Australians Coins Currently in Circulation Quiz

Answer: 1 cent and 2 cent

The 1 cent and 2 cent coins were taken out of circulation in the 1990s. This was due to the increasing cost in producing them compared to their relative value.

Prices on shelves in grocery stores will still end in 'odd' amounts however the price is rounded to the nearest 5 cent off the total cost at point of sale.

However, if you are paying electronically the store will still charge you the pre-rounded figure. Also, if you have a bankable amount of 1 cent or 2 cent coins ($1 increments) stores may accept them.

Answer: All of them have had commemorative releases

The standard face for each coin is:
$2 - an aboriginal man on the 'tail' and Queen Elizabeth II on the 'head'.
$1 - five kangaroos on the 'tail'.
50 cent - the Australian coat of arms. (initially released as a round coin and changed in 1969 to a dodecahedral shape. The reasons suggested for this were either to avoid confusion with the 20 cent coin, or because of the high silver content in the round coin).
20 cent - a platypus.
10 cent - a lyrebird.
5 cent - an echidna.
2 cent - a frilled-neck lizard.
1 cent - a feather-tailed glider (possum).
Did you know that the echidna and the platypus are the only egg-laying mammals?

Answer: 2005

This was celebrating the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII.

Following declaration of peace on 15 August 1945, a news reel was taken of a man removing his hat and dancing down the street. This news reel has now reached iconic status in Australia. The identity of the man dancing down the street has been the subject of contention, however a likely contender is barrister Frank McAlary.

Other contenders included Ern Hill and Patrick Blackall.

Answer: 2003 - Centenary of women's suffrage

On 16 December 1903, eligible women over the age of 21 were entitled to the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in an election.

In 2003, the Australian Mint also released a special coin celebrating the volunteers in Australia. 2001 was the official International Year of the Volunteer, however a lot of attention was given to the Centenary of Federation that year. (1999 was a red herring).

1999 was the official Year of the Older Person.

Answer: Sir Don Bradman

Retiring with a Test Average of 99.94, Sir Donald Bradman died in 2001. At this time, no other player in the history of cricket has averaged over 65 in international cricket. Bradman played 52 Tests for Australia and was team captain for 24.

Banjo Patterson is a renowned poet (Man from Snowy River, Man from Ironbark, Clancy of the Overflow).

Charles Kingsford-Smith was a distinguished pilot in WWI and was the first pilot to fly non-stop across Australia.

Sir Henry Parkes, the "Father of Federation" was Premier of NSW (five times) and was an advocate in having the colonies join together as one nation under a central government. He died in 1896, before Federation occurred.

Answer: 1982 Commonwealth Games

Brisbane hosted the Commonwealth Games in September - October 1982.

The coin for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games was actually issued in 2005.

Answer: HRH The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer

The 1981 coin commemorated the wedding of HRH the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer in St Paul's Cathedral, London, on 29 July 1981.

Answer: 1988 - First Fleet Bicentenary

On 26 January 1788 a fleet of ships captained by Captain Arthur Phillip arrived in Botany Bay and were the first European settlers.

Australia Day celebrations each year now often involve sun, surf, barbeques, and fireworks.

Answer: A ram

The ram (male sheep) symbolises the farming industries of Australia (farming is still a big industry today, along with mining, tourism, etc).

The coat of arms is the standard issue coin.

The windmill was on the 2002 coin declaring the Year of the Outback.

The man holding a small child and hugging a woman is the 20 cent coin celebrating the end to World War Two. The 50 cent coin for the same event is a depiction of the Dawn Services held by Australians (and New Zealanders) on ANZAC Day.

Answer: Centenary of Federation

After several attempts from the 1850s onwards, the states of Australia finally joined together under the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.

Did you know that Fiji and New Zealand were also invited to join the Commonwealth of Australia but declined?

The first Prime Minister of Australia was Sir Edmund Barton.