{"id":"F2011L00100","name":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2010 (No. 6)","slug":"currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2010-no-6","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":86123,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2011L00100-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2010 (No. 6)","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\nCurrency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2010 (No. 6)1\n\nCurrency Act 1965\n\nI, BILL SHORTEN, Assistant Treasurer, make this Determination under subsection 13A (1) of the Currency Act 1965.\n\nDated 16 December 2010\n\nBILL SHORTEN\n\nAssistant Treasurer\n\n1 Name of Determination\n\nThis Determination is the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2010 (No. 6).\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 Standard weight, allowable variation, dimensions and design\n\n(1) For subsection 13A (1) of the Act, on and after the day on which this Determination commences, each item in Part 1 of Schedule 1 specifies, for a coin having the denomination and standard composition mentioned in the item (being a coin whose denomination is specified, or taken to be specified, in the Schedule to the Act):\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 (using the symbols explained in Part 2 of Schedule 1).\n\n(2) Subsection (1) does not affect any other determination of the standard weight and allowable variation, dimensions or design of a coin, made under subsection 13A (1) of the Act.\n\nSchedule 1\n\n(section 4)\n\nPart 1 Specifications of coins\n\n```html\n

Item

Denomination

Standard composition

Standard weight and allowable variation (g)

Dimensions

Design

Maximum diameter (mm)

Maximum thickness (mm)

Shape

Edge

Obverse

Reverse

1

20c

Copper and nickel

11.30 ± 0.33

28.65

2.52

S1

E1

O1

R1

2

$1

At least 99.9% silver

32.39 ± 0.80

40.20

3.50

S1

E1

O1

R2

3

$1

Copper, aluminium and nickel

9.00 ± 0.27

25.12

2.80

S1

E2

O1

R3

4

$1

At least 99.9% silver

31.635 ± 0.50

40.20

3.50

S1

E1

O1

R4

5

$5

Not less than 99.99% gold

1.25 + 0.04/-0.00

14.20

0.70

S1

E1

O2

R5

6

$5

Not less than 99.99% gold

1.25 + 0.04/-0.00

14.20

0.70

S1

E1

O2

R6

7

$5

Not less than 99.99% gold

1.25 + 0.04/-0.00

14.20

0.70

S1

E1

O2

R7

\n```\n\nPart 2 Explanation of symbols\n\n| Item | Design Feature | Symbol | Explanation |\n| ---- | -------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 1 | Shape | S1 | Circular |\n| 2 | Edge | E1 | Continuously milled |\n| 3 | Edge | E2 | 14 Segments, of which 7 are milled and 7 are plain |\n| 4 | Obverse | O1 | A design consisting of an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the following:(a) ‘IRB’;(b) ‘ELIZABETH II’;(c) ‘AUSTRALIA 2011’ |\n| 5 | Obverse | O2 | A design consisting of an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the following:(a) ‘IRB’;(b) ‘ELIZABETH II’;(c) ‘AUSTRALIA 2011’;(d) ‘5 DOLLARS’ |\n| 6 | Reverse | R1 | A design consisting of:(a) a representation of a man in military uniform standing on the track of a tank with a field camera; and(b) the following:(i) ‘AUSTRALIA REMEMBERS’;(ii) ‘20’;(iii) ‘WAR HISTORIANS’ |\n| 7 | Reverse | R2 | A design consisting of:(a) a representation of the Narrows Bridge in Perth against a backdrop of the city skyline; and(b) the following:(i) ‘NARROWS BRIDGE-PERTH’;(ii) ‘1 OUNCE FINE SILVER’;(iii) ‘ONE DOLLAR’ |\n| 8 | Reverse | R3 | A design consisting of:(a) a representation of a merino ram; and(b) 2 representations of the Star of Federation; and(c) the following:(i) ‘AUSTRALIA’;(ii) ‘ONE DOLLAR’;(iii) ‘P’ enclosed by a circle |\n| 9 | Reverse | R4 | A design consisting:(a) a representation of a wave; and(b) a representation of a two stiver coin, partially obscured by the wave; and(c) below the wave, a representation of the following:(i) coral;(ii) a cluster of stiver coins embedded in coral;(iii) starfish; and(d) the following:(i) ‘VOC ZUYTDORP’;(ii) ‘1’;(iii) ‘DOLLAR’ |\n| 10 | Reverse | R5 | A design consisting of:(a) a representation of the Hyde Park Barracks behind a brick wall; and(b) the following:(i) ‘HYDE PARK BARRACKS’;(ii) ‘1/25 oz .9999 Au’ |\n| 11 | Reverse | R6 | A design consisting of:(a) a representation of the inside of the Port Arthur Convict Church; and(b) the following:(i) ‘PORT ARTHUR HISTORIC SITE’;(ii) ‘1/25 oz .9999 Au’ |\n| 12 | Reverse | R7 | A design consisting of:(a) a representation of the Fremantle Prison; and(b) the following:(i) ‘FREMANTLE PRISON’;(ii) ‘1/25 oz .9999 Au’ |\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":{"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This determination serves exactly its original purpose under the Currency Act 1965: authorising specific coin issues with detailed specifications. It has not expanded beyond the standard function of such determinations."},"complexity_factors":["Only 1 defined term ('Act') in the interpretation section","Straightforward tabular structure with 7 rows of technical specifications","No nested exceptions or conditional logic — just direct specifications","Single operative provision (section 4) with a simple non-derogation clause in subsection (2)","Design elements reference external symbols explained in a separate table, but these are purely descriptive","Highly technical content (weight tolerances, metal purity) but legally simple structure"],"plain_english_summary":"This determination fixes the official technical specifications for seven commemorative Australian coins (20c, three $1 and three $5 pieces) — metal, weight, dimensions and designs — authorising the Royal Australian Mint to produce them. It affects the Mint, collectors, the public and businesses required to accept them as legal tender, and matters because it permits lawful minting, ensures consistency and helps guard against counterfeiting."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination stays within the Currency Act's established power to prescribe coin weights, dimensions and designs. It does not expand the legal scope beyond specifying technical standards for particular coin issues; it expressly preserves other determinations (section 4(2)). There is no material growth beyond the Act's original purpose of authorising and specifying coinage."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument (1 page of operative provisions plus Schedule with table and symbol key)","1 defined term in body ('Act' in section 3)","Single cross-reference to subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965","Schedule 1 Part 1: tabular specifications with 7 listed items (coins) each having multiple numeric tolerances and composition statements","Schedule 1 Part 2: 12 design/feature symbols mapped to explained descriptions","Few conditional clauses (only section 4(2) preserves other determinations); no nested exceptions"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)**\n\n- This Determination sets the physical specifications for a set of Australian coins that the Royal Australian Mint will make. It does that by listing, for each coin in Schedule 1 Part 1, the coin's standard weight, the allowable variation from that weight, maximum diameter and thickness, and a shorthand for the coin's shape, edge, obverse (front) and reverse (back) designs. (See section 4 and Schedule 1.)\n- The Determination comes into force the day after it is registered (section 2).\n- It is made under subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965, so it operates as a technical specification under that Act (front page and section 4). Section 4(2) says it does not disturb other determinations made under the same power.\n\n**Who it affects**\n\n- The Royal Australian Mint: responsible for producing coins to these specifications. The Mint must manufacture coins within the listed weights, tolerances, sizes and designs.\n- The Commonwealth (through officials who decide designs and issue determinations): they decide which physical designs and precious-metal contents are authorised.\n- Coin users and intermediaries in practice: banks, cash-handling businesses, vending-machine operators and coin collectors. These parties are affected only to the extent that physical dimensions, weights, edges or designs affect coin handling, machine calibration, storage and collector valuation.\n- Producers and buyers of precious-metal coins (gold, silver): the Determination specifies metal purity and weights for particular $1 and $5 coins (Schedule 1 Part 1), which matters for bullion value and specification.\n\n**What the Schedule specifies (examples)**\n\n- For each listed item the table gives: denomination (for example 20c, $1, $5), standard composition (for example copper and nickel; or minimum purity for silver/gold), standard weight with allowable variation (grams), maximum diameter and thickness (mm), and symbolic codes for shape (S1 = circular), edge (E1 = continuously milled; E2 = 14 segments alternating milled/plain), obverse (O1/O2 descriptions with the Queen's effigy and inscriptions) and specific reverse designs (R1–R7 describing imagery and inscriptions). (See Schedule 1 Part 1 and Part 2.)\n\n**Why the government would make this kind of Determination (stated purpose and practical effect)**\n\n- Stated purpose: to prescribe the physical and design specifications for particular coins so the Mint can lawfully produce them under the Currency Act.\n- Practical effect: it fixes the tolerances and design elements that ensure coins are identifiable, machine-readable, and legally recognised as currency or legal-tender commemorative/bullion coins.\n\n**Costs, incentives and trade-offs (practical testing of the purpose-claim)**\n\n- Who pays: the Commonwealth pays to commission and produce the coins (via the Mint). Indirect costs can fall on businesses that must adjust coin-handling equipment if a new size/weight/edge is introduced. Precious-metal coins have intrinsic metal value that can exceed face value; that affects secondary markets (collectors, bullion buyers) rather than ordinary cash users.\n- Administrative burden: limited and concentrated. The main administrative action is by the Mint and the Assistant Treasurer in making and publishing the Determination. Businesses that handle large volumes of coins may incur calibration or handling adjustments if dimensions or edges differ materially from previously issued coins.\n- Compliance / discretion risks: low. This is a technical specification; discretion is exercised when selecting designs and metal content, but the Determination itself is a concrete specification that leaves little room for interpretive variation once registered. Section 4(2) prevents it from implicitly changing other determinations.\n- Market effects: minimal on general competition or prices. Effects are operational (coin-handling, vending machine calibration). For precious-metal issues, metal purity and weight make those coins relevant to bullion markets and collectors — their market value will more closely track metal content than face value.\n- Opportunity costs: government resources and Mint capacity used to produce these coin types could have been used for other commemorative/bullion issues. The Determination does not set production quantities, only specifications.\n- Implementation risk: modest — the main implementation task is manufacturing within the stated tolerances. If the Mint fails to meet tolerances, coins could be rejected by automated systems or treated differently by retailers or banks.\n\n**Concrete behavioural changes produced by the instrument**\n\n- The Mint must produce coins that match the table specs. Cash-handling operators may need to check or adjust equipment if coin dimensions/weights/edges differ from prior coins. Collectors and bullion traders will use the listed metal purities and weights to value the specified coins.\n\n**Key legal references inside the Determination**\n\n- Commencement: section 2.\n- Operative power: made under subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965 (front page and section 4).\n- Effect: section 4(1) makes Schedule 1 the list of specifications; section 4(2) preserves other determinations. Schedule 1 Part 1 contains the table of specifications; Part 2 explains the symbol codes used for designs and edges.\n\n(Analyst's note: this is a technical specification instrument. It prescribes physical attributes and designs rather than imposing new regulatory duties on the public. The main actors who make choices because of it are the Mint (to produce conforming coins) and commercial coin-handlers (to accept and process coins predicted by the specifications). )"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2010-no-6","history":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2010-no-6/history","analysis":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2010-no-6/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2010-no-6/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2010-no-6/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2010-no-6/documents"}}