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Download the Australian Coin History Factsheet Australian Coin History PRE–1788 1849 1901 Australia’s indigenous population used a Gold was discovered in Australia, leading Australia federated on 1 January, and the trading system based on barter. Items such to the gold rush taking over many people’s need for a national currency was promptly as livestock, food, weapons, tools, natural lives by 1851. Valuable material was dug out raised. GB Edwards, Member for South resources, and items made from animals and of Australian soil, and the need to make this Sydney addressed the Federal Parliament plants were readily traded. Even stories were gold into coins became clear. proposing a committee to establish a traded, to share the knowledge and wisdom Commonwealth currency with a decimal that they contained. system. The committee’s recommendations 1852 were presented to Parliament and passed, 1788 While others in Australia were waiting for but the Government was not keen to adopt permission from England to have an official decimal currency unless Britain did the The First Fleet arrived with no money system mint, the Adelaide Assay Office opened. same thing. established for the new home. Soldiers and South Australia was almost bankrupt sailors were given all of their supplies for free because many people had left Adelaide for from government stores, and convicts were the gold fields, taking the colony’s money 1910 not given any money because they were with them. The office bought gold from Nine years after federating, national Australian transported as punishment. people, turning it into ingots which were coins were struck, based on the British system stamped with their weight and purity. of pounds, shillings and pence. 1800 Ingots were then given to banks, which could release notes to the value of the 1919–1921 After settlers spent many years using IOUs gold. Later in the year, the Assay Office and foreign coins collected in their earlier made £1 tokens. The Office could not keep Test pieces were struck, experimenting travels, Governor Philip Gidley King of New up with the demand, and was not legally with the use of cupro nickel (the alloy used South Wales proclaimed ten international sanctioned, and it was closed down on in today’s silver-coloured coins) to replace coins on 19 November. This set their value, 17 February 1853. the bulky copper penny and half penny allowing much easier trading. pieces. While these were not adopted by the government, the 1920 square penny and the 1855 1921 square half penny remain a valued part 1813 The Sydney Mint was opened, operating of the National Coin Collection. After importing 40 000 Spanish dollars, as a branch of the Royal Mint in London. Governor Lachlan Macquarie of New South The mint produced gold coins known as Wales employed convicted coin forger sovereigns. 1926 William Henshall to punch a circle out of The Sydney Mint was closed, due to the the middle of each coin. This resulted in two greater technology and efficiency offered by new, local coins: the dump (the piece which 1872 the Melbourne and Perth Mints. was removed from the centre), and the The Melbourne Mint was opened, operating holey dollar (the ring-shaped outer piece). as a branch of the Royal Mint in London. 1927 The first commemorative Commonwealth 1825 1899 coin was issued — a florin marking the The British Government passed the The Perth Mint opened, initially operating opening of Australia’s first Parliament House. Sterling Silver Currency Act, making the as a branch of the Royal Mint in London, British pound the only legal currency in it is now wholly owned by the Western Australian colonies. £30 000 in English coins Australian government, specialising in gold was imported. This, however, was still not collector coins and bullion. enough to go around, and many people still used other forms of currency to get by. 1930 1965 2013 Due to the Depression, it was decreed that no The Royal Australian Mint was opened on The Royal Australian Mint released Australia’s pennies would be produced. However, the 22 February. first triangular shaped coin. The coin was a silver Melbourne Mint had created dies for this coin, $5 coin commemorating the 25th anniversary and struck a small number of pieces. These of the Australian Parliament House. coins were somehow released to the public, 1966 and the 1930 penny has now become one of On 14 February, Australia converted to the most sought-after Australian coins. decimal currency. 2015 The Royal Australian Mint released its first heart-shaped coin. The coin was a silver $5 1937 1969 coin with colour printing celebrating love in A short-lived Australian crown, to The dodecagonal 50 cent coin was introduced, all its forms. commemorate the coronation of George VI, replacing the circular coin which had a high The Royal Australian Mint released its first was released. It was not a popular coin, and silver content and was easily mistaken for the rectangular-shaped coin to commemorate was discontinued in 1938. The reverse design 20 cent coin. the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. of the Australian threepence was changed to feature three stalks of wheat. 1972 The Royal Australian Mint celebrated its 50th birthday. With the Royal Australian Mint up to speed 1938 with creating Australia’s circulating coins, the The reverse design of the Australian penny Melbourne Mint was closed. 2016 was changed to feature a kangaroo. Australia celebrated the 50th anniversary of 1984 decimal currency. Special commemorative versions of all current coins were released into 1939 The paper one dollar note was replaced by circulation featuring images of pre-decimal The reverse design of the Australian halfpenny the one dollar coin. coins on the obverse. This was the greatest was changed to feature a kangaroo (facing the change to the “heads” side of the coin since opposite way to the kangaroo on the penny). 1988 the introduction of decimal currency and the first time unique designs have been applied The paper two dollar note was replaced to Australia’s 5 cent and 10 cent coins. 1951 by the two dollar coin. Australia’s first five A commemorative florin celebrated 50 years dollar coin was issued, commemorating the of Australian federation. opening of the new Parliament House. 2017 The Royal Australian Mint released Australia’s 1954 1992 first gold dome-shaped coin. Called the “Celestial Dome – Southern Sky” this was a A commemorative florin marked Her Majesty, One cent and two cent coins were withdrawn collector coin. Queen Elizabeth II’s royal visit to Australia. from circulation, requiring cash payments to be rounded to the nearest five cents. 1959 After much lobbying, the Australian 2012 Government formed the Decimal Currency Australia’s first coloured circulating coin Committee, to establish recommendations for was released, featuring a red poppy to mark a new money system. Remembrance Day. The Royal Australian Mint released a dome- 1963 shaped $5 coin depicting the night sky. Called “The Southern Cross – Crux” this was a On 30 October, the Currency Act became law, collector coin. paving the way for decimal currency. Denison Street, Deakin, ACT 2600 T: 02 6202 3487 www.ramint.gov.au.
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