1989 Australian One Cent Coin

Description

The 1 cent coin was first introduced with decimalisation on 14 February 1966. The original reverse design remained unchanged during the existence of the denomination.

One cent coins were produced by the Royal Australian Mint, the Royal Mint branch in Melbourne, the Royal Mint branch in Perth and the Royal Mint in Llantrisant (Wales). Production of 1966-dated 1 cent coins commenced at the Royal Mint in Melbourne in 1964.

The cessation of issue of one and two cent coins was announced by the Treasurer in his Budget Speech of 21 August 1990. The decision was based on the loss of real purchasing power through inflation and the cost of minting of these coins. The accompanying Press Release noted that “…1c and 2c coins will continue to be legal tender: they can still be used to purchase goods and can be deposited with financial institutions in the normal manner”. Both coins were withdrawn from circulation commencing in February 1992. They were never formally demonetised and still remain legal tender.

Composition: 97% copper, 2.5% zinc, 0.5% tin.

Effigy of the ruling monarch, legend, date. Throughout the existence of the coin type, the monarch was Queen Elizabeth II.

The inclusion of an effigy of the Queen on the obverse of Australia’s coinage is mandated by Regulation 4 (c) of the Currency Regulations made under the Currency Act 1965. Portraits of Her Majesty have all faced to the right in line with a convention, said to have commenced with Charles II (1660-1685), that the new Monarch’s portrait would face in a direction opposite to that of their predecessor.

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.

Additional information