Commonwealth legislation

War Precautions (Coinage) Regulations 1916

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Act Number

141 of 1916

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

1/10 complexity

What it does

These regulations were made during World War I to protect the country's gold currency. They make it illegal to damage or melt down British gold coins without written permission from the Treasurer.

Specifically, you cannot:

Deface (damage the appearance of) British gold coins
Destroy them by melting or any other method

Who it affects

Anyone holding or handling British gold coins in Australia during the war, including banks, traders, and private citizens.

Why it matters

During wartime, governments need to prevent gold coins from being melted down for bullion or export. This protects the domestic money supply and ensures coins remain in circulation to support the economy and war effort.

Other details

These rules replace an earlier regulation (Regulation 49f), but any legal rights or obligations created under that old rule remain valid.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in War Precautions (Coinage) Regulations 1916.

War Precautions (Coinage) Regulations 1916

STATUTORY RULES.

1916. No. 141.

REGULATIONS UNDER TIHE WAR PRECAUTIONS ACT 1914-1916.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the War Precautions Act 1914-1916 to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this seventeenth day of July, 1916.

R. M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

G. F. PEARCE,

Minister of State for Defence.

War Precautions (Coinage) Regulations.

Short this

1. These Regulations may be cited as the War Precautions (Coinage) Regulations 1916.

Defacing of British coins.

2. No person shall, without the consent of the Treasurer, deface or destroy, by melting or otherwise, any gold coins which are British coins within the meaning of the Coinage Act 1909.

Repeal.

3. Regulation 49f of the War Precautions Regulations, made by Statutory Rules 1916, No. 29, is hereby repealed save as to any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred thereunder.

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

C.4229.—Price 3d.

Source text

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

1 War Precautions (Coinage) Regulations 1916