Legal Tender Transactions in Australian Currency

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Legal Tender Transactions in Australian Currency May 2016 Legal Tender Australian Banknotes are legal tender throughout Australia (this is provided in section 361 (1) of the Reserve Bank Act 1959. A payment of coins is legal tender throughout Australia if it is made in Australian coins, but this is subject to some restrictions about how much can be paid in coin. According to the Currency Act 1965 (section 16) coins are legal tender for payment of amounts which are limited as follows: not exceeding 20c if 1c and/or 2c coins are offered (these coins have been withdrawn from circulation, but are still legal tender); not exceeding $5 if any combination of 5c, 10c, 20c and 50c coins offered; and not exceeding 10 times the face value of the coin if $1 or $2 coins are offered For example, if someone wants to pay a merchant with 5c coins, they can only pay up to $5 worth of 5c coins and any more that that will not be considered legal tender. The Reserve Bank of Australia does not have legal responsibility of Australian coins. That responsibility belongs to the Royal Australian Mint. Transactions in Australian Currency Every sale, transaction or dealing related to money, or involving the payment, or a liability to pay, money in Australia is to be done in Australian currency unless it is done, or the parties to the sale, transaction or dealing agree that it will be done, in the currency of another country. However, although transactions are to be in Australian currency unless otherwise agreed or specified, and Australian currency has legal tender status, Australian banknotes and coins do not necessarily have to be used in transactions and refusal to accept payment in legal tender banknotes and coins is not unlawful. Commercial Terms It appears that a provider of goods or services is at liberty to set the commercial terms upon which payment will take place before the ‘contract’ for supply of goods or services is entered into. For example, some parking machines or payment points indicate by signs that they will not accept low denomination coins. Some collection points indicate that they will not accept cash at all. If a provider of goods or services specifies other means of payment prior to the contract, then there is usually no obligation for legal tender to be accepted as payment. However, refusal to accept legal tender in payment of an existing debt, where no other means of payment/settlement has been specified in advance, conceivably could have consequences in legal proceedings; for example, the creditor may be unable to enforce payment in any other form. These general comments about legal tender are offered only as a guide and should not be taken as legal advice. Source: Reserve Bank of Australia 2016 .
Recommended publications
  • United States Legal Tender Presidential Coin Decree
    United States Legal Tender Presidential Coin Decree Rubbly Griff litter wham while Whitman always grates his orthopraxies inherits seductively, he whistle so strategically. Cary is pantalooned and venturings apropos while shrubbier Willmott subintroduce and preamble. Vicious and suspect Jock deliberates his insulin trapanning knocks outdoors. Some good functioning as authorized means of the presidential decree of the kennedy half dollar The fact that the euro will not be representedby a corresponding note or coin of equal value until the introduction of euro notes and coins at the end ofthe transitional period is of no consequence. Silver coins the official money or the tender onto the United States. Here again any behavior by the United States thatdisrupts the smooth clean to EMU contemplated by the development of euro paymentsystems in replacement for national currency payment systems could be inconsistent with thesetreaty obligations. State declarations of select tender affect only involve monetary. Congress in all discretion. It legal tender. However, Maastricht Treaty the ECU will office be abolished but divine will become a currency while its ownright. For an optimal experience showcase our present on another browser. It was designed to provide the same currency, of a uniform legal excuse in trial the States. The law states that at least relevant in three issued dollars must snap a Sacagawea dollar. Supreme court did not a long as stated that when new rule. Such distinction between the united states to provide a crime here it has arisen since all market values index the presidential decree. The coins, largely unknown to the collector community, are called Smith counterfeits by cognoscenti.
    [Show full text]
  • Frequently Asked Questions Coins and Notes July 2020
    Frequently Asked Questions Coins and Notes July 2020 A. Currency Issuance 1. Under what authority does the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issue currency? The BSP is the sole government institution mandated by law to issue notes and coins for circulation in the Philippines. In Particular, Section 50 of Republic Act (R.A) No. 7653, otherwise known as The New Central Bank Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 11211, stipulates that the BSP shall have the sole power and authority to issue currency within the territory of the Philippines. It also issues legal tender commemorative notes and coins. 2. How does the BSP determine the volume/value of notes and coins to be issued annually? The annual volume/value of currency to be issue is projected based on currency demand that is estimated from a set of economic indicators which generally measure the country’s economic activity. Other variables considered in estimating currency order include: required currency reserves, unfit notes for replacement, and beginning inventory balance. The total amount of banknotes and coins that the BSP may issue should not exceed the total assets of the BSP. 3. How is currency issued to the public? Based on forecast of currency demand, denominational order of banknotes and coins is submitted to the Currency Production Sub-Sector (CPSS) for production of banknotes and coins. The CPSS delivers new BSP banknotes and coins to the Cash Department (CD) and the Regional Operations Sub-Sector (ROSS). In turn, CD services withdrawals of notes and coins of banks in the regions through its 22 Regional Offices/Branches.
    [Show full text]
  • Money and the Sovereignty of the State
    021(< $1'7+( 629(5(,*17<2)7+(67$7( Robert A. Mundell Columbia University ,1752'8&7,21 3$57,7<3(62)629(5(,*17< 3ROLF\6RYHUHLJQW\DQG/HJDO6RYHUHLJQW\ 7KH6RYHUHLJQW\,VVXH (DUO\&RQFHSWVRI0RQHWDU\6RYHUHLJQW\ 7KH&DVHRIWKH0L[HG0RQH\V 3$57,,$0(5,&$1(;3(5,(1&( /DZIXO0RQH\LQ&RORQLDO$PHULFD 6SOLW0RQHWDU\6RYHUHLJQW\ 7KH*UHDW/HJDO7HQGHU&RQWURYHUV\ 'HYDOXDWLRQDQGWKH*ROG&ODXVH 3$57,,,629(5(,*17<$1'021(7$5<81,216 7\SHVRI&XUUHQF\$UHDV 7KUHH$SSURDFKHVWR0RQHWDU\8QLRQ $Q$OWHUQDWLYH$SSURDFKWR0RQHWDU\8QLRQ $)LQDO&RPPHQW Paper prepared for the International Economic Association Conference in Trento, September 4-7, 1997. ,1752'8&7,21 Monetary integration involves a consideration of two quite different types or dimensions of sovereignty. One is “policy sovereignty” and the other, “legal sovereignty.” Policy sovereignty refers to the ability to conduct policy independent of commitments to other countries. Legal sovereignty refers to the ability of a state to make its own laws without limitations imposed by any outside authority. Both concepts need to be considered in plans for monetary unions. What are the implications of a change in legal sovereignty when the national currencies of some of the oldest states in the world abandon national sovereignty, and what will they receive in exchange? In the middle of the last century, Johns Stuart Mill recognized but deplored the sentiment that made nations so attached to their own currencies: “So much of barbarism still remains in the transactions of the most civilized nations, that almost all independent countries choose to assert their nationality by having, to their own inconvenience and that of their neighbours, a peculiar currency of their own.”1 Has the world--or Europe--changed to such an extent that the national populations are now prepared to scrap those hallmarks of sovereignty that have existed for thousands of years? What is the nature of the sentiment that makes national currencies so difficult to give up? Some idea of this can be got from British or English history, whose currency goes back at least thirteen centuries.
    [Show full text]
  • Legal Tender: Towards Government Backing of Electronic Currency
    Legal Tender: Towards Government Backing of Electronic Currency Jon Neuleib INTRODUCTION If it is true that money makes the world go around, does the world spin faster when money can circle the globe in a fraction of a second? “Money” itself comes in multiple such as coins or paper, negotiable bonds, and now bits of data residing on computer servers or pulses of light flowing through a fiber optic network . Changes in currency are causing ripple effects in everything from crime to the stability of governments.[1] One of the most significant challenges will come from the move to electronic currency. Electronic currency is the attempt to create an electronic and networked system “modeled after our paper money system.”[2] This note will explore the nature of electronic currency and the challenges it presents for lawmakers. Electronic currency has economic advantages, but it also has disadvantages including the risks of increased money laundering, fraud and more difficult enforcement actions for governments. Electronic currency combines aspects of traditional tangible currency, like paper and coins, with the technological advancements of debit cards and electronic networks. From traditional currency come the aspects of anonymity and ease of use. From the more technologically advanced side come lightning fast transfers and limitless size. This note is not simply an examination of electronic currency, however. It argues for national backing of electronic currency by the United States government. To examine the plausibility and advantages of this approach it will be necessary to look at currency in the context of legal, technological and political changes. Part One is an overview of the changing nature of currency as new technologies interact with money.
    [Show full text]
  • The Tax-Foundation Theory of Fiat Money
    A Service of Leibniz-Informationszentrum econstor Wirtschaft Leibniz Information Centre Make Your Publications Visible. zbw for Economics Goldberg, Dror Working Paper The tax-foundation theory of fiat money Working Paper, No. 2009-05 Provided in Cooperation with: Department of Economics, Bar-Ilan University Suggested Citation: Goldberg, Dror (2009) : The tax-foundation theory of fiat money, Working Paper, No. 2009-05, Bar-Ilan University, Department of Economics, Ramat-Gan This Version is available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/96068 Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Documents in EconStor may be saved and copied for your Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. personal and scholarly purposes. Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle You are not to copy documents for public or commercial Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich purposes, to exhibit the documents publicly, to make them machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen. publicly available on the internet, or to distribute or otherwise use the documents in public. Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, If the documents have been made available under an Open gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort Content Licence (especially Creative Commons Licences), you genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. may exercise further usage rights as specified in the indicated licence. www.econstor.eu The Tax-Foundation Theory of Fiat Money Dror Goldberg Department of Economics Bar Ilan University Abstract A government can promote the use of an object as the general medium of exchange by accepting it in tax payments.
    [Show full text]
  • Descriptions of “Crypto Assets”
    Descriptions of “Crypto Assets” BITCOIN AND OTHER VIRTUAL CURRENCIES decentralized peer-to-peer transaction system.’ Id. Bitcoin was designed to reduce transaction costs, and Guidance on the Application of FinCEN’s Regulations allows users to work together to validate transactions to Persons Administering, Exchanging, or Using Virtual by creating a public record of the chain of custody of Currencies (FIN-2013-G001), Financial Crimes Enforcement each Bitcoin. Id. Bitcoin can be used to purchase items Network (FinCEN) (March 18, 2013) at p. 1: online, and some retail establishments have begun accepting Bitcoin in exchange for gift cards or other “FinCEN’s regulations define currency (also referred purchases.” to as ‘real’ currency) as ‘the coin and paper money of the United States or of any other country that [i] is NASAA Expands Annual Top Investor Threat List, North designated as legal tender and that [ii] circulates and American Securities Administrators Association (October [iii] is customarily used and accepted as a medium 15, 2013) at p. 4: of exchange in the country of issuance...In contrast to real currency, ‘virtual’ currency is a medium of “Virtual reality may exist only in science fiction, but exchange that operates like a currency in some consumers now are able to purchase goods and environments, but does not have all the attributes services with virtual money such as Bitcoin, PP Coin of real currency. In particular, virtual currency does and other digital currencies. Unlike traditional coinage, not have legal tender status in any jurisdiction. This these alternatives typically are not backed by tangible guidance addresses ‘convertible’ virtual currency.
    [Show full text]
  • BIS Working Papers No 948 Central Bank Digital Currency: the Quest for Minimally Invasive Technology
    BIS Working Papers No 948 Central bank digital currency: the quest for minimally invasive technology by Raphael Auer and Rainer Böhme Monetary and Economic Department June 2021 JEL classification: E42, E58, G21, G28. Keywords: central bank digital currency, CBDC, payments, cash, privacy, distributed systems. BIS Working Papers are written by members of the Monetary and Economic Department of the Bank for International Settlements, and from time to time by other economists, and are published by the Bank. The papers are on subjects of topical interest and are technical in character. The views expressed in them are those of their authors and not necessarily the views of the BIS. This publication is available on the BIS website (www.bis.org). © Bank for International Settlements 2021. All rights reserved. Brief excerpts may be reproduced or translated provided the source is stated. ISSN 1020-0959 (print) ISSN 1682-7678 (online) Central bank digital currency: the quest for minimally invasive 1 technology By Raphael Auer and Rainer Böhme CBDCs should let central banks provide a universal means of payment for the digital era. At the same time, such currencies must safeguard consumer privacy and maintain the two-tier financial system. We set out the economic and operational requirements for a “minimally invasive” design – one that preserves the private sector’s primary role in retail payments and financial intermediation – for CBDCs and discuss the implications for the underlying technology. Developments inspired by popular cryptocurrency systems do not meet these requirements. Instead, cash is the model for CBDC design. Showing particular promise are digital banknotes that run on “intermediated” or “hybrid” CBDC architectures, supported with technology to facilitate record-keeping of direct claims on the central bank by private sector entities.
    [Show full text]
  • MONEY in HONG KONG Money in Hong Kong
    HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY 55th Floor, Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong Telephone: (852) 2878 8196 Facsimile: (852) 2878 8197 E-mail: [email protected] www.hkma.gov.hk MONEY IN HONG KONG Money in Hong Kong Hong Kong’s currency notes are issued by three commercial banks, except for the $10 notes which are issued by the Hong Kong SAR Government. Coins are also issued by the Government. All Hong Kong’s notes and coins are fully backed by US dollar reserves held in the Exchange Fund. Notes in Hong Kong Notes in everyday circulation in Hong Kong are in $10, $20, $50, $100, $500 and $1,000 denominations. The Government, through the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, has authorised three commercial banks, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, the Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, and the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, to issue notes in Hong Kong other than the $10 notes. The Government began issuing a paper $10 note in 2002 to meet continuing demand from the public for a note in addition to the $10 coin. In 2007, the Government issued a polymer $10 note alongside the paper one. The $10 notes issued by two note-issuing banks in the 1990s remain legal tender, but are no longer printed. Coins in Hong Kong The Government issues $10, $5, $2, $1, 50-cent, 20-cent and 10- cent coins. There are two series of coins in circulation: the bauhinia series and the Queen’s Head series. The bauhinia series was introduced in 1993 to gradually replace the Queen’s Head series.
    [Show full text]
  • Cryptocurrency Regulations by Country Cryptocurrency Regulations by Country
    Compendium – Cryptocurrency regulations by country Cryptocurrency regulations by country June 1, 2021 By Todd Ehret and Susannah Hammond, Regulatory Intelligence The public appetite and enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies such Many market participants insist on a more established as bitcoin have exploded in recent years. First introduced in regulatory regime and certainty, which likely means new 2008 as an alternative and disruptive technology to traditional rules, regulations, or at a minimum official guidance. The banking and payments, bitcoin and other digital currencies race to create such a regulatory regime is now underway. or digital assets were met with skepticism and caution Crypto-assets, cryptocurrencies, central bank digital as they were not understood. Their anonymity also made currencies and non-fungible tokens make up the new “crypto” cryptocurrencies susceptible to misuse in illicit activities. universe, and each provides unique benefits, challenges, Much has changed in recent years, as the number of users and complexities. This annex provides a country-by-country has exploded, and some established financial services summary of the cryptocurrency regulatory picture. The list firms have also begun to test the crypto waters. Prices below focuses on cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. It provides have rocketed despite incredible volatility, and financial an overview for each country, the regulatory state of play regulators and regulations have struggled to keep pace. and links to the primary financial regulatory authorities or relevant documents. Much of the regulatory framework is still The regulatory regime surrounding cryptocurrencies is developing, and regulations and restrictions also vary greatly fragmented and stretches to the extremes of outright bans depending on uses such as payments, investments, derivatives, in some jurisdictions, to some countries that are advocates.
    [Show full text]
  • Cryptocurrency: Evolution & Legal Dimension
    International Journal of Business, Economics and Law, Vol. 18, Issue 4 (April) ISSN 2289-1552 2019 CRYPTOCURRENCY: EVOLUTION & LEGAL DIMENSION ATIF AZIZ ABSTRACT The currency has always been evolving throughout human history. From gold & silver to coins and eventually to paper money. The evolutionary stages of currency include both physical and legal dimensions. With the digital & internet revolution, the evolution of currency was inevitable with Bitcoin being the first cryptocurrency. Presently, more than 2100 cryptocurrencies with over US$230 billion in market value is evidence of the advancement of the currency in its physical dimension. Nevertheless, the development of the legal dimension of cryptocurrency is either absent or hostile to this idea. The evolution of cryptocurrency shall be complete when its legal dimension evolves as well. This can be achieved by issuing a cryptocurrency that is an official currency. It can be undertaken by individual sovereign states or a group of countries as an economic or political block. Whereas cryptocurrency brings with it a range of advantages from being immune to inflation and inexpensive swift transfers, it does, however, bring with it host of challenges and disadvantages including high volatility, money laundering, frauds, and scams. A cryptocurrency that is issued as an official currency by a sovereign state shall amalgamate most of the advantages while minimizing its disadvantages. Truly, the next step in the evolution of cryptocurrency is to embrace it as a legal tender/official currency. Keywords: cryptocurrency, official currency, currency evolution, legal dimension, financial innovation INTRODUCTION The currency has always been evolving throughout human history. As the exchange of goods and services became more complex the currency evolved accordingly to address these complexities.
    [Show full text]
  • Currency NOTES
    BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING Currency NOTES www.moneyfactory.gov TABLE OF CONTENTS U.S. PAPER CURRENCY – AN OVERVIEW . 1 THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM ............................. 1 CURRENCY TODAY ..................................... 2 Federal Reserve Notes. 2 PAST CURRENCY ISSUES ................................. 2 Valuation of Currency. 2 Demand Notes . 2 United States Notes. 3 Fractional Currency. 3 Gold Certificates . 4 The Gold Standard. 4 Silver Certificates. 4 Treasury (or Coin) Notes. 5 National Bank Notes. 5 Federal Reserve Bank Notes. 6 PAPER MONEY NOT ISSUED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT .............. 7 Celebrity Notes . 7 $3 Notes. 7 Confederate Currency . 7 Platinum Certificates. 7 INTERESTING AND FUN FACTS ABOUT U.S. PAPER CURRENCY . 9 SELECTION OF PORTRAITS APPEARING ON U.S. CURRENCY ............. 9 PORTRAITS AND VIGNETTES USED ON U.S. CURRENCY SINCE 1928 ..................................... 10 PORTRAITS AND VIGNETTES OF WOMEN ON U.S. CURRENCY ............ 10 AFRICAN-AMERICAN SIGNATURES ON U.S. CURRENCY ................ 10 VIGNETTE ON THE BACK OF THE $2 NOTE ....................... 11 VIGNETTE ON THE BACK OF THE $5 NOTE ....................... 11 VIGNETTE ON THE BACK OF THE $10 NOTE ...................... 12 VIGNETTE ON THE BACK OF THE $100 NOTE ..................... 12 ORIGIN OF THE $ SIGN .................................. 12 THE “GREEN” IN GREENBACKS ............................. 12 NATIONAL MOTTO “IN GOD WE TRUST” ........................ 13 THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES ....................... 13 Obverse Side of
    [Show full text]
  • Guy David* There Are Few Things More Important to Society Than Stable
    MONEY IN CANADIAN LAW Guy David* Ottawa In this article, the author critically examines the concept of money in Canadian law in the context ofthe Canadian payments system. Money, currency and legal tender are defined, distinguished and illustrated by reference to statutory provis- ions and Canadian and English case law. The Canadian payments system is described and Canadian judicial decisions touching upon the question of what constitutes money are evaluated in terms oftheir capacity to provide a compre- hensive legal theory of money. Legal tender and payment are described and contrasted as incidents of contract law. Foreign currency payment obligations are discussed and analyzed in light ofthe current statutoryframework and recent English judicial decisions in order to expose the inadequacy of existing law in light of the monetary character of such obligations. Various strategies which might be pursued with regard to the enforcement offoreign currency obligations are discussed and the current legislative framework is criticized. The author concludes that the legal concept of money ought to be enlarged to embrace rapidly advancing technological developments in the area ofpayments, failing which the law may become out ofdate and irrelevant. L'auteur de cet article examine d'un oeil critique ce qu'est la monnaie en droit canadien dans le contexte du système canadien de paiements. Il donne une définition de tous les aspects de ce terme, les comparant et les illustrant au moyen des dispositions législatives et de lajurisprudence canadienne etanglaise. Il décrit le système canadien de paiements et analyse les jugements canadiens ayant trait à la nature de l'argent, dans le but de donner à l'argent, en droit, un sens théorique complet.
    [Show full text]