1993 Landcare $1 Coin
The 1993 Landcare $1 is a circulating $1 coin with 18.2 million made. Value band: face value. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 1993
- Circulation mintage
- 18,200,000
- 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 1993 Landcare $1 worth?
18.2 million were made, so the 1993 Landcare $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 1993 Landcare $1 rare?
- No. 18.2 million were made, so circulated examples are worth face value.
- How many 1993 Landcare $1 coins were made?
- 18,200,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the 1993 Landcare $1 made of?
- Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel). It weighs 9 g and measures 25 mm.
- Is the 1993 Landcare $1 still legal tender?
- Yes. Every $1 coin, commemoratives included, is legal tender in Australia.
Why the 1993 Landcare $1 was made
Landcare began in Victoria in 1986 as a partnership between farmers and conservationists to tackle problems like soil erosion, salinity and the loss of native vegetation. Local groups of landholders and volunteers worked together to repair the land. The idea spread quickly. By the early 1990s Landcare had become a national movement with thousands of groups. The federal government had backed it with a Decade of Landcare program. Today there are Landcare groups in towns and districts right across the country.
In 1993 the Royal Australian Mint released a commemorative $1 to raise awareness of Landcare Australia's work. The circulation mintage was 18,200,000. It is one of the few Australian circulating coins dedicated to environmental care, which gives it a special appeal for people interested in conservation or farming. The coin came during a quiet patch for commemorative dollars, five years after the bicentenary issue and three years before the next one. That makes it stand out in a run of commemoratives. Many collectors remember finding it in change as children during the 1990s.
How to recognize it
Vladimir Gottwald designed the reverse, which incorporates the Landcare Australia logo. Flowing lines in the design suggest a tree and the movement of water across the land, reflecting the movement's focus on soil, water and plants. The obverse carries Raphael Maklouf's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with 1993 in the legend. Specifications are standard for the $1: 25 mm, 9 g of aluminum bronze with an interrupted milled edge. The Landcare logo is the key feature. If your 1993 dollar shows five kangaroos instead, it is the regular design. The design is more abstract than most Australian dollars of the period, which can make it hard to read on a worn coin. Tilt it under a light and the outlines of the logo and the flowing lines become clearer.
1993 Landcare $1 by the numbers
In mintage terms the 1993 Landcare $1 ranks 16th lowest of 27 circulating $1 coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the 2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 (17.2 million); the next more common is the 2007 APEC Australia $1 (20.1 million).
For scale, the most common is the 2002 Year of the Outback $1 with 35.4 million, about 1.9 times as many. The scarcest is the 2016 50 Years of Decimal Currency $1 with 560,000, 33 times fewer than this one.
It was the only circulating commemorative $1 coin dated 1993.
What to check on your 1993 Landcare $1
- Confirm the design and date: Landcare dated 1993.
- 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 18.2 million, this is a common coin and circulated examples are face value. The flowing lines of the design wear smoothly, so look for coins with clear separation between the lines and bright golden color. Uncirculated examples from the 1993 mint set can carry a small premium. Handle any keeper by the edges, since fingerprints on aluminum bronze can etch into the surface over time. Coins that have darkened unevenly or show green spots have been stored badly and should be left as they are rather than cleaned. A plain cardboard flip or a plastic holder is the best home for a keeper. For a conservation themed collection, this dollar is an obvious centerpiece.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 1 dollar |
| Issuer | Royal Australian Mint |
| Year | 1993 |
| Circulation mintage | 18,200,000 |
| Composition | Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel) |
| Weight | 9 g |
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Interrupted milling |
Frequently asked questions
What is Landcare and why is it on a $1 coin?
Landcare is a community movement that began in Victoria in 1986 to repair farmland and the environment. The 1993 $1 helped raise awareness of its work and carries the Landcare Australia logo. Thousands of local groups now take part.
Is the 1993 Landcare dollar rare?
No. 18,200,000 were released into circulation, so it is common and worth face value in circulated condition. Uncirculated examples with bright color can carry a small premium. It is a good coin for anyone interested in farming or conservation.
Mintage figures: Australian one-dollar coin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Australian Mint figures. How we build these pages.