1997 Kingsford Smith $1 Coin
The 1997 Kingsford Smith $1 is a circulating $1 coin with 24.4 million made. Value band: face value. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 1997
- Circulation mintage
- 24,400,000
- Value band
- Face value
- Composition
- Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel)
Original illustration of the coin's shape and metal. Tap to flip. Not a picture of the actual design.
Face value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is a 1997 Kingsford Smith $1 worth?
24.4 million were made, so the 1997 Kingsford Smith $1 is easy to find. A circulated one is worth face value; collectors pay a little more only for uncirculated coins.
What would make yours worth more:
- Uncirculated condition
- An original mint roll, card or set
- A genuine mint error
For market prices, look at recent sold results for the same coin in the same condition, not asking prices.
Quick answers
- Is the 1997 Kingsford Smith $1 rare?
- No. 24.4 million were made, so circulated examples are worth face value.
- How many 1997 Kingsford Smith $1 coins were made?
- 24,400,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the 1997 Kingsford Smith $1 made of?
- Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel). It weighs 9 g and measures 25 mm.
- Is the 1997 Kingsford Smith $1 still legal tender?
- Yes. Every $1 coin, commemoratives included, is legal tender in Australia.
Why the 1997 Kingsford Smith $1 was made
Charles Kingsford Smith was born in Brisbane on 9 February 1897 and became one of the most famous aviators of his time. In 1928 he and his crew made the first flight across the Pacific Ocean, from California to Brisbane, in a three-engine aircraft named the Southern Cross. He went on to set more records over the following years, including long-distance flights between Australia and England. He disappeared in 1935 while flying over the Andaman Sea. His aircraft was never fully recovered. His co-pilot on the Pacific flight was Charles Ulm.
In 1997 the Royal Australian Mint marked the centenary of his birth with a commemorative $1. The circulation mintage was 24,400,000. Kingsford Smith was already a familiar face to Australians, who had seen him on the $20 note introduced in 1966, so the coin felt like a natural tribute. It remains one of the more popular commemorative dollars of the 1990s, especially with people interested in aviation history. The coin is common in change, but many people still enjoy finding it. The Pacific crossing, with stops in Hawaii and Fiji, remains one of the great moments in Australian aviation.
How to recognize it
Wojciech Pietranik was responsible for the reverse. It shows a portrait of Kingsford Smith together with an image of his aircraft, the Southern Cross. The plane and the portrait make the coin easy to identify even when it's worn. On the obverse is Raphael Maklouf's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with 1997 in the legend. The coin follows standard $1 specifications: 25 mm, 9 g of aluminum bronze with an interrupted milled edge. Look for the aircraft's three engines and wide wings if the portrait has worn smooth. The lettering on the reverse names Kingsford Smith, so even a coin with a worn portrait can be confirmed by reading the legend. The aircraft sits beside the portrait, giving the design a strong sense of movement.
1997 Kingsford Smith $1 by the numbers
In mintage terms the 1997 Kingsford Smith $1 ranks 21st lowest of 27 circulating $1 coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the 2014 Centenary of ANZAC $1 (21.9 million); the next more common is the 1986 International Year of Peace $1 (25.2 million).
For scale, the most common is the 2002 Year of the Outback $1 with 35.4 million, about 1.5 times as many. The scarcest is the 2016 50 Years of Decimal Currency $1 with 560,000, 44 times fewer than this one.
It was the only circulating commemorative $1 coin dated 1997.
What to check on your 1997 Kingsford Smith $1
- Confirm the design and date: Kingsford Smith dated 1997.
- Check the shape and size: the $1 is round, 25 mm across, gold-colored and weighs 9 g.
- Look at the surfaces under a light. Coins from mint rolls or sets have unbroken luster; change-worn coins show scuffs on the high points.
- Never clean it. Polishing leaves fine scratches and an unnatural shine that collectors avoid.
At 24.4 million, this is a common coin and circulated examples are face value. Collectors look for sharp detail in the aircraft and the aviator's face, along with bright original color. Those can carry a small premium. Uncirculated coins from the 1997 mint set are the best preserved. This dollar is a favorite for people building a small collection around flight, since it pairs with the 2020 Qantas centenary dollar. A coin that has been carried in a pocket for years will usually show a dark, uneven color and soft detail on the aircraft. Avoid those for a collection. Instead look for a coin with clean fields and a sharp profile. Keep it in a flip to protect the surface.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 1 dollar |
| Issuer | Royal Australian Mint |
| Year | 1997 |
| Circulation mintage | 24,400,000 |
| Composition | Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel) |
| Weight | 9 g |
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Interrupted milling |
Frequently asked questions
Who is on the 1997 Australian $1 coin?
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, the aviator who made the first flight across the Pacific in 1928. The coin marked 100 years since his birth in Brisbane in 1897 and also shows his plane, the Southern Cross.
How many 1997 Kingsford Smith dollar coins were made?
In total 24,400,000 were released into circulation. That makes it a common coin, worth face value in circulated condition. Uncirculated examples can bring a small premium. Most are found worn in change.
Mintage figures: Australian one-dollar coin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Australian Mint figures. How we build these pages.