Australian 1 cent coin
Encyclopedia
The Australian one cent coin was the lowest-denomination coin of the Australian dollar
until it was withdrawn from circulation in 1992 (along with the two-cent piece
). It is, however, still legal tender. It was introduced in 14 February 1966 on the decimalisation of Australian currency.
The first minting of the coin was in 1966. In the Royal Australian Mint
in Canberra
146.5 million were minted, alongside 239 million from the Melbourne Mint
and 26.6 million at the Perth Mint
. This was the only year that the coin was issued at more than one mint, apart from in 1981 when 40.3 million were struck at the British Royal Mint
in Llantrisant
, Wales
as well as 183.6 million in Canberra. The only year of its run not to have any minting was 1986, the last minting was in 1990. .
From 1966 until 1984 the obverse featured the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin
. It was changed in 1985 to a version by Raphael Maklouf
, which remained until its demonetisation in 1992.
The decision to remove the one and two-cent coins was confirmed by the Treasurer in a Budget Speech on 21 August 1990. The action was due to inflation
reducing its value, and the high cost of bronze . Around the same time other countries removed their bronze coins - New Zealand removed its one and two cent coins in 1990, while the United Kingdom and Ireland turned their bronze one and two pence coins into copper-plated steel.
After removal from circulation, the coins were melted down to make bronze medal
s for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
The reverse side of the coin featured the image of a Feathertail Glider
(Acrobates pygmaeus), a gliding possum
unique to Australian states bordering the Pacific Ocean
. The image was designed by Stuart Devlin
, who designed the reversea of all of the decimal coins introduced in 1966.
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
until it was withdrawn from circulation in 1992 (along with the two-cent piece
Australian 2 cent coin
The Australian two-cent coin was introduced in 1966 and was the coin of the second-lowest denomination until it was withdrawn from circulation in 1992 . It is still counted as legal tender....
). It is, however, still legal tender. It was introduced in 14 February 1966 on the decimalisation of Australian currency.
The first minting of the coin was in 1966. In the Royal Australian Mint
Royal Australian Mint
The Royal Australian Mint is situated in the Australian federal capital city of Canberra, in the suburb of Deakin.Before the opening of the mint, Australian coins were struck at branches of the Royal Mint - the Sydney Mint, Melbourne Mint and Perth Mint. The Royal Australian Mint holds a place in...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
146.5 million were minted, alongside 239 million from the Melbourne Mint
Melbourne Mint
The Melbourne Mint, in Melbourne, Australia, was a branch of the British Royal Mint. Until 1916 it minted only gold sovereigns, and all Australian coins between 1927 and 1967...
and 26.6 million at the Perth Mint
Perth Mint
The Perth Mint is Australia's oldest currently operating mint ....
. This was the only year that the coin was issued at more than one mint, apart from in 1981 when 40.3 million were struck at the British Royal Mint
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
in Llantrisant
Llantrisant
Llantrisant is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the River Ely and the Afon Clun. The town's name translates as The Parish of the Three Saints. The three saints in question are St Illtyd, St Gwynno and St...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
as well as 183.6 million in Canberra. The only year of its run not to have any minting was 1986, the last minting was in 1990. .
From 1966 until 1984 the obverse featured the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin
Arnold Machin
Arnold Machin O.B.E, R.A. was a British artist, sculptor, coin and stamp designer.Machin was born in Stoke-on-Trent in 1911. He started work at the age of 14 as an apprentice china painter at the Minton Pottery. During the Depression he learnt to sculpt at Stoke-on-Trent's Art School, which was...
. It was changed in 1985 to a version by Raphael Maklouf
Raphael Maklouf
Raphael Maklouf is a sculptor, best known for designing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II used on the coins of many Commonwealth nations....
, which remained until its demonetisation in 1992.
The decision to remove the one and two-cent coins was confirmed by the Treasurer in a Budget Speech on 21 August 1990. The action was due to inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
reducing its value, and the high cost of bronze . Around the same time other countries removed their bronze coins - New Zealand removed its one and two cent coins in 1990, while the United Kingdom and Ireland turned their bronze one and two pence coins into copper-plated steel.
After removal from circulation, the coins were melted down to make bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
s for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
The reverse side of the coin featured the image of a Feathertail Glider
Feathertail Glider
The Feathertail Glider , also known as the Pygmy Gliding Possum, Pygmy Glider, Pygmy Phalanger, Flying Phalanger and Flying Mouse, is the world's smallest gliding possum and is named for its long feather-shaped tail. Although only the size of a very small mouse , it can leap and glide up to 25 metres...
(Acrobates pygmaeus), a gliding possum
Possum
A possum is any of about 70 small to medium-sized arboreal marsupial species native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi .Possums are quadrupedal diprotodont marsupials with long tails...
unique to Australian states bordering the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. The image was designed by Stuart Devlin
Stuart Devlin
Stuart Devlin is a significant contemporary gold and silversmith. Australian-born, he has designed coins for countries around the world, and became especially well known as London-based designer of gold and silver collector's items in the 1970s and 80s.Devlin was born in Geelong, Australia, and...
, who designed the reversea of all of the decimal coins introduced in 1966.