Get to know the currency

Australian money is colorful and plastic, and the size of the notes – $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 – grows in proportion to the value. Furthermore, everything is rounded to the closest five cents - no pennies here – therefore the lowest change available is five cents.

The Australian mint frequently makes legal tender 'limited edition' coins and banknotes, such as the uncommon $5 coin. This means that a coin for $5 in retail might be worth much more to investors as a collector's item owing to the coin's scarcity. It may seem strange, but people may spend $1000 for a note or coin with a legal worth significantly less with the intention of later earning more than the $1000 they spent. The 50 cent coin (which used to be round) was originally made with 80 percent silver, but as the value of silver increased, the coins' bullion value became more valuable than their face value of 50 cents, and they were removed from circulation in 1969 and replaced with the 12 sided coin we use today.