Australian Coins and Paper Money

Australia is fortunate to host two world-standard mints: the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra for circulation coinage and The Perth Mint in Western Australia, renowned for its production of silver and gold bullion coins.

The Royal Australian Mint has been minting Australia's coinage since 1965, coinciding with the country's transition to decimal currency. Pre-1946, Australian silver coins contained 92.5% silver, a percentage reduced to 50% post-1946 due to the effects of World Wars on silver availability.

Australia's coinage system historically mirrored that of England, reflecting its colonial ties, with denominations like the three pence, six pence, shilling, florin, half crown, one penny, half penny, and the esteemed gold sovereign coin.

Australian banknotes have transitioned to polymer, incorporating advanced security features. Over the past decade, old pound notes have seen significant increases in value.

Coin dealers highly value mint uncirculated condition coins, with notable examples being the 1939 penny and the Holy Dollar.

The Perth Mint operates at full capacity, running three shifts 24/7 to meet the robust demand for silver and gold coins. Particularly sought-after are the silver one ounce and one kilo bullion coins, popular among European buyers.

To cope with demand, The Mint has installed a new 1,000-tonne automatic press, ensuring increased production of gold and silver coins. The focus for now remains on manufacturing one kilo silver coins, including popular series like the Koala and Kookaburra, prized worldwide for their 99.9% purity.