2009 Age Pension Centenary $1 Coin
The 2009 Age Pension Centenary $1 is a circulating $1 coin with 21.3 million made. Value band: face value. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 2009
- Circulation mintage
- 21,300,000
- 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 2009 Age Pension Centenary $1 worth?
21.3 million were made, so the 2009 Age Pension Centenary $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 2009 Age Pension Centenary $1 rare?
- No. 21.3 million were made, so circulated examples are worth face value.
- How many 2009 Age Pension Centenary $1 coins were made?
- 21,300,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the 2009 Age Pension Centenary $1 made of?
- Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel). It weighs 9 g and measures 25 mm.
- Is the 2009 Age Pension Centenary $1 still legal tender?
- Yes. Every $1 coin, commemoratives included, is legal tender in Australia.
Why the 2009 Age Pension Centenary $1 was made
Australia's federal age pension began on 1 July 1909, following legislation passed by the Commonwealth Parliament in 1908. Before then, older people relied on family, charity or colonial schemes that varied from state to state. The national pension gave older Australians a measure of security and became one of the foundations of the country's social welfare system. In 2009 the Royal Australian Mint marked 100 years of the age pension with a commemorative $1. In the early years the pension was modest and subject to strict conditions, but it established the principle that older Australians were entitled to support from the nation.
The coin entered circulation in 2009, the centenary year of the first pension payments. The circulation mintage was 21,300,000. Its design celebrates family and the links between generations, an approach that made the coin feel personal rather than bureaucratic. It is still common in change and a nice coin to explain how the pension came about. With so many struck, it spread quickly through tills across the country. The pension itself has been paid ever since 1909, though its rules and rates have changed many times. Its design gives faces to the idea of support across generations, which is what the pension was meant to provide.
How to recognize it
Wojciech Pietranik of the Royal Australian Mint created the reverse. It shows a multi-generational family group, with older people, adults and children standing together like a family photograph. Lettering marks the centenary of the age pension. The obverse carries Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with 2009 in the legend. Like the regular dollar, it is 25 mm across and 9 g, in aluminum bronze with milled sections on the edge. The group of figures is the identifying feature. No other commemorative dollar shows a family portrait like this one, so it's easy to recognize even when the faces have worn away. The figures range from small children to grandparents, arranged so the group reads clearly even at a glance.
2009 Age Pension Centenary $1 by the numbers
In mintage terms the 2009 Age Pension Centenary $1 ranks 18th lowest of 27 circulating $1 coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the 2007 APEC Australia $1 (20.1 million); the next more common is the 1988 Australian Bicentenary $1 (21.6 million).
For scale, the most common is the 2002 Year of the Outback $1 with 35.4 million, about 1.7 times as many. The scarcest is the 2016 50 Years of Decimal Currency $1 with 560,000, 38 times fewer than this one.
It was the only circulating commemorative $1 coin dated 2009.
What to check on your 2009 Age Pension Centenary $1
- Confirm the design and date: Age Pension Centenary dated 2009.
- 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 21.3 million, this is a common coin and circulated examples are face value. The figures are small and their faces wear quickly, so look for coins with clear outlines and sharp detail. Unworn coins can carry a small premium. Coins that have been in circulation for a long time often darken unevenly. Don't clean them, as cleaning leaves scratches and removes any collector appeal. A simple flip will keep a good coin safe. Most coins in change are worn, so set aside any that still look bright and sharp.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 1 dollar |
| Issuer | Royal Australian Mint |
| Year | 2009 |
| Circulation mintage | 21,300,000 |
| Composition | Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel) |
| Weight | 9 g |
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Interrupted milling |
Frequently asked questions
What does the 2009 $1 with the family commemorate?
It marks 100 years of the Australian age pension, which began on 1 July 1909. The reverse shows a family group spanning several generations, designed by Wojciech Pietranik. The coin entered circulation in 2009.
How many 2009 Age Pension dollar coins were made?
In all, 21,300,000 were struck for circulation. So it's a common coin and a worn one is worth face value. Uncirculated examples with sharp figures can carry a small premium. Coins found in change are usually worn.
Mintage figures: Australian one-dollar coin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Australian Mint figures. How we build these pages.