
Australia has six coins that are commonly used: 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1, and $2. The 20-cent coin is worth 0.2 Australian dollars and features a duck-billed platypus on its front side and Queen Elizabeth II on its back. So, how many 20 cent coins make up a dollar in Australian currency?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of 20 cent coins in a dollar | 5 |
| Number of cents in a dollar | 100 |
| Number of coins in common use | 6 |
| Denominations of coins | 8 |
| Value of 20 cent coin | $0.20 |
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What You'll Learn

There are 100 cents in 1 Australian dollar
In the Australian currency system, there are 100 cents in 1 Australian dollar. This means that 20-cent coins, which are currently in circulation, are worth 0.2 Australian dollars. To put it another way, five 20-cent coins are needed to make up a single Australian dollar.
The 20-cent coin is one of the six commonly used coins in Australia, along with the 5-cent, 10-cent, 50-cent, $1, and $2 coins. These coins were issued by the Royal Australian Mint in eight different denominations and feature a unique design. On the front side of the 20-cent coin, there is an image of a duck-billed platypus, and the backside bears the image of Australia's monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
The value of the 20-cent coin in relation to the Australian dollar can be understood through simple arithmetic. Given that there are 100 cents in 1 dollar, each cent is worth 0.01 dollars. Therefore, the 20-cent coin, being one-fifth of a dollar, holds a value of 0.2 dollars.
The concept of cents and their relationship to dollars is not unique to Australia and can be observed in other currencies as well. For example, in the US currency system, each cent is also equivalent to 0.01 dollars, making the conversion rate between cents and dollars consistent within the US context.
In summary, the statement "There are 100 cents in 1 Australian dollar" highlights the fundamental unit of Australian currency. This knowledge is essential for understanding the value of individual coins, such as the 20-cent piece, in relation to the whole dollar. By grasping this basic principle, individuals can navigate everyday transactions and make accurate calculations when dealing with Australian currency.
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20-cent coins are still in circulation
Five 20-cent coins make up a dollar in Australia. The 20-cent coin is still in circulation in Australia and is one of the six commonly used coins in the country. The Royal Australian Mint started issuing these coins in 1999, and they continue to be circulated.
The Australian 20-cent coin is made of copper-nickel and features a duck-billed platypus on its front side. The backside of the coin bears the image of Australia's monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The coin has a distinctive design, with rounded edges on the top and bottom of the milling, which sets it apart from other varieties.
Despite being in circulation for over 25 years, the fields of the 20-cent coin remain shiny, even when well-worn. This is in contrast to coins produced at other mints, which tend to dull over time. The Canadian coinage of a similar age shares these qualities.
The 20-cent coin has also been issued with commemorative designs. These special editions were minted to mark various occasions, such as the 50th anniversary of the United Nations in 1995, the centenary of the Australian Federation in 2001, and the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2005. These commemorative coins are a unique part of Australia's numismatic history and are sought after by collectors.
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The 20-cent coin features a duck-billed platypus
There are five 20-cent coins in a dollar in Australia. The 20-cent coin features a duck-billed platypus, an unusual mammal native to Australia. The platypus is a semi-aquatic, egg-laying mammal with a duck-like bill, a beaver-like tail, and otter-like feet. Its bill is equipped with specialised nerve endings called electroreceptors, which help it detect prey in cloudy water by sensing their muscular contractions' tiny electrical currents. The platypus is one of the few venomous mammals, with males possessing a spur on their hind feet that delivers a potent venom.
The Commonwealth of Australia holds the platypus in such high regard that it has honoured the creature by featuring it on its 20-cent coin. This design was sculpted by Stuart Devlin and introduced in 1966 with the arrival of decimal currency in Australia. The platypus has also frequently graced Australian postage stamps, including the 2015 "Native Animals" series and the 2016 "Australian Animals Monotremes" series.
The platypus holds cultural significance for Aboriginal Australians, featuring in their Dreamtime stories. They once hunted platypuses for food, particularly for their fatty and nutritious tails. Europeans, on the other hand, hunted them for fur from the late 19th century until 1912, when it was outlawed. Additionally, European researchers captured and killed platypuses or took their eggs, motivated by scientific curiosity and competitive prestige.
The platypus is a unique creature that combines characteristics of multiple species. Its scientific name, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, translates to 'duck-like bird-snout', reflecting its distinctive bill. It is one of the most densely furred mammals, with short, dense, brown fur that traps insulating air to keep it warm in water and out. This fur coat is also waterproof, contributing to the platypus's remarkable adaptation to its aquatic habitat.
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There are 6 commonly used coins in Australia
Australia adopted the decimal system in 1966, dividing the Australian dollar into 100 cents. There are six coins that are commonly used in Australia: the 5-cent, 10-cent, 20-cent, 50-cent, $1, and $2 coins. These coins all feature an effigy of the monarch on the obverse, with four different effigies of Queen Elizabeth II having been used before her death in 2022. The $1 coin was the first to be minted with King Charles III's face in 2023, with the remaining denominations to be changed based on bank demand.
The Royal Australian Mint has released several commemorative coins over the years, with imagery representing a specific event replacing the standard design on the reverse side of the coin. These commemorative issues are highly collectible, especially those that celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's coronation and platinum jubilee. With the coronation of King Charles III, coins depicting the new monarch have created an entirely new collecting market.
The Royal Australian Mint also releases collectible coins that are legal tender, such as the 1980-1994 gold two-hundred-dollar coin series. These coins are made from various metals, including aluminium bronze, silver, gold, and bi-metal. Nugget coins, denominated in dollars or by their weight value, are issued in troy ounces, fractions, or kilograms and are made of gold or platinum.
In addition to the six commonly used coins, Australia has also minted coins in other denominations, such as the 2-cent and 1-cent coins, which were traditionally called "copper" coins due to their copper and zinc composition. However, these coins are no longer in circulation.
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$29.99

1 cent is equal to 0.01 Australian dollars
It's important to clarify that we are talking about Australian cents and dollars, as other currencies also use these denominations. Australia has six coins in common use: 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1, and $2.
In this context, 1 cent is indeed equal to 0.01 Australian dollars. To put it another way, 100 cents make up 1 Australian dollar.
This is a straightforward conversion, but it's worth noting that exchange rates can make things more complicated when dealing with international currencies. For example, the US dollar is worth more than the Australian dollar, with 1 USD equalling 1.53 AUD.
Additionally, cryptocurrencies further complicate exchange rates. For instance, 1 CENTER COIN (CENT) is worth far less than 1 Australian cent, with 1 CENT equalling approximately 0.0013 AUD.
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Frequently asked questions
There are five 20 cent coins to a dollar in Australia.
The 20 cent Australian coin is made of copper and nickel.
1kg of 20 cent coins is worth $17.70.
The Australian 20 cent coin is worth $0.14 in US dollars.
The front of the 20 cent coin features a duck-billed platypus, and the back features Queen Elizabeth II.











































