Current coinage

Each Australian dollar is composed of 100 cents. The smallest coin in current circulation is equal to five cents, the one and two cent coins having been discontinued in 1990-92 and withdrawn from circulation. (Cash transactions are usually rounded to the nearest multiple of five cents, although some merchants round down instead.)

The coins that became effective throughout the 1980s and 1990s and are currently in use are as follows:

One Dollar coin (first issued 1984) - a coin featuring five kangaroos and Elizabeth II - gold coloured

Two Dollar coin - (first issued 1988) - a coin featuring an Aboriginal elder and Elizabeth II - gold coloured

The fractional coinage features the monarch on the obverse side, and Australian native animals on the reverse:

Five cent - smallest "silver" coin featuring an echidna

Ten cent - a lyrebird

Twenty cent - the platypus

Fifty cent - the Australian coat of arms. This large coin is dodecagonal (twelve-sided) cupro-nickel; it replaced a round silver 50 cent coin which, soon after issue, became far more valuable for its silver content than as a unit of currency. In recent years, 20c and 50c as well as 1 dollar coins have also been issued featuring a variety of commemorative and United Nations "year of" themes. Australian coins are produced by the Royal Australian Mint.

Categories of Coins

Once you have read some about Australian Coins you will most likely find yourself collecting in one of two large categories:

Pre decimal -(Sterling) Coins minted and used in Australia prior to 1966

Decimal - Coins minted and used in Australia from 1966 to date.

Now you have looked at a book or two and you have decided that you still want to collect Australian coins. Unless you have won some lottery there is no way to collect all of them or all of one type at once.