Five Cents, Coin Type from Australia (showing photos)

Five Cents, Coin Type from Australia (issued 1966 - )

Coin Type	Five Cents

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.

Obverse

The obverse of the coin depicts the portrait of the ruling monarch.

The inclusion of an effigy of the monarch on the obverse of Australia's coinage is mandated by Regulation 4 (c) of the Currency Regulations made under the Currency Act 1965. Portraits of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II have all faced to the right in line with a convention, said to have commenced with Charles II (1660-1685), that the new Monarch's portrait would face in a direction opposite to that of their predecessor. Consequently, the portrait of King Charles III faces left.

Obverse Inscription	ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA [year]

Reverse

The reverse of the coin depicts an echidna (also known as a spiny ant-eater) seen from below as it rolls into a protective ball.

The denomination numeral 5 [cents] is above the lower half of the animal.

The artist's initials SD (for Stuart Devlin) are below the numeral in (very) tiny letters.

Reverse Inscription	5

Edge	Milled	Edge Inscription	None

Notes	If you keep your coins in 2x2 cardboard holders, the best size for five cent coins is 20mm.

Coin Type: Five Cents - (63) Coins

Coin Name	Reverse	Obverse	Details
Five Cents 1966			Material: CuproNickel Mints: - Royal Australian Mint: 45,445,054 - Royal Mint: 30,067,250 Total Mintage: 75,512,304
Five Cents 1967			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 62,144,000
Five Cents 1968			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 67,336,000
Five Cents 1969			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 38,183,000
Five Cents 1970			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 46,073,000
Five Cents 1971			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 39,526,000
Five Cents 1972			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 8,236,000
Five Cents 1973			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 48,826,000
Five Cents 1974			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 64,259,000
Five Cents 1975			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 44,279,000
Five Cents 1976			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 113,201,000
Five Cents 1977			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 108,855,000
Five Cents 1978			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 25,249,000
Five Cents 1979			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 44,569,000
Five Cents 1980			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 115,110,000
Five Cents 1981			Material: CuproNickel Mints: - Royal Australian Mint: 62,000,000 - Royal Mint: 50,300,000 - Royal Canadian Mint: 50,000,000 Total Mintage: 162,350,000
Five Cents 1982			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 139,568,000
Five Cents 1983			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 131,648,000
Five Cents 1984			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 43,500,000
Five Cents 1985 (mint sets only)			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 245,000
Five Cents 1986 (mint sets only)			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 247,000
Five Cents 1987			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 73,570,000
Five Cents 1988			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 103,400,000
Five Cents 1988 Cook Islands Mule			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 2
Five Cents 1989			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 95,800,000
Five Cents 1990			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 33,253,000
Five Cents 1991			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 29,900,000
Five Cents 1992			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 52,600,000
Five Cents 1993			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 93,886,000
Five Cents 1994			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 146,708,000
Five Cents 1995			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 85,035,000
Five Cents 1996			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 79,251,000
Five Cents 1997			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 100,712,000
Five Cents 1998			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 88,564,000
Five Cents 1999			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 179,044,000
Five Cents 2000			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 97,457,153
Five Cents 2001			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 174,776,896
Five Cents 2002			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 148,970,062
Five Cents 2003			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 115,509,090
Five Cents 2004			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 147,708,000
Five Cents 2005			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 194,333,520
Five Cents 2006			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 306,500,000
Five Cents 2007			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 59,000,000
Five Cents 2008			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 200,200,000
Five Cents 2009			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 83,900,000
Five Cents 2010			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 55,100,000
Five Cents 2011			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 44,800,000
Five Cents 2012			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 68,900,000
Five Cents 2013			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 78,700,000
Five Cents 2014			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 58,200,000
Five Cents 2015			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 21,200,000
Five Cents 2016			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 34,400,000
Five Cents 2016 Changeover			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 4,888,661
Five Cents 2017			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 18,600,000
Five Cents 2018			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 25,100,000
Five Cents 2019 (Fourth Portrait)			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 46,100,000
Five Cents 2019 (Fifth Portrait)			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 4,100,000
Five Cents 2020			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 34,500,000
Five Cents 2021			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 4,500,000
Five Cents 2022			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Five Cents 2023			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Five Cents 2023 Memorial Obverse			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Five Cents 2024			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown

Advertising

Buy Austrian Silver Philharmonics Online

Five Cents: Details

Country	Australia
Currency	Australian Dollar
From	1966
Face Value	5 (x Cent)
Current	Yes
Material	CuproNickel
Designer	Stuart Devlin
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size	19.5300 mm
Mass	2.8300 g

Advertising

Buy gold and silver bullion online!

Five Cents: Photos

Image	Details
	Proof Coin - 5 Cents, Australia, 1966 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Naomi Andrzejeski Source
	Proof Coin - 5 Cents, Australia, 1966 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Naomi Andrzejeski Source
	Australia - 5 Cents - 1999 Copyright: Numi Art Collection Source

Relevant Links

Royal Australian Mint: Five Cents

Australian five-cent coin - Wikipedia

Five Cents, Coin Type from Australia - detailed information