The mob of roos
The dollar coin replaced the one-dollar note in 1984. It's gold-colored aluminum bronze, 25 mm across, with five kangaroos bounding across the reverse, a design collectors call the mob of roos. Regular kangaroo dollars were made in vast numbers and are face value. So if your dollar shows anything other than kangaroos, check the date against the commemoratives below.
Every commemorative $1 coin
The lowest mintage dollars
These are the circulating dollars with the smallest mintages, plus the scarcest of the older issues.
- 2016 50 Years of Decimal Currency: 560,000
- 2015 Centenary of ANZAC: 1,400,000
- 2019 Dollar Discovery U and S: 1,512,000 each, with A at 1,513,000
- 2017 Centenary of ANZAC: 1,900,000
- 2018 Centenary of ANZAC: 2,000,000; 2020 Qantas Centenary: 604,000
- 2016 Centenary of ANZAC: 2,190,000
- 2003 Australia's Volunteers: 4,100,000, the scarcest of the older dollars
The ANZAC centenary dollars, 2014 to 2018
From 2014 to 2018 the Royal Australian Mint issued a Centenary of ANZAC dollar every year. The first was struck in quantity, 21,900,000, but the next four were small runs. The 2015 is the scarcest at 1,400,000, then 2017 at 1,900,000, 2018 at 2,000,000 and 2016 at 2,190,000.
A full set of five from change takes patience. Check the date on every ANZAC dollar you find, because the 2014 is common and the rest are not.
The Donation Dollar
Launched in 2020, the Donation Dollar was billed by the Mint as the world's first one-dollar coin designed to be donated. The idea is simple: when you find one, give it to a charity instead of spending it. The 2020 issue had 12,500,000 made and the 2021 issue 5,000,000. Both are legal tender like any other dollar and neither is scarce.
Commemoratives since 1986
The first commemorative dollar marked the 1986 International Year of Peace. Since then the coin has honored people, causes and events from every part of the country.
- 1988 Bicentenary, 1993 Landcare and 1996 Sir Henry Parkes
- 1997 Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and 1999 International Year of Older Persons
- 2001 Centenary of Federation (27,900,000) and International Year of Volunteers (6,000,000)
- 2002 Year of the Outback, the most common at 35,400,000
- 2003 Women's Suffrage and Australia's Volunteers
- 2005 End of World War II, 2007 APEC and 2008 Centenary of Scouting
- 2009 Age Pension, 2010 Girl Guiding and the 2011 CHOGM in Perth (9,400,000)
- 2019 Dollar Discovery, 2020 Qantas and the Bluey coins of 2024 and 2025
Checking your dollar
Dollars under about 2.2 million deserve a place in your collection. In circulated condition they trade at face value or a small premium. The 2016 decimal anniversary dollar is the one most likely to bring a collector premium, especially in sharp condition.
One famous error is worth knowing. Some 2000 kangaroo dollars were struck with the portrait die of the 10c coin, which is smaller, so a second rim shows inside the usual one on the Queen's side. A genuine one is a significant rarity, so have it checked before you do anything else with it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the rarest Australian $1 coin?
Among circulating dollars, the 2016 50 Years of Decimal Currency coin with 560,000 made.
Which ANZAC dollar is rare?
The 2015, with 1,400,000 made. The 2016, 2017 and 2018 coins are also low; only the 2014 is common.
What is a Donation Dollar?
A dollar issued in 2020 and 2021 to encourage people to give it to charity. It's legal tender and was made in large numbers.
What is the 2000 dollar mule?
A kangaroo dollar struck with the portrait die of a 10c coin, which leaves a double rim on the Queen's side. Ordinary kangaroo dollars dated 2000 are common.
Are Bluey $1 coins rare?
Mintages haven't been published, so it's too early to say. There are three designs dated 2024 and two colored designs dated 2025.
Mintage figures from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Mint, Royal Canadian Mint and Royal Australian Mint figures. Sources.