The Australian five-cent coin is the lowest-denomination circulating coin of the decimal Australian dollar introduced in 14 February 1966, replacing the pre-decimal sixpence. It has been the lowest-denomination coin in general circulation since the withdrawal of the one-cent and two-cent coins in 1992.
The coin was introduced into circulation on 14 February 1966. In its first year of minting, 30 million were struck at the British Royal Mint (then in London), in addition to 45.4 million at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra. Since then, with the exception of 1981, the coin has been produced exclusively in Canberra. In 1981, 50.3 million were produced at the Royal Mint's new headquarters in Llantrisant, Wales, and 50 million at the Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg, in addition to 62 million in Canberra.[1]
The reverse side depicts an echidna and the obverse side the head of state, Queen Elizabeth II. The only commemorative coin in this denomination was issued in 2016 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of decimal currency.[1]
This coin has the highest mintage of any current coins and doesn't circulate well because of its value, like the euro one-cent.[citation needed] The lowest mintage was 8.25 million coins in 1972, and the highest was 306.5 million in 2006. No coins were issued in 1985–86, however, only minted for coin sets.[1]
There has been some debate about removing this coin from circulation as with the New Zealand dollar mainly as stated for its low value and high costs. On 23 May 2009, Fairfax newspapers reported that the Royal Australian Mint planned to scrap the coin.[2]
In May 2007, owing to the high market value of copper and nickel, the bullion value of the coin was about 6.5 cents, though there were no reported cases of hoarding or melting down of the coins despite the apparent 30% gross profit to be made from doing so. Market prices as at June 2018 are about $7/kg for copper and $15/kg for nickel, making the metal content of the 5¢ coin worth only 2.5¢ or 50% of its face value (about the same as for a 10¢ or 20¢ coin). The production cost of the coin was reported to be 12¢.[3]
5c coins are legal tender for amounts not exceeding $5 for any payment of a debt.[4]
australian, five, cent, coin, lowest, denomination, circulating, coin, decimal, australian, dollar, introduced, february, 1966, replacing, decimal, sixpence, been, lowest, denomination, coin, general, circulation, since, withdrawal, cent, cent, coins, 1992, fi. The Australian five cent coinis the lowest denomination circulating coin of the decimal Australian dollar introduced in 14 February 1966 replacing the pre decimal sixpence It has been the lowest denomination coin in general circulation since the withdrawal of the one cent and two cent coins in 1992 Five centsAustraliaValue0 05 AUDMass2 83 gDiameter19 41 mmThickness1 30 mmEdgeReededComposition75 Copper 25 NickelYears of minting1966 presentCatalog numberKM 80ObverseDesignQueen Elizabeth II Australia s QueenDesignerIan Rank BroadleyDesign date1999ReverseDesignEchidnaDesignerStuart DevlinDesign date1966Due to inflation the purchasing power of the five cent coin continues to drop and as of 2018 represents 0 27 of the country s minimum hourly wage for workers age 21 or over The coin was introduced into circulation on 14 February 1966 In its first year of minting 30 million were struck at the British Royal Mint then in London in addition to 45 4 million at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra Since then with the exception of 1981 the coin has been produced exclusively in Canberra In 1981 50 3 million were produced at the Royal Mint s new headquarters in Llantrisant Wales and 50 million at the Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg in addition to 62 million in Canberra 1 The reverse side depicts an echidna and the obverse side the head of state Queen Elizabeth II The only commemorative coin in this denomination was issued in 2016 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of decimal currency 1 This coin has the highest mintage of any current coins and doesn t circulate well because of its value like the euro one cent citation needed The lowest mintage was 8 25 million coins in 1972 and the highest was 306 5 million in 2006 No coins were issued in 1985 86 however only minted for coin sets 1 There has been some debate about removing this coin from circulation as with the New Zealand dollar mainly as stated for its low value and high costs On 23 May 2009 Fairfax newspapers reported that the Royal Australian Mint planned to scrap the coin 2 In May 2007 owing to the high market value of copper and nickel the bullion value of the coin was about 6 5 cents though there were no reported cases of hoarding or melting down of the coins despite the apparent 30 gross profit to be made from doing so Market prices as at June 2018 are about 7 kg for copper and 15 kg for nickel making the metal content of the 5 coin worth only 2 5 or 50 of its face value about the same as for a 10 or 20 coin The production cost of the coin was reported to be 12 3 5c coins are legal tender for amounts not exceeding 5 for any payment of a debt 4 See also edit nbsp Australia portal nbsp Money portal nbsp Numismatics portalCoins of the Australian dollarReferences edit a b c Royal Australian Mint 5 cents Retrieved 10 September 2016 Hirst David 23 May 2009 Get your 5c worth before it goes out of circulation Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 23 May 2009 Macdonald Anna 13 September 2022 Royal Australian Mint to focus on changes to coins for now The Mandarin Retrieved 14 September 2022 RBA Banknotes Legal Tender banknotes rba gov au Retrieved 24 July 2018 Ian W Pitt ed 2000 Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Values 19th ed Chippendale NSW Renniks Publications ISBN 0 9585574 4 6 External links editAustralian Decimal Currency www australianstamp com 2001 Large and Small Obverse 5cent Coins from Australia Coin Type Five Cents Online Coin Club 5 Cents KM 80 coinscatalog netPreceded bySixpence Australian Five Cents Australian 1966 present Succeeded byPresent Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Australian five cent coin amp oldid 1165032333, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
