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Currency (Perth Mint) Determination 2013 (No. 1) | Zoe

Commonwealth legislation

Currency (Perth Mint) Determination 2013 (No. 1)

In ForceCTH

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

8/10 complexity

What this instrument does (simple):

This Determination sets the technical specifications for Perth Mint coins made under the Currency Act 1965. In plain terms it lists, for a long set of coin types:
- the metal or composition required (for example "at least 99.99% gold"),
- a standard weight and allowable variation (grams),
- maximum diameter and maximum thickness (millimetres),
- the coin shape and edge code,
- short codes that identify the obverse (heads) and reverse (tails) designs.
Those technical design codes are explained in Part 2. Part 2 translates each short code (for example O2, R7, S1, E1) into a verbal description of the legend, imagery, finish and inscriptions that must appear on the coin.

Who this affects:

Perth Mint (the issuer/manufacturer): it must produce coins to the exact composition, weight tolerances, dimensions and design elements specified (see s 4(2) and Schedule 1).
Coin designers and engravers contracted by the Mint: they must deliver work that matches the coded obverse and reverse descriptions in Part 2.
Precious metal suppliers, assayers and quality-control functions at the Mint: tolerance and composition rules create test and measurement obligations.
Dealers, retailers, and collectors of bullion and commemorative coins: the Determination fixes the legal standards used to advertise and verify claims about metal content, weight and legal‑tender denomination.

Deep dive

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Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.

Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in Currency (Perth Mint) Determination 2013 (No. 1).

6

1

Name of determination

1 Name of determination

This determination is the Currency (Perth Mint) Determination 2013 (No. 1).

2

Commencement

2 Commencement

This determination commences on the day after it is registered.

3

Definition

3 Definition

In this determination:

Act means the Currency Act 1965.

4

Standard weight, design and dimension of coins

4 Standard weight, design and dimension of coins

(1) This section is made for subsection 13A(1) of the Act. (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. (3) Each item of the table in Part 2 of Schedule 1 explains a symbol used to describe the design of coins in Part 1 of Schedule 1. (4) This determination does not affect any other determination made under subsection 13A(1) of the Act.

More sections below

Source text: opening excerpt

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 Name of determination

1 Name of determination

This determination is the Currency (Perth Mint) Determination 2013 (No. 1).

2 Commencement

2 Commencement

This determination commences on the day after it is registered.

3 Definition

3 Definition

In this determination:

Act means the Currency Act 1965.

4 Standard weight, design and dimension of coins

4 Standard weight, design and dimension of coins

(1) This section is made for subsection 13A(1) of the Act. (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. (3) Each item of the table in Part 2 of Schedule 1 explains a symbol used to describe the design of coins in Part 1 of Schedule 1. (4) This determination does not affect any other determination made under subsection 13A(1) of the Act.

Part 1 Specifications

Part 1—Specifications

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:428.45pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr style="height:11pt"><td rowspan="2" style="width:17.75pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableColHead" style="margin-top:3pt"><span style="font-size:8pt">Item</span></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="width:56.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.55pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-right:1.05pt; margin-bottom:3pt; text-align:right; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:10pt"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold">Denomination</span></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="width:89.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.55pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-bottom:3pt; text-align:justify; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:10pt"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold">Standard composition</span></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="width:66.4pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.55pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-bottom:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:10pt"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold">Standard weight and allowable variation (g)</span></p></td><td colspan="2" style="width:64.95pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.55pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-bottom:3pt; text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:10pt"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold">Dimensions</span></p></td><td colspan="4" style="width:89.5pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; margin-bottom:3pt; text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:10pt"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold">Design</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:84.3pt"><td style="width:31.35pt; height:84.3pt; margin-left:auto; writing-mode:tb-rl; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.55pt; vertical-align:top; -moz-transform:rotate(180deg); -ms-transform:rotate(180deg); -webkit-transform:rotate(180deg); overflow:hidden; transform:rotate(180deg)"><div style="height:84.3pt; margin-left:auto; writing-mode:tb-rl; overflow:hidden"><p class="TableColHead" style="margin:1pt 5.65pt 0pt"><span style="font-size:8pt">Maximum diameter or other dimension (mm)</span></p></div></td><td style="width:26.5pt; height:84.3pt; margin-left:auto; writing-mode:tb-rl; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top; -moz-transform:rotate(180deg); -ms-transform:rotate(180deg); -webkit-transform:rotate(180deg); overflow:hidden; transform:rotate(180deg)"><div style="height:84.3pt; margin-left:auto; writing-mode:tb-rl; overflow:hidden"><p style="margin-right:5.65pt; margin-left:5.65pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:10pt"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif; font-size:8pt; font-weight:bold">Maximum thickness (mm)</span></p></div></td><td style="width:13.9pt; height:84.3pt; margin-left:auto; writing-mode:tb-rl; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top; -moz-transform:rotate(180deg); -ms-transform:rotate(180deg); -webkit-transform:rotate(180deg); overflow:hidden; transform:rotate(180deg)"><div style="height:84.3pt; margin-left:auto; writing-mode:tb-rl; overflow:hidden"><p class="TableColHead" style="margin:1pt 5.65pt 0pt"><span style="font-size:8pt">Shape</span></p></div></td><td style="width:16pt; height:84.3pt; margin-left:auto; writing-mode:tb-rl; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top; -moz-transform:rotate(180deg); -ms-transform:rotate(180deg); -webkit-transform:rotate(180deg); overflow:hidden; transform:rotate(180deg)"><div style="height:84.3pt; margin-left:auto; writing-mode:tb-rl; overflow:hidden"><p class="TableColHead" style="margin:1pt 5.65pt 0pt"><span style="font-size:8pt">Edge</span></p></div></td><td style="width:20.2pt; height:84.3pt; margin-left:auto; writing-mode:tb-rl; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top; -moz-transform:rotate(180deg); -ms-transform:rotate(180deg); -webkit-transform:rotate(180deg); overflow:hidden; transform:rotate(180deg)"><div style="height:84.3pt; margin-left:auto; writing-mode:tb-rl; overflow:hidden"><p class="TableColHead" style="margin:1pt 5.65pt 0pt"><span style="font-size:8pt">Obverse</span></p></div></td><td style="width:18.1pt; height:84.3pt; margin-left:auto; writing-mode:tb-rl; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top; -moz-transform:rotate(180deg); -ms-transform:rotate(180deg); -webkit-transform:rotate(180deg); overflow:hidden; transform:rotate(180deg)"><div style="height:84.3pt; margin-left:auto; writing-mode:tb-rl; overflow:hidden"><p class="TableColHead" style="margin:1pt 5.65pt 0pt"><span style="font-size:8pt">Reverse</span></p></div></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:17.75pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0"><span style="font-size:9pt">1</span></p></td><td style="width:56.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="margin-right:14.9pt; text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9pt">$1</span></p></td><td style="width:89.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0"><span style="font-size:9pt">At least 99.9% silver</span></p></td><td style="width:66.4pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0"><span style="font-size:9pt">31.635 ± 0.500</span></p></td><td style="width:31.35pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="margin-right:4.8pt; text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9pt">32.60</span></p></td><td style="width:26.5pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="margin-right:4.8pt; text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9pt">6.00</span></p></td><td style="width:13.9pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9pt">S1</span></p></td><td style="width:16pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9pt">E1</span></p></td><td style="width:20.2pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9pt">O1</span></p></td><td style="width:18.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9pt">R1</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:17.75pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0"><span style="font-size:9pt">2</span></p></td><td style="width:56.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="margin-right:14.9pt; text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9pt">$200</span></p></td><td style="width:89.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0"><span style="font-size:9pt">At least 99.99% gold</span></p></td><td style="width:66.4pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0"><span style="font-size:9pt">62.265 ± 0.050</span></p></td><td style="width:31.35pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="margin-right:4.8pt; text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9pt">36.60</span></p></td><td style="width:26.5pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="margin-right:4.8pt; text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9pt">6.00</span></p></td><td style="width:13.9pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9pt">S1</span></p></td><td style="width:16pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9pt">E1</span></p></td><td style="width:20.2pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9pt">O1</span></p></td><td style="width:18.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9pt">R2</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:17.75pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0"><span style="font-size:9pt">3</span></p></td><td style="width:56.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="margin-right:14.9pt; text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9pt">$8</span></p></td><td style="width:89.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0"><span style="font-size:9pt">At least 99.9% silver</span></p></td><td style="width:66.4pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0"><span style="font-size:9pt">156.673 ± 1.000</span></p></td><td style="width:31.35pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="margin-right:4.8pt; text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9pt">50.60</span></p></td><td style="width:26.5pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="margin-right:4.8pt; text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9pt">12.50</span></p></td><td style="width:13.9pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9pt">S1</span></p></td><td style="width:16pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9pt">E1</span></p></td><td style="width:20.2pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9pt">O1</span></p></td><td style="width:18.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9pt">R3</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:17.75pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0"><span style="font-size:9pt">4</span></p></td><td style="width:56.65pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="margin-right:14.9pt; text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9pt">$1</span></p></td><td style="width:89.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0"><span style="font-size:9pt">At least 99.9% silver</span></p></td><td style="width:66.4pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0"><span style="font-size:9pt">31.635 ± 0.500</span></p></td><td style="width:31.35pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="margin-right:4.8pt; text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9pt">32.60</span></p></td><td style="width:26.5pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="margin-right:4.8pt; text-align:right"><span style="font-size:9pt">6.00</span></p></td><td style="width:13.9pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:3.18pt; padding-left:3.18pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableText0" style="text-align:center"><span st

Who pays: production and compliance costs fall on the Perth Mint (or whichever body mints the coins) — quality control, assay tests and tooling for particular dies and finishes are private production costs (Schedule 1 entries impose tolerances and design requirements). Buyers pay market prices that reflect metal content plus manufacturing and collector premiums.
Who decides: the Determination itself is the Commonwealth instrument made under s 13A(1) of the Currency Act; operational decisions (dies, run sizes, how to meet tolerances) are for the Mint and its contractors to implement. The Determination constrains those operational choices by specifying required features (s 4(2)).
Behavioural effects: the Mint must align manufacturing (metallurgy, weighing, stamping, finishing) and quality-assurance procedures to the tolerances and inscriptions listed. Dealers and assayers will rely on the Determination to verify authenticity and metal content. Designers cannot alter legends or imagery that are mandated by the codes without a new Determination.
Compliance burden: the instrument imposes a verifiable technical standard; the burden is concentrated on the Mint (and upstream suppliers) rather than on downstream consumers. The specification of narrow tolerances (for example ±0.050 g for some gold coins) increases testing and scrap/rework risk.
Market effects and substitution: specifying legal denominations and precious-metal fineness enables direct comparison between coins (e.g., a 1 oz 9999 gold coin vs a 1 kg 999 silver coin). That can shift buyer preference among coins, but the Determination itself simply describes product attributes rather than setting prices.
Concentrated benefits vs diffuse costs: benefits (clear product claims, protected designs, legal‑tender denomination) accrue to the Mint and to buyers who want certifiable bullion/commemorative pieces. Compliance and tooling costs fall on the Mint; those costs are likely reflected in product prices and therefore borne by purchasers in the market.
Implementation risk: technical errors (wrong legend, incorrect fineness mark, or weight outside tolerance) could require product recalls or reworking; the Determination creates a single authoritative standard against which non‑conformity is measured (s 4(2)).