
The Australian one-dollar bill was introduced in 1966 and was in circulation until 1984 when it was replaced by a gold-coloured one-dollar coin. The bill featured a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II wearing Garter robes on the front and symbols from Aboriginal culture on the back. Although no longer in circulation, the one-dollar bill remains a popular collector's item.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Introduction | 1966 |
| Replacement | 1984 |
| Designer | Gordon Andrews |
| Obverse | Queen Elizabeth II wearing Garter robes |
| Obverse image credit | Douglas Glass |
| Reverse | Australian coat of arms |
| Country identification | "Commonwealth of Australia" (1966-1974); "Australia" (1974-1984) |
| Number printed | ~1.7 billion |
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What You'll Learn
- The $1 note was replaced by a gold-coloured $1 coin in 1984
- The note features Queen Elizabeth II and the Australian coat of arms
- The coin was designed by Stuart Devlin and features five kangaroos
- The note is popular with collectors despite being replaced decades ago
- The coin commemorates the International Year of Peace

The $1 note was replaced by a gold-coloured $1 coin in 1984
The Australian $1 note was replaced by a gold-coloured $1 coin in 1984. The coin was first introduced on 14 May 1984. Planning for a $1 coin began as early as the mid-1970s, as it was recognised that Australia needed a higher-value coin that could be used in coin-operated machines. The $1 note had a short service life due to its high use. The reverse of the new coin was designed by Mr Stuart Devlin, who created a five kangaroos design chosen from several submissions. Commemorative designs have since been released using this denomination.
The $1 coin is legal tender for amounts not exceeding ten times the face value of the coin for any payment of a debt. Although the $1 note is no longer printed, it is still considered legal tender. All Australian notes are now made of polymer. The first polymer series of Australian banknotes was issued between 1992 and 1996, making Australia the first country to print its banknotes on polymer substrate instead of paper.
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The note features Queen Elizabeth II and the Australian coat of arms
The Australian one-dollar note was introduced in 1966 due to decimalisation, replacing the 10-shilling note. The note was in circulation from its introduction in 1966 until 1984, when it was replaced by a gold-coloured one-dollar coin. During its time, the note featured Queen Elizabeth II wearing Garter robes on the front, with the Australian coat of arms. This portrait of the Queen was based on a photograph taken by Douglas Glass.
The Australian one-dollar note is no longer printed, but it is still considered legal tender. The note is still popular with collectors, with many people keeping them because of the design, which features the Queen on the front and symbols from Aboriginal culture on the back. The one-dollar note was designed by Gordon Andrews, with his design being accepted in April 1964.
The replacement of the note with a coin was due to the longer service life and cost-effectiveness of coins. The coin was also more practical for use in coin-operated machines. Planning for the one-dollar coin began as early as the mid-1970s, with Mr Stuart Devlin designing the reverse of the new coin. The five kangaroos design was chosen from submissions received from the designer.
Today, all Australian notes are made of polymer, with the first plastic notes being introduced in 1988 to commemorate the bicentenary of European settlement in Australia. These notes featured a transparent "window" with a diffractive optically variable device (DOVD) image of Captain James Cook as a security feature.
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The coin was designed by Stuart Devlin and features five kangaroos
The Australian one-dollar bill was replaced by a one-dollar coin in 1984. The coin was designed by Stuart Devlin, who was commissioned to design the reverse of the coin. Devlin's design features a mob of five kangaroos, chosen from several submissions. The coin also features four different portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse, which have been updated over the years. The first portrait, from 1984, was designed by Arnold Machin, and the most recent, released in 2019, was designed by Jody Clark.
The five kangaroos on the one-dollar coin have become an iconic symbol of Australian numismatics, with the kangaroo's first appearance on money dating back to 1795 in England. The durable coin has been in circulation for almost 40 years, and examples can still be found in change today. The design has also been used for commemorative issues, such as the Centenary of ANZAC 2014-2018 and the International Year of Older Persons.
The introduction of the one-dollar coin was first planned in the mid-1970s, as Australia needed a higher-value coin that could be used in coin-operated machines and would have a longer service life than the one-dollar note. The coin was first issued on May 14, 1984, with 186.3 million coins produced at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra in the first year.
The one-dollar coin is the second most valuable circulation denomination in Australia, after the two-dollar coin. It is also worth noting that all previous notes of the Australian dollar are still considered legal tender, even if they are no longer printed or minted.
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The note is popular with collectors despite being replaced decades ago
The Australian one-dollar note was introduced in 1966 to replace the 10-shilling note. It featured a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II wearing Garter robes on the front and the Australian coat of arms on the back, alongside symbols from Aboriginal culture. The note was designed by Gordon Andrews and accepted in April 1964.
The one-dollar note was replaced by a gold-coloured coin in 1984, due to the longer service life and cost-effectiveness of coins. The coin was designed by Stuart Devlin and features five kangaroos on its reverse. Despite this replacement almost four decades ago, the one-dollar note remains popular with collectors.
Demand for the note increased when production of the one-dollar coin began, with many Australians setting them aside for their children, so they could see the currency used before coin-operated machines became widespread. The notes are also popular due to their novelty as paper currency, with Australian notes being printed on polymer since 1988.
The one-dollar note is also notable for being one of the lowest-denomination notes in Australia, and for its high print volume of approximately 1.7 billion notes during its circulation.
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The coin commemorates the International Year of Peace
Australia has never had a one-dollar bill. However, the one-dollar coin, first issued in 1984, commemorates the International Year of Peace. The reverse side of the coin features an olive branch and a dove, which are traditional symbols of peace. The design was created by Stuart Devlin, a renowned gold and silversmith. Devlin was also responsible for designing the reverse sides of the other Australian decimal coins that were introduced in 1966.
The International Year of Peace was observed in 1986 and was declared by the United Nations. The theme of the year was "Peace by peaceful means," and it focused on promoting peace through diplomacy, negotiations, and agreements rather than through the use of force. The year saw a range of events and initiatives organized by the UN, including a 24-hour global ceasefire and the creation of a peace medal.
The Australian one-dollar coin is made of aluminium bronze and has a diameter of 25mm. It features a reeded edge and a dodecagonal shape, which is a unique feature of Australian circulation coins. The obverse side of the coin depicts Queen Elizabeth II, who has appeared on Australian currency since 1952. The specific portrait of the Queen used on the one-dollar coin was designed by Arnold Machin and was first introduced in 1985.
The one-dollar coin is the highest-value coin in Australia and is often used in vending machines and parking meters. It is a common coin in circulation and is used in everyday transactions. The coin has become a symbol of Australian currency and is recognized for its unique shape and design, which commemorates the important message of peace promoted during the International Year of Peace.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Australian $1 bills were replaced by $1 coins in 1984.
The Australian $1 bill features Queen Elizabeth II wearing Garter robes on the front with the Australian coat of arms. The back of the bill features symbols from Aboriginal culture.
Although no longer in circulation, Australian $1 bills are popular with collectors.








































