2001 Centenary of Federation $1 Coin
The 2001 Centenary of Federation $1 is a circulating $1 coin with 27.9 million made. Value band: face value. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 2001
- Circulation mintage
- 27,900,000
- 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 2001 Centenary of Federation $1 worth?
27.9 million were made, so the 2001 Centenary of Federation $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 2001 Centenary of Federation $1 rare?
- No. 27.9 million were made, so circulated examples are worth face value.
- How many 2001 Centenary of Federation $1 coins were made?
- 27,900,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the 2001 Centenary of Federation $1 made of?
- Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel). It weighs 9 g and measures 25 mm.
- Is the 2001 Centenary of Federation $1 still legal tender?
- Yes. Every $1 coin, commemoratives included, is legal tender in Australia.
Why the 2001 Centenary of Federation $1 was made
On 1 January 2001 Australia marked 100 years since Federation, when six colonies united as the Commonwealth of Australia. The Royal Australian Mint ran its biggest commemorative program to that date, with a national 50c, nine state and territory 50c coins, nine student-designed 20c coins and this $1, which used the official logo of the centenary celebrations. Celebrations ran throughout the year, from the anniversary on New Year's Day to events in every state and territory.
The circulation mintage was 27,900,000, enough to make the coin a common sight throughout 2001. The $1 also appeared in each state and territory's three-coin collector set, sitting alongside the regional 20c and 50c, which tied it to every part of the program. For many people this was the dollar that represented the centenary year. A colored version with a blue map and a red star appeared in the 2001 proof set, but the coins in circulation are the normal golden aluminum bronze. The dollar ties the year's coin program together, so it's often the first coin collectors look for when building a Federation collection.
How to recognize it
Wojciech Pietranik designed the reverse, based on the Centenary of Federation logo. It shows a simplified map of Australia with the seven-pointed Federation star beside it. The lettering reads CENTENARY OF FEDERATION with the years 1901 and 2001 and ONE DOLLAR. The Queen's portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley is on the obverse with the date 2001. The coin uses the standard specifications: 25 mm, 9 g of aluminum bronze with an interrupted milled edge. The map and star together are the key features that set this coin apart from the 2001 International Year of Volunteers dollar. The star has seven points, six for the original states and one for the territories.
2001 Centenary of Federation $1 by the numbers
Measured by how many were made, the 2001 Centenary of Federation $1 ranks 24th lowest of 27 circulating $1 coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the 1996 Sir Henry Parkes $1 (26.2 million); the next more common is the 1999 Year of Older Persons $1 (29.3 million).
For scale, the most common is the 2002 Year of the Outback $1 with 35.4 million, about 1.3 times as many. The scarcest is the 2016 50 Years of Decimal Currency $1 with 560,000, 50 times fewer than this one.
2001 brought 1 other circulating $1 coin design: the International Year of Volunteers (6 million). The 2001 Centenary of Federation $1 was the most plentiful of the year.
What to check on your 2001 Centenary of Federation $1
- Confirm the design and date: Centenary of Federation dated 2001.
- 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 27.9 million, this is a common coin and circulated examples are face value. Collectors look for uncirculated examples with full color and crisp detail on the map. Coins like that can bring a small premium. The colored version in the 2001 proof set is a separate collector item. If you find a colored coin in change, it has come from a set or been colored privately, so it's not a circulation variety. The map is a flat area that picks up scratches easily, so check it closely under a light. Many were kept as souvenirs in 2001, which means good examples are not hard to find. Choose a coin with even color and sharp edges on the star.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 1 dollar |
| Issuer | Royal Australian Mint |
| Year | 2001 |
| Circulation mintage | 27,900,000 |
| Composition | Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel) |
| Weight | 9 g |
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Interrupted milling |
Other 2001 $1 coins
| Coin | Circulation mintage | Value band |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 International Year of Volunteers $1 Coin | 6,000,000 | Face value |
Frequently asked questions
What is on the 2001 Centenary of Federation $1?
A simplified map of Australia with the seven-pointed Federation star, based on the official Centenary of Federation logo. Lettering reads CENTENARY OF FEDERATION with the years 1901 and 2001. It was designed by Wojciech Pietranik.
Is the 2001 Federation dollar coin rare?
No. The circulation mintage was 27,900,000, so it is common and worth face value in circulated condition. A colored version was only in the 2001 proof set and is a collector piece. Circulating coins are plain golden aluminum bronze.
Mintage figures: Australian one-dollar coin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Australian Mint figures. How we build these pages.