edge treatment, and the obverse (Queen’s effigy and inscriptions) and reverse designs (commemorative imagery and inscriptions).\n - designs include themed motifs (e.g. aviation, Chinese calendar tiger/phoenix designs, postal services, International Year of Astronomy) and year inscriptions such as “2009” or “2010”.\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- The Royal Australian Mint: the Determination tells the Mint what physical and visual specifications the listed coins must meet.\n- Buyers and collectors: the metal purity, weight and design determine bullion content, collectible features and market value.\n- Dealers, refiners and secondary-market participants: metal content and exact weights affect trading, appraisal and potential melting or bullion valuation.\n- Government finances: higher precious-metal content changes the relationship between face value and metal intrinsic value, with effects on seigniorage (the government’s margin between production cost and face value).\n\n**Why it matters (claimed purpose, then practical effects)**\n\n- Claimed purpose: the Determination exercises the Assistant Treasurer’s statutory power to specify coin standards and designs so the Mint can produce authorised Commonwealth coins (see clauses 1–5).\n\n- Practical implications and trade-offs:\n - Material costs and pricing: specifying higher-purity gold (.9999) and large weights increases material costs for the Mint and typically leads to those coins being sold at a premium above face value. That shifts value from seigniorage to purchasers and/or collectors (clause 4 and Schedule 1 specifications).\n - Marketplace behaviour: coins with substantial precious-metal content commonly trade as bullion or collectibles rather than circulating currency; this can cause hoarding or secondary-market activity (buy/sell premiums, refined metal sales). The Determination does not change how private parties may contract over such coins, but it makes the coins’ bullion properties explicit (Schedule 1).\n - Administrative clarity and compliance: the instrument provides detailed technical tolerances (weights, diameters, designs), reducing ambiguity for manufacture and quality control (clause 5 and Schedule 1). Clause 6 preserves other determinations, limiting unintended statutory displacement.\n - Limited discretion beyond specification: the power used is to set specifications; the Determination does not create new regulatory regimes, licensing requirements or taxes. Implementation risk is mainly operational (manufacturing to spec, quality control, design copyright/artist credits as recorded—e.g. initials in designs).\n\n**Who pays and who decides**\n\n- The Assistant Treasurer (statutory officer) decides the specifications under powers in the Currency Act (instrument header and clauses 1–5). The Royal Australian Mint pays production costs; buyers/collectors typically pay premiums reflecting metal content and collectibility. Any reduction in government seigniorage (if production costs exceed face value) is borne by the Commonwealth’s accounts.\n\n**Concentrated benefits and diffuse costs**\n\n- Concentrated benefits: the Mint and coin designers/retail channels benefit from sales of commemorative and bullion coins; collectors and bullion dealers gain identifiable products.\n- Diffuse costs: potential lower seigniorage and administrative cost to government; minor market effects (collectible pricing, bullion trading) diffuse across purchasers and dealers.\n\n**Implementation and compliance notes**\n\n- The Determination is narrowly technical in scope: it prescribes specifications and designs (clause 5 and Schedule 1). Clause 6 expressly limits interference with other determinations. There are no additional compliance regimes or reporting obligations created by this instrument.\n\n(References in parentheses are to clauses and schedule numbering in this Determination.)"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-4","history":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-4/history","analysis":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-4/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-4/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-4/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-4/documents"}}