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The Australian one-cent coin is the smallest denomination of the Australian dollar. It was introduced with the Currency Act 1965 (Commonwealth) but - unlike some of the other denominations - it did not replace an earlier pre-decimal coin; given that the 5 cents piece replaced the sixpence, one cent was technically equal to 1.2 pence but the Act rounded that to one penny. The one cent coin was much smaller than the penny though, so the penny denomination did not continue to circulate (unlike the sixpence, shilling and florin which were equivalent to respectively 5 cents, 10 cents and 20 cents and were re-denominated as such).
Coins issued in 1987 circulated for only five years before, together with coins of the two cent denomination, they were withdrawn from circulation in February 1992. They have never been demonetised though and remain legal tender. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right (her effigy known as the "Third Portrait"). The Queen is wearing the royal diadem which she used to wear on her way to and from the State Opening of Parliament, a pearl necklace and earrings.
Incuse in tiny letters on the neck truncation, the designer's initials RDM (for Raphael David Maklouf).
Around, the monarch's legend and the date of issue: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1987.
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| Reverse | |
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A representation of a feather tailed glider designed and sculpted by Stuart Devlin. Slightly left of centre, the denomination 1 [cent]. Below the end of the glider's tail in (very) tiny letters, the designer's initials SD. |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Krause catalogues list mintage of 122,000,000 circulation coins. |
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Search for Australia: One Cent 1987 on eBay 