Five Cents 1973, Coin from Australia - detailed information

Five Cents 1973, Coin from Australia
CoinFive Cents 1973

The 5 cent coin was first introduced with decimalisation on 14 February 1966, when it replaced the pre-decimal Australian sixpence (to which it is equal in size and mass). The original reverse design 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.

Coins issued in 1973 have now been in circulation for 51 years.

MintRoyal Australian Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 48,826,000 (48.8 million) , Rarity: C (Common)
Obverse
Australia / Five Cents 1973 - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin shows the crowned and draped young bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Second Portrait", by Arnold Machin).

The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Rank-Broadley and the Gottwald portraits.

Around, the monarch's legend and the date of issue: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1973.

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1973
Reverse
Australia / Five Cents 1973 - reverse photo

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
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Five Cents 1973: Known varieties
Variety In mint sets
Mintage Issued: unknown
In Set 1973 Uncirculated Set, mintage unknown
6 coins: 50 Cents, 20 Cents, 10 Cents, 5 Cents, 2 Cents, 1 Cent
Variety Proof FDC
Mintage Issued: 10,000 (included in total)
In Set 1973 Proof Set, mintage 10,000
6 coins: 50 Cents, 20 Cents, 10 Cents, 5 Cents, 2 Cents, 1 Cent
Five Cents 1973: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Royal Australian Mint 2016 Mint link
Royal Australian Mint 2016 Mintage link
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins Mintage Circulation and proof mintage
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins Varieties Proof
All (63) coins of type: Five Cents
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Five Cents 1966 75,512,304 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1966
Five Cents 1967 62,144,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1967
Five Cents 1968 67,336,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1968
Five Cents 1969 38,183,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1969
Five Cents 1970 46,073,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1970
Five Cents 1971 39,526,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1971
Five Cents 1972 8,236,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1972
Five Cents 1973 48,826,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1973
Five Cents 1974 64,259,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1974
Five Cents 1975 44,279,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1975
Five Cents 1976 113,201,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1976
Five Cents 1977 108,855,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1977
Five Cents 1978 25,249,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1978
Five Cents 1979 44,569,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1979
Five Cents 1980 115,110,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1980
Five Cents 1981 162,350,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1981
Five Cents 1982 139,568,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1982
Five Cents 1983 131,648,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1983
Five Cents 1984 43,500,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1984
Five Cents 1985 (mint sets only) 245,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1985
Five Cents 1986 (mint sets only) 247,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1986
Five Cents 1987 73,570,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1987
Five Cents 1988 103,400,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1988
Five Cents 1988 Cook Islands Mule 2 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II COOK ISLANDS 1988
Five Cents 1989 95,800,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1989
Five Cents 1990 33,253,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1990
Five Cents 1991 29,900,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1991
Five Cents 1992 52,600,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1992
Five Cents 1993 93,886,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1993
Five Cents 1994 146,708,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1994
Five Cents 1995 85,035,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1995
Five Cents 1996 79,251,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1996
Five Cents 1997 100,712,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1997
Five Cents 1998 88,564,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1998
Five Cents 1999 179,044,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1999
Five Cents 2000 97,457,153 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2000
Five Cents 2001 174,776,896 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2001
Five Cents 2002 148,970,062 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2002
Five Cents 2003 115,509,090 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2003
Five Cents 2004 147,708,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2004
Five Cents 2005 194,333,520 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2005
Five Cents 2006 306,500,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2006
Five Cents 2007 59,000,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2007
Five Cents 2008 200,200,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2008
Five Cents 2009 83,900,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2009
Five Cents 2010 55,100,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2010
Five Cents 2011 44,800,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2011
Five Cents 2012 68,900,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2012
Five Cents 2013 78,700,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2013
Five Cents 2014 58,200,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2014
Five Cents 2015 21,200,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2015
Five Cents 2016 34,400,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2016
Five Cents 2016 Changeover 4,888,661 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2016 FIFTY YEARS
Five Cents 2017 18,600,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2017
Five Cents 2018 25,100,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2018
Five Cents 2019 (Fourth Portrait) 46,100,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2019
Five Cents 2019 (Fifth Portrait) 4,100,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · AUSTRALIA 2019
Five Cents 2020 34,500,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · AUSTRALIA 2020
Five Cents 2021 4,500,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · AUSTRALIA 2021
Five Cents 2022 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · AUSTRALIA 2022
Five Cents 2023 unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II · AUSTRALIA 2023
Five Cents 2023 Memorial Obverse unknown Queen Elizabeth II - Uncouped Portrait by Jody Clark ELIZABETH II 1952 - 2022 · AUSTRALIA 2023
Five Cents 2024 unknown King Charles III - Portrait by Dan Thorne CHARLES III · AUSTRALIA 2024
Advertising
The Definitive Guide to Australian Silver Coins
The Definitive Guide to Australian Silver Coins
My Collection
Please sign up and/or log in.
You will then be able to manage your collection and record whether you have or want this coin.
Five Cents 1973: Details
CountryAustralia
CurrencyAustralian Dollar
Coin TypeFive Cents
Issued1973
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait, by Arnold Machin
Face Value5 (x Cent)
Total Mintage48,826,000 (48.8 million), Rarity: C (Common)
CurrentYes
MaterialCuproNickel
DesignerStuart Devlin
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size19.5300 mm
Mass2.8300 g
OCC IDQBVY-XEWR-CQAO-JZNP
Search Similar Coins to Buy (Affiliate Ad)
Search eBay for this coinSearch for Australia: Five Cents 1973 on eBay
Advertising
Buy Silver Bullion Online
Buy Silver Bullion Online
Share or Bookmark this Page
Five Cents 1973: Photos
ImageDetails
Five Cents 1973: Photo Coin - 5 Cents, Australia, 1973 / thumbnail Coin - 5 Cents, Australia, 1973
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Source
Five Cents 1973: Photo Coin - 5 Cents, Australia, 1973 / thumbnail Coin - 5 Cents, Australia, 1973
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Source
Five Cents 1973: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsAustralia KM# 64
Relevant Links
Coin - 5 Cents, Australia, 1973 - Museums Victoria Collections