The decimal coinage of Australia

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In 1963 the Australian government decided to prepare for decimalisation.

The government decided that the new coinage should portray Australian wildlife.

A design competition was therefore held.


Here are some of the designs that were considered:

Unsuccessful Australian Decimal Designs.

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Stuart Devlin.

The design competition was won by Stuart Devlin.

He thought that most coin designs did not take sufficient account of the coin's circular shape.

Additionally, he felt that a design should occupy more of the coin's surface.

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Australia, 1 cent, 1966.

The first decimal coins used the new effigy of the Queen, created by Arnold Machin.

The 1 cent coin depicted a feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus),  the world's smallest gliding possum.

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A larger image of the reverse design.

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The feather-tailed glider.

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Australia, 2 cents, 1966.

The 2 cent coin depicted a frilled necked lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii).

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The frill-necked lizard.

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Australia, 5 cents, 1966.

The echidna, or spiny anteater, appeared on the 5 cents coin.

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The echidna.

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Australia, 10 cents, 1966.

The 10 cents coin featured a male lyrebird.

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The male lyrebird.

Here the bird is fanning its tail out in a courtship display.

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Australia, 20 cents, 1966.

The 20 cents coin depicted a platypus.

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A platypus underwater.

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Australia, 50 cents, 1966.

The 50 cents showed a new version of the coat of arms.

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Unlike the 5, 10 and 20 cents coins, the 50 cents was not copper-nickel but silver. However, it was discovered that the Australians often mistook the 50 cents for a 20 cents coin, which was 3 mm narrower in diameter. As a result, trials were performed to find a more satisfactory coin.

As you can see here, the Royal Australian Mint considered 7-sided, 12-sided and 16-sided versions of the coin.