2005 End of World War II 60th $1 Coin
The 2005 End of World War II 60th $1 is a circulating $1 coin with 34.2 million made. Value band: face value. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 2005
- Circulation mintage
- 34,200,000
- 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 2005 End of World War II 60th $1 worth?
34.2 million were made, so the 2005 End of World War II 60th $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 2005 End of World War II 60th $1 rare?
- No. 34.2 million were made, so circulated examples are worth face value.
- How many 2005 End of World War II 60th $1 coins were made?
- 34,200,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the 2005 End of World War II 60th $1 made of?
- Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel). It weighs 9 g and measures 25 mm.
- Is the 2005 End of World War II 60th $1 still legal tender?
- Yes. Every $1 coin, commemoratives included, is legal tender in Australia.
Why the 2005 End of World War II 60th $1 was made
When news of Japan's surrender reached Australia on 15 August 1945, crowds poured into the streets of every city. In Sydney a newsreel camera caught a young man in a suit and hat dancing joyfully along a city street, arms flung wide. The footage became one of the most famous images of the end of the war in Australia. Several men later claimed to be the dancer. His identity has been debated for decades. That uncertainty has only added to the image's appeal.
Sixty years later, in 2005, the Royal Australian Mint chose this moment of joy for its commemorative $1, while the matching 50c showed a solemn burial scene. The pairing captured two sides of the war's end: relief and celebration alongside grief for the dead. The dollar's circulation mintage was 34,200,000, one of the largest for any commemorative dollar. Its popularity was immediate because the Dancing Man was already so well known. It quickly became a favorite and many families kept one as a reminder of relatives who served.
How to recognize it
Wojciech Pietranik designed the reverse, inspired by the newsreel image. It shows the Dancing Man in mid-step with his arms outstretched, just as he appears in the famous footage. Queen Elizabeth II appears on the obverse in the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait, with the date 2005. Specifications are standard for the $1: 25 mm across, 9 g of aluminum bronze with an interrupted milled edge. The dancing figure is unmistakable, so this is one of the easiest commemorative dollars to identify. Don't confuse it with the 2005 50c, which shows a burial scene in a war cemetery on a 12-sided coin. The figure's raised arms and tilted hat are distinctive enough to identify even on a well worn coin.
2005 End of World War II 60th $1 by the numbers
By the numbers, the 2005 End of World War II 60th $1 ranks 26th lowest of 27 circulating $1 coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the 1999 Year of Older Persons $1 (29.3 million); the next more common is the 2002 Year of the Outback $1 (35.4 million).
For scale, the most common is the 2002 Year of the Outback $1 with 35.4 million, about 1 times as many. The scarcest is the 2016 50 Years of Decimal Currency $1 with 560,000, 61 times fewer than this one.
It was the only circulating commemorative $1 coin dated 2005.
What to check on your 2005 End of World War II 60th $1
- Confirm the design and date: End of World War II 60th dated 2005.
- 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 34.2 million, this is one of the most common commemorative dollars and circulated examples are face value. Collectors look for a coin with a sharp dancing figure and clean fields. Uncirculated examples with full golden color can bring a small premium. The figure stands proud of the field and wears quickly, so a coin with crisp hands and hat is a good one. This dollar pairs naturally with the 2005 remembrance 50c in a wartime theme collection. Don't clean a worn coin to brighten it, since polishing leaves fine scratches across the field that collectors spot at once. A soft brush is all a dirty coin needs.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 1 dollar |
| Issuer | Royal Australian Mint |
| Year | 2005 |
| Circulation mintage | 34,200,000 |
| Composition | Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel) |
| Weight | 9 g |
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Interrupted milling |
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Dancing Man on the 2005 $1 coin?
He is the man filmed dancing in a Sydney street on 15 August 1945, when news came that the war had ended. His identity has long been debated, with several men claiming to be the dancer.
Is the 2005 Dancing Man dollar rare?
No. Its circulation mintage was 34,200,000, one of the largest for a commemorative dollar. Worn coins are face value, while bright uncirculated examples can carry a small premium. It is a popular coin to keep for its story.
Mintage figures: Australian one-dollar coin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Australian Mint figures. How we build these pages.