2016 Changeover 5c Coin

Description

FIVE CENT

Circulating coins are the coins Australians use everyday. They are mass-produced coins and made from base metals such as copper, nickel and aluminium, struck at the rate of up to 650 per minute.

While they ordinarily feature reverse designs of Australian fauna (or an Aboriginal elder on the two dollar coin), many commemorative coins are released to mark events, people or organisations which have had a significant impact on Australian society.

The five cent coin was first introduced with decimal currency on 14 February 1966. The original reverse design of the echidna on standard circulating coins has not been changed since the introduction.

The obverse design was altered in 2016 to mark the 50th anniversary of decimal currency, but the reverse design of the echidna has remained constant.

All of the first issue of five cent coins in 1966 were produced at the Royal Mint, London. Since the first production from London, five cent coins have been produced by the Royal Australian Mint, the Royal Mint, Llantrisant and the Royal Canadian Mint.