How did Canberra's money originate?

Answer 1

Canberra's money originated at the same time as the rest of the country. Prior to 1910, Australia, and the Colonies, had been using mostly British currency.

The Commonwealth Coinage Act of 1908 allowed for Australian denominations similar to the British Imperial coins. The Crown was only ever minted in 1937 and 1938, and the Farthing and Halfcrown and the more bizarre fractional denominations were never minted in Australia.

The first coins arrived from the Royal Mint London in 1910. These included the Threepence, Sixpence, Shilling and Florin. In 1911, more coins arrived including the Penny and Halfpenny as well as more silver coins.

Until 1916, Australia's coins were mostly minted at the Royal Mint in London, but many were minted at the Heaton Mint in Birmingham, and the Bombay and Calcutta Mints in India.

From 1916, the majority of Australia's coinage was minted at the Melbourne and Sydney Mints, although coins were minted periodically at various foreign mints, usually when demand exceeded minting capacity and during the War years.

Printing of Australian Banknotes commenced in 1913.

The Royal Australian Mint Canberra was opened in time to make the major contribution to the introduction of decimal currency in Australia. The RAM Canberra effectively replaced the Royal Australian Mint Melbourne, which closed in 1967.

Since 1982, all of Australia's general circulation coinage is produced exclusively at the Royal Australian Mint Canberra, and all banknotes are produced at Note Printing Australia in Melbourne. Both the RAM Canberra and NPA produce currency for a surprising number and range of foreign countries.