Australia 2004 5 cents

a typical circulated specimen, from the Mountain Groan Collection

In 1966, Australia abandoned the sterling coinage she had used since the days of Captain Cook and adopted the decimal dollar and cent. This five cent piece was struck since 1999 and is still being struck today. The spiny echidna still curls up on the reverse of current issues. Coinage production, formerly divided among the Sydney, Perth and Melbourne mints, is now concentrated at the Canberra Mint. The Perth mint manufactures and markets commemoratives.

Recorded mintage: 147,658,000 plus 50,000 proofs plus a few in silver.

Specification: 2.83 g, copper-nickel, 19.4 mm diameter, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and Stuart Devlin.

Catalog reference: KM 401.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date, 13th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2018.
• McDonald, Greg, The Pocket Guide to Australian Coins and Banknotes, 23rd ed., Lavington, Australia, 2017.
• Pitt, Michael, Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Values, 32nd Edition, Matraville, New South Wales, Australia: Renniks Publications, 2023.

Link to:

• 1989 5 cents
• 2004 dollars, 2 oz gold, year of the monkey
• 2004 dollars, 2 oz gold, kangaroo
• 2006 5 cents
• Coins and currency dated 2004
• return to coins of Australia