Australian five-cent coin: Difference between revisions

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__FORCETOC__
=== Production ===
The Australian five-cent coin was first introduced with the transition to decimal currency on 14 February 1966. The original reverse design featuring the iconic echidna has remained unchanged since the coin's introduction over 50 years ago. In 2016, the obverse (front) design was updated to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Australia's decimalisation, but the echidna reverse has been a constant on the five-cent piece.


'''Production:'''
All of the initial 1966 production run of five-cent coins was carried out at the Royal Mint in London. Since those first coins minted in the UK, subsequent five-cent pieces have been produced by several mints, including the Royal Australian Mint, the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales, and the Royal Canadian Mint.
 
The Australian two-cent coin was first introduced with decimal currency on February 14,  1966. The coin featured the original reverse design of a frill-necked lizard, which has remained unchanged since its introduction.
 
In its first year of minting, the coin was produced at three different mints: the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra, the Royal Mint Melbourne branch, and the Royal Mint Perth branch. The production figures for the first year were 145.2 million at the Royal Australian Mint, 66.6 million at the Melbourne Mint, and 217.7 million at the Perth Mint..
 
The two-cent coin was the last circulating coin for Australia struck outside the Royal Australian Mint. The only year that the coins were minted outside Australia was in 1981, when 70.8 million were struck at the British Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales, in addition to 97.4 million from Canberra and 81.8 million from Perth.
 
The cessation of issue of one and two-cent coins was announced by the Treasurer in his Budget Speech of August 21, 1990. The decision was based on the loss of real purchasing power through inflation and the cost of minting these coins. Both coins were withdrawn from circulation commencing in February 1992. However, they continue to be legal tender and can still be used to purchase goods or be deposited with financial institutions.
 
The last  year of minting was 1989, and no two-cent coins were produced in 1986 or 1987. After their removal from circulation, some of the coins were melted down to make bronze medals for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.


Over the decades, the Australian five-cent coin has become an enduring symbol of the country's decimal currency system. Its reverse design featuring the distinctive spiny echidna has become instantly recognizable to Australians and is a testament to the ongoing legacy of the five-cent coin.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
!align="center"|'''Value'''
! align="center" |'''Value'''
!align="center"|Mass
! align="center" |Mass
!align="center"|'''Diameter'''
! align="center" |'''Diameter'''
!align="center"|'''Edge'''
! align="center" |'''Edge'''
!'''Composition'''
!'''Composition'''
|-
|-
|align="center"|$0.05 AUD
| align="center" |$0.05 AUD
|align="center"|2.83 g
| align="center" |2.83 g
|align="center"|19.41 mm
| align="center" |19.41 mm
|align="center"|Milled
| align="center" |Milled
|align="center"|76% copper<br/>25% nickel
| align="center" |76% copper<br />25% nickel
|-
|-
!align="center"|'''Obverse'''
! align="center" |'''Obverse'''
!align="center"|'''Design'''
! align="center" |'''Design'''
!align="center"|'''Designer'''
! align="center" |'''Designer'''


! colspan="2" align="center" |'''Design date'''
! colspan="2" align="center" |'''Design date'''
|-
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Australian 5c AM Coin.jpg|49px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Australian 5c AM Coin.jpg|49px]]
|align="center"|Elizabeth II
| align="center" |Elizabeth II
|align="center"|Arnold Machin
| align="center" |Arnold Machin
 
| colspan="2" align="center" |1966-1984
| colspan="2" align="center" |1966-1984
|-
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Australian 5c RM Coin.jpg|49px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Australian 5c RM Coin.jpg|49px]]
|align="center"|Elizabeth II
| align="center" |Elizabeth II
|align="center"|Raphael Maklouf
| align="center" |Raphael Maklouf


| colspan="2" align="center" |1985-1998
| colspan="2" align="center" |1985-1998
|-
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Australian 5c IBR Coin.jpg|49px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Australian 5c IBR Coin.jpg|49px]]
|align="center"|Elizabeth II
| align="center" |Elizabeth II
|align="center"|Ian Rank-Broadley
| align="center" |Ian Rank-Broadley
 
| colspan="2" align="center" |1999-2015
| colspan="2" align="center" |1999-2015
2017-2019
2017-2019
|-
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Australian 5c IBR50 Coin.jpg|49px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Australian 5c IBR50 Coin.jpg|49px]]
|align="center"|Elizabeth II and Reproduction of 1953-1964 One Penny
| align="center" |Elizabeth II and Reproduction of 1953-1964 One Penny
|align="center"|Ian Rank-Broadley
| align="center" |Ian Rank-Broadley
 
| colspan="2" align="center" |2016
| colspan="2" align="center" |2016
|-
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Australian 5c JC Coin.jpg|49px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Australian 5c JC Coin.jpg|49px]]
|align="center"|Elizabeth II
| align="center" |Elizabeth II
|align="center"|Jody Clark
| align="center" |Jody Clark
 
| colspan="2" align="center" |2019-2023
| colspan="2" align="center" |2019-2023
|-
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Australian 5c JCM Coin.jpg|49px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Australian 5c JCM Coin.jpg|49px]]
|align="center"|Elizabeth II
| align="center" |Elizabeth II
Special Memorial  
Special Memorial  
|align="center"|Jody Clark
| align="center" |Jody Clark
 
| colspan="2" align="center" |2023
| colspan="2" align="center" |2023
|-
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Australian 5c DT Coin.jpg|49px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Australian 5c DT Coin.jpg|49px]]
|align="center"|Charles III
| align="center" |Charles III
|align="center"|Dan Thorne
| align="center" |Dan Thorne
 
| colspan="2" align="center" |2024-Present
| colspan="2" align="center" |2024-Present
|-
|-
!align="center"|'''Reverse'''
! align="center" |'''Reverse'''
!align="center"|'''Design'''
! align="center" |'''Design'''
!align="center"|'''Designer'''
! align="center" |'''Designer'''
 
! colspan="2" align="center" |'''Design date'''
! colspan="2" align="center" |'''Design date'''
|-
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Australian_Five_Cents_Rev.png|49px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Australian_Five_Cents_Rev.png|49px]]
|align="center"|Short beaked Echidna
| align="center" |Short beaked Echidna
|align="center"|[[Stuart Devlin AO CMG|Stuart Devlin]]
| align="center" |[[Stuart Devlin AO CMG|Stuart Devlin]]
| colspan="2" align="center" |1966-Present
| colspan="2" align="center" |1966-Present
|-
|-
'''Production:'''
The Australian two-cent coin was first introduced with decimal currency on February 14, 1966. The coin featured the original reverse design of a frill-necked lizard, which has remained unchanged since its introduction.
In its first year of minting, the coin was produced at three different mints: the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra, the Royal Mint Melbourne branch, and the Royal Mint Perth branch. The production figures for the first year were 145.2 million at the Royal Australian Mint, 66.6 million at the Melbourne Mint, and 217.7 million at the Perth Mint.
The two-cent coin was the last circulating coin for Australia struck outside the Royal Australian Mint. The only year that the coins were minted outside Australia was in 1981, when 70.8 million were struck at the British Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales, in addition to 97.4 million from Canberra and 81.8 million from Perth.
The cessation of issue of one and two-cent coins was announced by the Treasurer in his Budget Speech of August 21, 1990. The decision was based on the loss of real purchasing power through inflation and the cost of minting these coins. Both coins were withdrawn from circulation commencing in February 1992. However, they continue to be legal tender and can still be used to purchase goods or be deposited with financial institutions.
The last year of minting was 1989, and no two-cent coins were produced in 1986 or 1987. After their removal from circulation, some of the coins were melted down to make bronze medals for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
|}
|}
 
=== Mintage Figures ===
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+
:
| colspan="4" |<small>RAM = Royal Australian Mint, RMM = Royal Melbourne Mint, RPM = Royal Perth Mint,  PM = Perth Mint, RMLL = Royal Mint Llantrisant</small>
|}
 
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
|+
|+
!Mintage year
!Mintage year
|1966
|1966
|1967
|1968
|1969
|1970
|1971
|1972
|1973
|1974
|1974
|1974
|1975
|1975
|1975
|1976
|1976
|1976
|1977
|1977
|1977
|1978
|1978
|1978
|1979
|-
|-
!Mintage (Mil)
!Mintage (Mil)
|91.7
|86.0
|33.1
|67.0
|71.9
|50.0
|88.7
|30.0
|30.0
|88.7
|45.4
|40.0
|62.1
|29.7
|67.3
|38.2
|46.1
|39.5
|8.3
|48.8
|64.2
|44.3
|113.2
|108.8
|25.2
|-
|-
!Mint
!Mint
|RML
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|PM
|RAM
|RAM
|PM
|RAM
|RAM
|PM
|RAM
|RAM
|PM
|RAM
|RAM
|PM
|RAM
|RAM
|}
|}
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
|+
|+
!Mintage year
!Mintage year
|1979
|1979
|1980
|1980
|1980
|1981
|1981
|1981
|1981
|1981
|1981
|1982
|1982
|1982
|1983
|1983
|1983
|1984
|1984
|1987
|1988
|1989
|1990
|1991
|1992
|-
!Mintage (Mil)
|44.5
|115
|62.0
|50.0
|50.3
|139.5
|131.6
|43.5
|73.5
|103.4
|95.8
|33.3
|29.9
|52.6
|-
!Mint
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RCM
|RMLL
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|+
!Mintage year
|1993
|1994
|1995
|1996
|1997
|1998
|1999
|2000
|2001
|2002
|2003
|2004
|2005
|2006
|-
|-
!Mintage (Mil)
!Mintage (Mil)
|40.0
|93.8
|105.6
|156.7
|40.0
|85.0
|79.2
|100.7
|88.5
|179.5
|97.4
|97.4
|81.8
|174.6
|70.8
|148.8
|81.3
|115.1
|40.4
|145.3
|156.6
|194.3
|20.7
|306.5
|50.8
|-
|-
!Mint
!Mint
|PM
|RAM
|RAM
|PM
|RAM
|RAM
|PM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RCM
|RMLL
|RMLL
|RAM
|RAM
|PM
|RAM
|RAM
|PM
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|+
!Mintage year
|2007
|2008
|2009
|2010
|2011
|2012
|2013
|2014
|2015
|2016
|2016
|2017
|2018
|2019
|-
!Mintage (Mil)
|59.0
|200.2
|83.9
|55.1
|44.8
|68.9
|78.7
|76.0
|21.2
|34.4
|4.8<sup>1</sup>
|18.6
|25.1
|46.2<sup>2</sup>
|-
!Mint
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|}
|}
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
|+
|+
!Mintage year
!Mintage year
|1985
|2019
|1988
|2020
|1989
|2021
|2022
|2023
|2024
|-
|-
!Mintage (Mil)
!Mintage (Mil)
|32.6
|2.0<sup>3</sup>
|28.9
|49.9
|124.5
|36.7
|49.0
|
|
|-
|-
!Mint
!Mint
Line 219: Line 299:
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|RAM
|
|
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
:
:
| colspan="4" |<small>RAM = Royal Australian Mint, RMM = Royal Melbourne Mint, RPM = Royal Perth Mint,  PM = Perth Mint, RMLL = Royal Mint Llantrisant</small>
|<small>RAM = Royal Australian Mint; RCM = Royal Canadian Mint; RML = Royal Mint, London; RMLL=Royal Mint, Llantrisant  
|-
|<small>1 = 50th Anniversary, 2= IRB, 3 = JC </small>
|}
|}


'''Mint Marks:'''
=== Mint Marks ===
The two different variants of the 1966 Australian five-cent coin minted in London and Canberra can be readily distinguished by a key visual difference in their reverse designs. Specifically, the length of the spine on the echidna's front right shoulder is notably longer on the coins produced at the Royal Mint in London compared to the shorter spine on the Canberra-minted coins from the Royal Australian Mint.


Mint marks on the Australian 1966 two-cent coin provide a fascinating insight into its production history. These marks, discernible by examining the front feet of the frill-necked lizard depicted on the coin, indicate the mint of manufacture. Specifically, a blunted rightmost claw on the front right foot signifies a Perth minting, while a blunted second claw from the right on the left foot indicates a Melbourne minting. The absence of blunted claws suggests a Canberra minting. This unique identification system underscores the intricate details of coin minting and adds a layer of intrigue for collectors and historians alike.
This subtle but distinct design variation provides a helpful diagnostic feature for collectors and enthusiasts seeking to differentiate between the two 1966 five-cent coin varieties. The longer spine on the London-minted coins creates a more pronounced and pronounced quill-like appearance, whereas the Canberra coins have a shorter, less emphasized spine on the same part of the echidna's body.


There are no observable mint marks on the 1981 coin, both the Perth and Llantrisant mints distribute their coins in mint bags and the Canberran mint distriblted  their coins in rolls.
In terms of production numbers, the Royal Mint in London struck 30 million of the 1966 five-cent coins. Meanwhile, the Canberra facility of the Royal Australian Mint produced over 45 million examples of the 1966 five-cent piece. As a result, the Canberra-minted coins are the more prevalent and commonly encountered of the two 1966 five-cent varieties among collectors and in circulation.


This clear visual distinction and difference in mintage figures makes the longer vs. shorter spine on the echidna's front right shoulder an essential diagnostic tool for identifying the origin mint of individual 1966 Australian five-cent coins. It's a key detail that numismatists and coin enthusiasts can use to accurately attribute and catalogue examples of this important decimal currency issue.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
! align="center" |RAM (Canberra)
! align="center" |RAM (Canberra)
! align="center" |RMM (Melbourne)
! align="center" |RML (London)
! align="center" |RPM (Perth)
|-
|-
| align="center" |[[File:MintMark2ccan.jpg|200px]]
| align="center" |[[File:MintMark5ccan.jpg|200px]]
| align="center" |[[File:MintMark2cmel.jpg|200px]]
| align="center" |[[File:MintMark5cldn.jpg|200px]]
| align="center" |[[File:MintMark2cper.jpg|200px]]
|-
|-
|<small>Canberra Mint: All the claws are sharp.</small>
|<small>Canberra Mint: Short spine.</small>
|<small>Melbourne Mint: Blunted second claw on the left foot .</small>
|<small>London Mint: Longer spine.</small>
|<small>Perth Mint: Blunted rightmost claw.</small>
|}
|}


<small>Source: https://www.australian-coins.com/australian-decimal-changeover/australian-1966-2c-mint-marks/</small>
<small>Source:</small> https://en.numista.com/forum/topic40798.html

Latest revision as of 03:48, 25 June 2024

Production

The Australian five-cent coin was first introduced with the transition to decimal currency on 14 February 1966. The original reverse design featuring the iconic echidna has remained unchanged since the coin's introduction over 50 years ago. In 2016, the obverse (front) design was updated to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Australia's decimalisation, but the echidna reverse has been a constant on the five-cent piece.

All of the initial 1966 production run of five-cent coins was carried out at the Royal Mint in London. Since those first coins minted in the UK, subsequent five-cent pieces have been produced by several mints, including the Royal Australian Mint, the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales, and the Royal Canadian Mint.

Over the decades, the Australian five-cent coin has become an enduring symbol of the country's decimal currency system. Its reverse design featuring the distinctive spiny echidna has become instantly recognizable to Australians and is a testament to the ongoing legacy of the five-cent coin.

Value Mass Diameter Edge Composition
$0.05 AUD 2.83 g 19.41 mm Milled 76% copper
25% nickel
Obverse Design Designer Design date
Elizabeth II Arnold Machin 1966-1984
Elizabeth II Raphael Maklouf 1985-1998
Elizabeth II Ian Rank-Broadley 1999-2015

2017-2019

Elizabeth II and Reproduction of 1953-1964 One Penny Ian Rank-Broadley 2016
Elizabeth II Jody Clark 2019-2023
Elizabeth II

Special Memorial

Jody Clark 2023
Charles III Dan Thorne 2024-Present
Reverse Design Designer Design date
Short beaked Echidna Stuart Devlin 1966-Present

Mintage Figures

Mintage year 1966 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978
Mintage (Mil) 30.0 45.4 62.1 67.3 38.2 46.1 39.5 8.3 48.8 64.2 44.3 113.2 108.8 25.2
Mint RML RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM
Mintage year 1979 1980 1981 1981 1981 1982 1983 1984 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
Mintage (Mil) 44.5 115 62.0 50.0 50.3 139.5 131.6 43.5 73.5 103.4 95.8 33.3 29.9 52.6
Mint RAM RAM RAM RCM RMLL RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM
Mintage year 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Mintage (Mil) 93.8 156.7 85.0 79.2 100.7 88.5 179.5 97.4 174.6 148.8 115.1 145.3 194.3 306.5
Mint RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RCM RMLL RAM RAM
Mintage year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2016 2017 2018 2019
Mintage (Mil) 59.0 200.2 83.9 55.1 44.8 68.9 78.7 76.0 21.2 34.4 4.81 18.6 25.1 46.22
Mint RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM RAM
Mintage year 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Mintage (Mil) 2.03 49.9 36.7 49.0
Mint RAM RAM RAM RAM
RAM = Royal Australian Mint; RCM = Royal Canadian Mint; RML = Royal Mint, London; RMLL=Royal Mint, Llantrisant
1 = 50th Anniversary, 2= IRB, 3 = JC

Mint Marks

The two different variants of the 1966 Australian five-cent coin minted in London and Canberra can be readily distinguished by a key visual difference in their reverse designs. Specifically, the length of the spine on the echidna's front right shoulder is notably longer on the coins produced at the Royal Mint in London compared to the shorter spine on the Canberra-minted coins from the Royal Australian Mint.

This subtle but distinct design variation provides a helpful diagnostic feature for collectors and enthusiasts seeking to differentiate between the two 1966 five-cent coin varieties. The longer spine on the London-minted coins creates a more pronounced and pronounced quill-like appearance, whereas the Canberra coins have a shorter, less emphasized spine on the same part of the echidna's body.

In terms of production numbers, the Royal Mint in London struck 30 million of the 1966 five-cent coins. Meanwhile, the Canberra facility of the Royal Australian Mint produced over 45 million examples of the 1966 five-cent piece. As a result, the Canberra-minted coins are the more prevalent and commonly encountered of the two 1966 five-cent varieties among collectors and in circulation.

This clear visual distinction and difference in mintage figures makes the longer vs. shorter spine on the echidna's front right shoulder an essential diagnostic tool for identifying the origin mint of individual 1966 Australian five-cent coins. It's a key detail that numismatists and coin enthusiasts can use to accurately attribute and catalogue examples of this important decimal currency issue.

RAM (Canberra) RML (London)
Canberra Mint: Short spine. London Mint: Longer spine.

Source: https://en.numista.com/forum/topic40798.html

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