The 5 cent coin was first introduced with decimalisation on 14 February 1966. Given that the earlier Australian Pound was equal to 240 pence, and the new Australian Dollar was introduced at two dollars to the pound, the five cents denomination was exactly equal to the earlier Australian Sixpence - both in value and in size (the coins were made of the same dimensions and mass). It is thus a direct descendant of the British Sixpence.
The original reverse design by Stuart Devlin has not been changed since the introduction. After the withdrawal of the one cent and two cents denominations from circulation in February 1992, the five cent coin is now the smallest circulating coin of the Australian dollar.
Australian 5 cent coins have been produced by the Royal Australian Mint, the Royal Mint, Llantrisant and the Royal Canadian Mint.
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel. | 
