The 5 cent coin was first introduced with decimalisation on 14 February 1966. 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 2001 have now been in circulation for 17 years.

Crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). 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 Machin and the Gottwald portraits.

In tiny letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).

Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the date: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2001.

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.

32.889 mln circulation five cent pieces dated 2001 were minted in the 2000/2001 financial year (ending 30 June).

Sources of original information:

Royal Australian Mint, Annual Report 2000 - 2001 (2001), p. 53. Retrieved from https://www.ramint.gov.au/sites/default/files/AnnualReport2001_small.pdf