What does an Australian coin look like?

Answer 1

Prior to Federation in 1901, the Australian Colonies used the British currency. Even after Federation we did not manage to have our own currency until 1910 and then, it was modelled on the British currency, made in London, and it was late, not turning up until 1911. Pounds, Shillings and Pence. 12 Pennies in a Shilling, 20 Shillings in a Pound.

By the early 1960's, the government had decided that Australia would have a decimal currency and that the designs on the coins and notes would reflect Australia. The Dollar was chosen as the unit of currency and there would be 100 cents in the dollar.

The designer of the coins was Stuart Devlin, and to reflect Australia he chose various indigenous animals.

• 1 cent = Feather Tailed Glider
• 2 cent = Frill Neck Lizard
• 5 cent = Echidna
• 10 cent = Lyre Bird
• 20 cent = Platypus
• 50 cent = Australian Coat of Arms inc. kangaroo and emu

Decimal currency was introduced in Australia on the 14th of February,1966.

The 1 and 2 cent coins (now discontinued) were composed of 97% copper, 2.5% zinc and 0.5% tin and were coppery in appearance. The 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins are composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel and are silvery in appearance.

The initial notes (1, 2, 5, 10 and 20) were paper with a metallic thread running through them and all had Australian designs featuring Australian historical identities and were all very distinctive in appearance.

The 1 and 2 Dollar notes were replaced by coins during the 1980's. The 1 and 2 Dollar coins are composed of 92% copper, 6% aluminum and 2% nickel and are gold in appearance.

All paper notes have now been replaced by polymer equivalents. This is because polymer notes are cheaper to make (they use recycled plastics) and, they are harder to counterfeit. They also include holographic windows in them.

We now have colourful 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Dollar notes with Australian identities staring out at us.

See the links below.

Answer 2

With the exception of the 50 cent coin, all Australian general circulation coins, past and present, are round.

They have the reigning Monarch on the obverse with the word Australia, a design on the reverse reflecting something usually uniquely Australian, and a word or number indicating the denomination of the coin.

See the link below to the Royal Australian Mint site.

Answer 3

See the links below to view all current Australian Coins and banknotes.

Answer 4

See the link to Current Banknotes