{"id":"F2015L00382","name":"Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2015 (No. 4)","slug":"currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2015-no-4","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":92935,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2015L00382-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of determination","content":"#### 1 Name of determination\n\n This determination is the Currency (Royal Australian Mint) Determination 2015 (No. 4).","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n This determination is made under paragraph 13(2)(b) and subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 4 Definitions\n\n In this determination:\n\n> Act means the Currency Act 1965.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Specification of denominations and standard compositions","content":"#### 5 Specification of denominations and standard compositions\n\n (1) This section is made for paragraph 13(2)(b) of the Act.\n (2) The Act has effect, on and after the day on which this determination commences, as if:\n (a) there were included in the Schedule to the Act the references to denominations of money specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to this determination; and\n (b) there were specified in the Schedule to the Act opposite to each such denomination, as the standard composition of coins of that denomination, the standard composition specified for the denomination in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to this determination.\n (3) This section does not affect any other determination made for paragraph 13(2)(b) of the Act.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Standard weight, design and dimension of coins","content":"#### 6 Standard weight, design and dimension of coins\n\n (1) This section is made for subsection 13A(1) of the Act.\n (2) On and after the day when this determination commences, each item of the table in Part 1 of Schedule 1 specifies the standard weight, the allowable variation from that standard weight, the design and the dimensions of a coin whose denomination is specified, or taken to be specified in the Schedule to the Act.\n (3) Each item of the table in Part 2 of Schedule 1 explains a symbol used to describe the design of coins specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1.\n (4) This section does not affect any other determination made under subsection 13A(1) of the Act.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Specifications of coins","content":"## Part 1—Specifications of coins","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Explanation of symbols","content":"## Part 2—Explanation of symbols","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Symbols used in Part 1","content":"#### 2 Symbols used in Part 1\n\n Each item of the following table contains an explanation of a symbol used in Part 1 of this Schedule to describe the shape, edge design, obverse design and reverse design of a coin.\n\n```html\n

Explanation of symbols used in Part 1

Item

Design Feature

Symbol

Explanation

1

Shape

S1

Circular

2

Shape

S2

Dodecagonal

3

Edge

E1

Continuously milled

4

Edge

E2

Plain

5

Edge

E3

Interrupted milling

6

Obverse

O1

A design consisting of an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the following:

(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’;

(b) ‘AUSTRALIA’;

(c) the inscription, in numerals, of a year;

(d) ‘IRB’.

7

Obverse

O2

A design consisting of an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the following:

(a) ‘ELIZABETH II’;

(b) ‘AUSTRALIA’;

(c) the inscription, in numerals, of a year;

(d) Arabic numerals for the amount, in dollars, of the denomination of the coin, followed by ‘DOLLAR’, or ‘DOLLARS’ as the case requires;

(e) ‘IRB’;

(f) 2 representations of a dot.

8

Obverse

O3

A design consisting of:

(a) at the top of the face of the coin, an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the initials ‘IRB’; and

(b) a stylised representation of an Australian penny coin as it appeared in 1964, omitting the year of the coin, the denomination of the coin and the dot; and

(c) the following:

(i) ‘ELIZABETH II’;

(ii) ‘AUSTRALIA’;

(iii) the inscription, in numerals, of a year;

(iv) ‘FIFTY YEARS;

(v) 2 representations of a dot;

all enclosed by an ornamental border.

9

Obverse

O4

A design consisting of:

(a) at the top of the face of the coin, an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the initials ‘IRB’; and

(b) a stylised representation of an Australian three pence coin as it appeared in 1964, omitting the year of the coin and the denomination; and

(c) the following:

(i) ‘ELIZABETH II’;

(ii) ‘AUSTRALIA’;

(iii) the inscription, in numerals, of a year;

(iv) ‘FIFTY YEARS;

(v) 2 representations of a dot;

all enclosed by an ornamental border.

10

Obverse

O5

A design consisting of:

(a) at the top of the face of the coin, an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the initials ‘IRB’; and

(b) a stylised representation of an Australian six pence coin as it appeared in 1963, omitting the year of the coin and the denomination; and

(c) the following:

(i) ‘ELIZABETH II’;

(ii) ‘AUSTRALIA’;

(iii) the inscription, in numerals, of a year;

(iv) ‘FIFTY YEARS;

(v) 2 representations of a dot;

all enclosed by an ornamental border.

11

Obverse

O6

A design consisting of:

(a) at the top of the face of the coin, an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the initials ‘IRB’; and

(b) a stylised representation of an Australian shilling coin as it appeared in 1963, omitting the year of the coin, the denomination and the dot; and

(c) the following:

(i) ‘ELIZABETH II’;

(ii) ‘AUSTRALIA’;

(iii) the inscription, in numerals, of a year;

(iv) ‘FIFTY YEARS;

(v) 2 representations of a dot;

all enclosed by a circular ornamental border.

12

Obverse

O7

A design consisting of:

(a) at the top of the face of the coin, an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the initials ‘IRB’; and

(b) a stylised representation of an Australian florin coin as it appeared in 1963, omitting the year of the coin and the denomination; and

(c) the following:

(i) ‘ELIZABETH II’;

(ii) ‘AUSTRALIA’;

(iii) the inscription, in numerals, of a year;

(iv) ‘FIFTY YEARS;

(v) 2 representations of a dot;

all enclosed by an ornamental border.

13

Obverse

O8

A design consisting of:

(a) at the top of the face of the coin, an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the initials ‘IRB’; and

(b) a stylised representation of an Australian crown coin as it appeared in 1938, omitting the year of the coin and the denomination; and

(c) the following:

(i) ‘ELIZABETH II’;

(ii) ‘AUSTRALIA’;

(iii) the inscription, in numerals, of a year;

(iv) ‘FIFTY YEARS;

(v) 2 representations of a dot;

all enclosed by an ornamental border.

14

Reverse

R1

A design consisting of:

(a) a representation of Sir Henry Parkes ; and

(b) a stylised representation of the Southern Cross; and

(c) the following:

(i) ‘SIR HENRY PARKES’;

(ii) ‘FATHER OF FEDERATION’;

(iii) ‘20’;

(iv) a stylised representation of the letters ‘YR’.

15

Reverse

R2

A design consisting of:

(a) in the foreground, a representation of an airman; and

(b) in the background, a stylised representation of 2 airmen in an aeroplane; and

(c) 3 concentric circles superimposed on a stylised representation of a part of the map of the world; and

(d) at the bottom of the face of the coin, the following:

(i) a horizontal line;

(ii) the number ‘50’ in red colour, superimposed on a blue coloured background; and

(e) the following:

(i) ‘EMPIRE’;

(ii) ‘AIR TRAINING SCHEME’.

16

Reverse

R3

A design consisting of:

(a) a central circle containing the inscription ‘LEST WE FORGET’ and a representation of a dot; and

(b) surrounding the central circle, the following:

(i) a series of red coloured stripes arranged in a repetitive circular pattern;

(ii) 2 concentric circles;

(iii) 5 stylised representations of crosses;

(iv) between the crosses, a representation of poppy flowers; and

(c) ‘TWO DOLLARS’.

17

Reverse

R4

A design consisting of:

(a) a circle containing the following:

(i) in the background, an aerial view representation of buildings;

(ii) superimposed on the buildings, a representation of the Chinese characters pronounced ‘hépíng’ and meaning ‘peace’;

(iii) in the foreground, a representation of 2 arms with right hands clasping;

(iv) a representation of a part of a terrestrial globe;

(v) the inscriptions ‘MIRE’, ‘PAS’, ‘HEIWA’, ‘FRIEDE’, ‘PACE’, ‘PEACE’, ‘SALAM’, ‘PAIX’ and ‘MIR’; and

(b) surrounding the circle, the following:

(i) ‘70th ANNIVERSARY’;

(ii) a representation of a 5-pointed star;

(iii) a representation of a 7-pointed star;

(iv) ‘END OF WORLD WAR II’.

18

Reverse

R5

A design consisting of:

(a) in the foreground, a representation of a dog looking upward; and

(b) a central circle partially obscured by the dog; and

(c) in the background and partially obscured by the central circle and the dog, a coloured representation of 3 tents in a desert landscape.

19

Reverse

R6

A design consisting of:

(a) in the foreground, a representation of a kangaroo positioned over soil; and

(b) a central circle partially obscured by the kangaroo and soil; and

(c) in the background and partially obscured by the central circle and the kangaroo, a coloured representation of 3 pyramids in a desert landscape.

20

Reverse

R7

A design consisting of:

(a) a representation of a spiny ant-eater; and

(b) the following:

(i) ‘5’;

(ii) the designer’s initials ‘SD’.

21

Reverse

R8

A design consisting of:

(a) a representation of a lyrebird; and

(b) the following:

(i) ‘10’;

(ii) the designer’s initials ‘SD’.

22

Reverse

R9

A design consisting of:

(a) a representation of a platypus in water; and

(b) ‘20’.

23

Reverse

R10

A design consisting of:

(a) a representation of the arms of the Commonwealth; and

(b) the following:

(i) ‘50’;

(ii) the designer’s initials ‘SD’.

24

Reverse

R11

A design consisting of:

(a) a representation of 5 kangaroos; and

(b) ‘1 DOLLAR’.

25

Reverse

R12

A design consisting of:

(a) the head and shoulders of a traditional Australian Aboriginal; and

(b) a representation of the Southern Cross; and

(c) a representation of Australian flora; and

(d) ‘2 DOLLARS’.

26

Reverse

R13

A design consisting of:

(a) a representation of a wreath, tied in the centre by a ribbon; and

(b) a stylised representation of St Edward’s Crown; and

(c) the following:

(i) ‘ROYAL AUSTRALIAN MINT’;

(ii) ‘AUSTRALIA’;

(iii) ‘ONE DOLLAR’;

(iv) ‘C’; and

(d) a circle of raised beads immediately inside the rim.

27

Reverse

R14

As for item 26, replacing the reference in paragraph (iv) to the letter ‘C’ with the letter ‘B’ enclosed by a square.

28

Reverse

R15

As for item 26, replacing the reference in paragraph (iv) to the letter ‘C’ with the letter ‘S’ enclosed by a square.

29

Reverse

R16

As for item 26, replacing the reference in paragraph (iv) to the letter ‘C’ with the letter ‘M’ enclosed by a square.

30

Reverse

R17

As for item 26, replacing the reference in paragraph (iv) to the letter ‘C’ with the letter ‘P’ enclosed by a square.

31

Reverse

R18

As for item 26, replacing the reference in paragraph (iv) to the letter ‘C’ with the letter ‘B’ enclosed by a circle.

32

Reverse

R19

As for item 26, replacing the reference in paragraph (iv) to the letter ‘C’ with the letter ‘S’ enclosed by a circle.

33

Reverse

R20

As for item 26, replacing the reference in paragraph (iv) to the letter ‘C’ with the letter ‘M’ enclosed by a circle.

34

Reverse

R21

As for item 26, replacing the reference in paragraph (iv) to the letter ‘C’ with the letter ‘P’ enclosed by a circle.

35

Reverse

R22

A design consisting of:

(a) a representation of a wreath, tied in the centre by a ribbon; and

(b) a stylised representation of St Edward’s Crown; and

(c) the following:

(i) ‘ROYAL AUSTRALIAN MINT’;

(ii) ‘AUSTRALIA’;

(iii) ‘TEN DOLLARS’;

(iv) ‘C’; and

(d) a circle of raised beads immediately inside the rim.

36

Reverse

R23

A design consisting of:

(a) a representation of a body of water and a cliff; and

(b) positioned on the cliff, a representation of a lighthouse emitting stylised representations of light consisting of a series of stripes, circles and curved lines arranged in a repetitive pattern; and

(c) the following:

(i) ‘1 DOLLAR’;

(ii) a stylised representation of the designer’s initials ‘BK’.

\n```","sortOrder":8}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This determination stays within the established purpose in the Currency Act: it prescribes denominations, compositions, weights, dimensions and designs for coins the Royal Australian Mint may issue. It does not broaden the Act's powers or add new policy objectives; it implements the Act's delegated authority to specify technical and design details (see s 3, s 5 and s 6)."},"complexity_factors":["Instrument is mainly tabular technical prescription rather than multi‑layered legal text","Part 1 contains approximately 25 coin-specification rows (denomination, composition, weight tolerances, dimensions, shape, edge, obverse and reverse codes)","Part 2 contains 36 symbol definitions explaining shape, edge, obverse and reverse design codes (S1–S2, E1–E3, O1–O8, R1–R23)","Multiple numeric tolerances (weights ± variations, diameters, thicknesses) that require technical compliance","Cross-references to the Currency Act (paragraph 13(2)(b) and subsection 13A(1)) and to the Act’s Schedule (the determination operates by amending or being read into that Schedule)","Repetition of denominations with different design variants (several $1 and $2 entries) increases reading/interpretation steps","Design descriptions include colour and pictorial detail which are prescriptive and moderately detailed (increasing implementation specificity)","Format: long HTML tables embedded in the Schedule can make extraction and comparison harder for non-technical readers"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- It tells the law (the Currency Act 1965) the exact coins the Royal Australian Mint may issue and how those coins must be made. (See Authority: made under paragraph 13(2)(b) and subsection 13A(1) of the Currency Act 1965 — s 3.)\n- It adds specified denominations and their \"standard composition\" (what metals the coins are made of) to the Schedule of the Currency Act (s 5).\n- It also sets out the technical specifications for each listed coin: standard weight, allowable variation, maximum diameter and thickness, shape, edge type, and the required obverse (heads) and reverse (tails) designs (s 6 and Schedule Part 1).\n- Schedule Part 2 explains the shorthand symbols used in the table (for example, S1 = circular; E2 = plain edge; O1 = specified obverse design; R1 = specified reverse design).\n\nWho this affects\n\n- The Royal Australian Mint: it must produce coins that meet these specifications.\n- The Commonwealth (budget/administration): the Mint’s production decisions and costs flow to government budgeting and asset management.\n- Cash handlers and businesses that rely on coin-accepting equipment (vending machines, parking meters, coin sorters, banks, retailers): they must accept legal-tender coins that conform to these specs and may need adjustments if dimensions, shape or edge differ from older coins.\n- Metal suppliers and minting contractors: the composition and precious-metal content (e.g. gold or silver issues) determine procurement and manufacturing choices.\n- Collectors and the public: some entries specify precious-metal and commemorative designs (special obverse/reverse designs and coloured elements), which relate to collector issues and public sales.\n\nWhy it matters (practical effects and mechanisms)\n\n- Legal certainty about legal-tender coins: by specifying composition, weight tolerances and dimensions the determination fixes what counts as an official coin for currency-law purposes (s 5–6 and Schedule).\n- Manufacturing limits and costs: metal mixes (copper/nickel; copper/aluminium/nickel; 99.9% silver; 99.99% gold), plus tolerances on weight and dimensions, set the Mint’s material costs, unit production processes and quality control steps (Schedule Part 1). Precious-metal issues (gold, silver) are explicitly authorised (see Schedule items for $10, $25, $1 silver, etc.).\n- Interoperability with machines and infrastructure: shape (circular or dodecagonal), diameter, thickness and edge type are precise so coin-accepting equipment can be calibrated. New shapes, coloured elements or interrupted milling edges may require recalibration or hardware updates by private operators (Schedule Part 1; Part 2 explains symbols S1, S2, E1–E3).\n- Design and symbolism: obverse designs require effigies of the monarch and certain inscriptions (O1–O8); reverse designs are described in detail (R1–R23). Those descriptions legally constrain what the Mint can place on coin faces and therefore define commemorative and circulating imagery (Schedule Part 2, items O1–O8 and R1–R23).\n\nOfficial purpose-claims and a practical test against costs and incentives\n\n- Purpose-claim (implicit in the instrument): to prescribe the technical and artistic specifications needed for lawful coin production by the Royal Australian Mint.\n - Costs and incentives: precise alloy and precious-metal prescriptions increase procurement cost and can make some coins (especially gold/silver collector pieces) more expensive than face value to produce. The government (as funder/owner) and the Mint bear those production costs (s 5–6, Schedule entries for precious-metal coins). Private buyers/collectors provide a direct revenue stream for limited collector issues, concentrating revenue to the Mint but imposing little direct cost on ordinary cash users.\n - Trade-offs and opportunity costs: authorising precious-metal issues uses Mint capacity and budget attention that could be deployed on circulating coin production. Complex features (colours, interrupted milling, special obverses/reverses) increase unit-production complexity and per-coin cost.\n - Implementation risk and compliance burden: low for the public (coins remain legal tender), moderate for coin-handling businesses which may need to inspect or upgrade equipment to handle new sizes/shapes/colours. The Mint bears technical compliance risk (meeting tight weight tolerances and design specifications).\n - Bureaucratic discretion: the instrument operates under express delegations in the Currency Act (see s 3). That delegation lets the maker specify technical coin features without further primary-legislation change; the instrument is administrative in form and prescriptive in content.\n\nWho pays, who decides, and what changes in behaviour\n\n- Who pays: production costs come from the Mint’s budget (ultimately the Commonwealth/departmental appropriation). Collector purchases of precious-metal coins shift some cost to buyers.\n- Who decides: the instrument is made under the Currency Act authority (paragraph 13(2)(b) and subsection 13A(1)) and sets out the technical rules the Mint must follow (s 3–6).\n- Behavioural changes: the Mint must manufacture to these specs; coin-dependent businesses may need to test or update equipment; coin collectors may buy specific commemorative or precious-metal issues; metal suppliers adapt to ordered alloys.\n\nConcentrated benefits and diffuse costs (mechanism-based, source-grounded)\n\n- Concentrated benefits: collectors and the Mint (through sales of precious-metal and commemorative issues) receive concentrated monetary benefits. The Schedule explicitly authorises collector-grade precious-metal denominations (see Schedule items for gold and silver coins).\n- Diffuse costs: ordinary coin users and many small businesses may bear small costs indirectly (time to identify new coin designs, occasional equipment recalibration). These costs are spread widely and are proportionally small per actor but real in aggregate.\n\nLimits and scope of the instrument\n\n- The determination is narrowly technical and design-focused. It does not change who may issue currency, nor introduce new legal powers beyond specifying denominations, compositions, weights, dimensions and designs permitted under the Currency Act (s 5–6). It also does not alter banknote policy or broader monetary policy.\n\n(Primary references: Authority s 3; Specifications and effect on the Act s 5; Technical specifications s 6; Schedule Part 1: coin specifications; Schedule Part 2: symbol explanations for shape, edge, obverse and reverse designs.)"},"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"completionTokens":497},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The determination maintains its original scope as a technical specification instrument for coin manufacturing. No expansion beyond standard coin specification functions."},"complexity_factors":["25 distinct coin specifications with cross-referenced symbol codes (S1-S2, E1-E3, O1-O8, R1-R23)","Detailed artistic descriptions requiring lookup in Part 2 symbol table","Precise physical tolerances (e.g., '11.30 ± 0.78' grams) with asymmetric tolerances for some coins","Multiple commemorative designs sharing same denomination and composition but different reverse designs","Reference to parent Currency Act 1965 for full legal effect"],"plain_english_summary":"This determination authorises designs and sets exact physical and metal specifications for 25 Australian coins—from everyday circulation pieces to precious-metal commemoratives—requiring the Royal Australian Mint to manufacture them to those standards. It affects the Mint, cash-handling businesses, collectors and the public, ensuring consistency, machine recognition and protection against counterfeits while commemorating national history."},"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-2015-no-4","history":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2015-no-4/history","analysis":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2015-no-4/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2015-no-4/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2015-no-4/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/currency-royal-australian-mint-determination-2015-no-4/documents"}}