{"id":"F2009L04509","name":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2009 (No. 8)","slug":"currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-8","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":82310,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2009L04509-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. 8)","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\nCurrency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2009 (No. 8)1\n\nCurrency Act 1965\n\nI, NICK SHERRY, Assistant Treasurer, make this Determination under subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965.\n\nDated 19 October 2009\n\nNICK SHERRY\n\nAssistant Treasurer\n\n1 Name of Determination\n\nThis Determination is the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2009 (No. 8).\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis Determination commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3 Specifications of coins\n\nFor subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965, 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\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 coins\n\n(section 3)\n\n| Item 1 | 50 cent coin |\n| --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Denomination | 50 cents |\n| Standard composition | Copper and nickel |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 15.55 g ± 0.40 g |\n| Maximum diameter | 31.65 mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 2.80 mm |\n| Shape | Dodecagonal |\n| Edge | Plain |\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 the Australian mainland:(i) formed by 6 ribbons; and(ii) enclosing the inscription “50”; and(b) repeated alternately 3 times, between the ribbon tails:(i) a representation of a child standing between 2 adults; and(ii) a representation of 2 adults touching hands; and(c) near the ribbon tails at the bottom left-hand of the coin — a small designer’s mark consisting of a circle enclosing the stylised initials “VG”; and(d) outside the ribbon design:(i) the inscription “CELEBRATE WHAT’S GREAT” with a dot on either side; and(ii) the inscription “AUSTRALIA DAY” with a dot on either side. |\n| | |\n| Item 2 | 50 cent coin |\n| Denomination | 50 cents |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver, with a partial plating of at least 99.99% gold |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 18.24 g ± 0.40 g |\n| Maximum diameter | 31.65 mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 3.00 mm |\n| Shape | Dodecagonal |\n| Edge | Plain |\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 the Australian mainland:(i) formed by 6 ribbons; and(ii) enclosing the inscription “50”; and(b) repeated alternately 3 times, between the ribbon tails:(i) a representation of a child standing between 2 adults; and(ii) a representation of 2 adults touching hands; and(c) near the ribbon tails at the bottom left-hand of the coin — a small designer’s mark consisting of a circle enclosing the stylised initials “VG”; and(d) outside the ribbon design:(i) the inscription “CELEBRATE WHAT’S GREAT” with a dot on either side; and(ii) the inscription “AUSTRALIA DAY” with a dot on either side. |\n| | |\n| Item 3 | $1 coin |\n| Denomination | $1 |\n| Standard composition | At least 99.9% silver |\n| Standard weight and allowable variation | 11.66 g ± 0.24 g |\n| Maximum diameter | 25.12 mm |\n| Maximum thickness | 2.80 mm |\n| Shape | Circular |\n| Edge | Plain |\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 circle enclosing effigies of the following monarchs, from left to right:(i) Queen Elizabeth II;(ii) King George VI;(iii) King George V;(iv) King Edward VII; and(b) in the bottom left-hand quadrant of the circle — a small letter “C”; and(c) in the bottom right-hand quadrant of the circle — a small designer’s mark consisting of a circle enclosing the stylised initials “VG”; and(d) outside the circle:(i) to the left — a representation of 4 seven-pointed stars; and(ii) the inscription “ONE DOLLAR”; and(ii) the inscription “100 YEARS OF AUSTRALIAN COINAGE”. |\n| | |\n| Item 4 | $1 coin |\n| Denomination | $1 |\n| Standard composition | Copper, aluminium and nickel |\n| Standard weight and allowable 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 2010”. |\n| Reverse design | A design consisting of:(a) a circle enclosing effigies of the following monarchs, from left to right:(i) Queen Elizabeth II;(ii) King George VI;(iii) King George V;(iv) King Edward VII; and(b) in the bottom left-hand quadrant of the circle — a small letter “C”; and(c) in the bottom right-hand quadrant of the circle — a small designer’s mark consisting of a circle enclosing the stylised initials “VG”; and(d) outside the circle:(i) to the left — a representation of 4 seven-pointed stars; and(ii) the inscription “ONE DOLLAR”; and(ii) the inscription “100 YEARS OF AUSTRALIAN COINAGE”. |\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 remains tightly scoped to its original purpose under the Currency Act 1965: authorising specific commemorative coin issues. It does not expand beyond the technical specification of coin characteristics required by subsection 13A(1)."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (4 operative sections plus schedule)","No defined terms section — all terms are ordinary English or self-explanatory in context","Simple structure: name, commencement, operative provision, schedule with specifications","No cross-references except to the empowering provision (Currency Act 1965, subsection 13A(1))","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Schedule consists of straightforward tabular specifications (weight, dimensions, design descriptions)","Only one substantive legal provision (section 3) with a simple \"each item specifies\" structure"],"plain_english_summary":"This Determination authorises the Royal Australian Mint to issue four 2010 commemorative coins—two 50-cent and two $1 pieces—marking Australia Day and the centenary of Australian coinage, including circulation and collector versions. \n\nIt binds the Mint to precise technical specifications and makes the coins legal tender, affecting the Mint, collectors, the public, and businesses required to accept them."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination stays within the ordinary scope of the Currency Act power to specify coin characteristics. It sets physical and design specifications for particular commemorative and circulating coins; it does not broaden the statutory power or add regulatory obligations beyond specifying those coin features. It therefore does not represent a material change in scope from the Act's established purpose to authorise coin specifications."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose legislative instrument (4 substantive provisions: name, commencement, specifications, application).","Schedule 1 contains 4 itemised coin specifications (Items 1–4) with detailed subclauses for each coin's physical and design features.","Technical tolerances and multiple attributes per item (weight ± variation, diameter, thickness, shape, edge, obverse and reverse design) increase drafting density though not conditional complexity.","Two denominations each have two variants (one standard base‑metal, one precious‑metal/comemorative), adding duplication of similar clauses.","Cross-reference to the Currency Act 1965 (subsection 13A(1)) — the instrument is subordinate legislation relying on that power.","Design descriptions use nested subparagraphs and detailed visual descriptions (e.g. multiple repeated motifs and designer's marks), which are precise but not legally conditional."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- This Determination, made by the Assistant Treasurer under subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965, formally specifies the physical and design specifications for four coin types listed in Schedule 1 (see section 3 and Schedule 1).\n- For each listed coin it fixes: denomination, metal composition, standard weight and allowable variation, maximum diameter, maximum thickness, shape, edge, obverse (heads) design and reverse (tails) design.\n- It starts to operate the day after registration (section 2). Section 4 clarifies that these specifications do not override or change any other existing determinations about coin specifications.\n\nWhich coins are covered\n\n- Two 50-cent designs:\n - Item 1: a standard copper–nickel 50 cent (15.55 g ±0.40 g, dodecagonal) with obverse showing Queen Elizabeth II and reverse carrying an \"Australia Day / CELEBRATE WHAT'S GREAT\" design. (Schedule 1, Item 1)\n - Item 2: a 50 cent commemorative coin in at least 99.9% silver with partial 99.99% gold plating (18.24 g ±0.40 g, dodecagonal) with the same obverse and reverse design as Item 1. (Schedule 1, Item 2)\n- Two $1 designs:\n - Item 3: a $1 coin in at least 99.9% silver (11.66 g ±0.24 g, circular) whose reverse shows a circle of monarch effigies and inscriptions including \"ONE DOLLAR\" and \"100 YEARS OF AUSTRALIAN COINAGE\". (Schedule 1, Item 3)\n - Item 4: a standard circulating $1 coin in copper–aluminium–nickel (9.00 g ±0.27 g, circular) with the same reverse design as Item 3 but a different edge (14 segments, alternating milled/plain). (Schedule 1, Item 4)\n\nWhy it matters (claimed purpose and practical effects)\n\n- The Determination authorises specific coin designs and metal specifications so the Royal Australian Mint can lawfully produce these particular commemorative and standard coins (this is the legal mechanism under the Currency Act). The inscriptions and motifs show the coins are tied to Australia Day 2010 and a 100-year coinage commemoration (Schedule 1 designs).\n\nPractical consequences, incentives and trade‑offs\n\n- Who decides: the Assistant Treasurer (instrument maker) acting under the Currency Act specifies coin features (see instrument heading and section 3).\n- Who pays / bears costs: the Royal Australian Mint will incur production costs (including the higher metal cost and plating cost for the precious‑metal versions). The Determination itself does not set quantities or sale prices; revenue, seigniorage or collector sale proceeds are handled through Mint/Government practices outside this instrument.\n- Behaviour changes required: the Mint must produce coins to the listed tolerances and designs; any issuer, distributor or vendor dealing in official coins must recognise these as authorised coin types. The instrument does not change other determinations or broader currency law (section 4).\n- Market effects and tradeoffs:\n - Precious‑metal variants (silver, gold‑plated) raise production costs and create coins with intrinsic metal value that may attract collectors and bullion buyers rather than general circulation use. That can change how the coins are marketed and whether they circulate.\n - Having both precious‑metal commemorative versions and base‑metal circulating versions of the same denomination can cause substitution (collectors/bullion buyers purchase the silver issue; the public encounters the base‑metal issue in circulation). The Determination does not address issuance limits, pricing, or distribution policy, so those implementation choices (and their fiscal effects) rest with the Mint/Government practices.\n- Compliance and implementation risk: the instrument is prescriptive and technical (weights, diameters, edge type, designs). Implementation risks are operational (manufacturing to tolerances, accurate application of plating and design details). There are no additional regulatory compliance costs imposed on private businesses beyond dealing with an authorised coin type.\n\nSource references: the power used is subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965 (instrument header), the operative description is in section 3 and Schedule 1, and section 4 limits changes to other determinations."},"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-2009-no-8","history":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-8/history","analysis":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-8/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-8/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-8/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2009-no-8/documents"}}