Australian Currency of Today

The five-cent coin is 19.41 mm in diameter.	On the reverse side is the echidna, or spiny anteater, only one of two monotremes in the world.
The ten-cent coin is 23.60 mm in diameter.	On the reverse side is the lyrebird, unique to Australia.
The twenty-cent coin is 28.52 mm in diameter.	It has the platypus on the reverse side, the other monotreme.
The twelve-sided fifty-cent coin is 31.51 mm in diameter.	On the reverse side of this coin is the Australian Coat Of Arms, which has a kangaroo on one side and an emu on the other.
The one-dollar coin is 25.00 mm in diameter.	The reverse side has five kangaroos in various poses.
The two-dollar coin is 20.50 mm in diameter.	On the reverse side there is an Aboriginal Elder, together with the Southern Cross, the star constellation which appears on the Australian flag .

Sometimes, coins with a different design are produced to celebrate a special event.

The notes today
The notes of Australian currency are unique in the world. They are the first and only notes in the world to be manufactured from a plastic called polymer instead of paper. In addition, each carries a hologram and has intricate designs.This combination has so far proven to be impossible to counterfeit. Another benefit is that the plastic notes last longer than paper notes, which otherwise have to be replaced regularly.

The notes are all the same width but vary in length and colours so that each is different and easy to identify.

The five-dollar note is coloured in shades of mauve and is the only one carrying a portrait of the Queen. On the reverse side the Australian Parliament House in Canberra is shown. The note originally showed two figures from Australian history, Sir Henry Parkes and Catherine Helen Spence.

All the other notes contain pictures and brief descriptions of pioneers and historically important Australians.

The ten dollar note is coloured in shades of blue.	It has a portrait of AB 'Banjo' Paterson and of Dame Mary Gilmore.
The twenty-dollar note is coloured in shades of orange.	It has a portrait of Mary Reiby and of Reverend John Flynn.
The fifty-dollar note is coloured in shades of gold.	It has a portrait of David Unaipon and of Edith Cowan.
The one hundred dollar note is coloured in shades of green.	It has a portrait of Dame Nellie Melba and of Sir John Monash.

Go here to take a 'virtual tour' of the Museum of Australian Currency Notes. Click on 'Museum Virtual Tour' - http://www.rba.gov.au/museum/#

If you use any part of this in your own work, acknowledge the source in your bibliography like this:
Sydenham, S & Thomas, R. Australian Currency [Online] www.kidcyber.com.au. (2008)
updated March 2010 ©kidcyber