Australian five-cent coin

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 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:

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.

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.