2011 CHOGM Perth $1 Coin
The 2011 CHOGM Perth $1 is a circulating $1 coin with 9.4 million made. Value band: face value. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 2011
- Circulation mintage
- 9,400,000
- 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 2011 CHOGM Perth $1 worth?
9.4 million were made, so the 2011 CHOGM Perth $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 2011 CHOGM Perth $1 rare?
- No. 9.4 million were made, so circulated examples are worth face value.
- How many 2011 CHOGM Perth $1 coins were made?
- 9,400,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the 2011 CHOGM Perth $1 made of?
- Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel). It weighs 9 g and measures 25 mm.
- Is the 2011 CHOGM Perth $1 still legal tender?
- Yes. Every $1 coin, commemoratives included, is legal tender in Australia.
Why the 2011 CHOGM Perth $1 was made
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, known as CHOGM, brings together leaders of Commonwealth countries every two years. In October 2011 Australia hosted the meeting in Perth, the first time Western Australia had held it. Queen Elizabeth II, as Head of the Commonwealth, opened the meeting during what turned out to be her final visit to Australia. Leaders discussed issues ranging from reform of the Commonwealth to changes in the rules of royal succession. The Commonwealth today includes more than 50 countries, most with historical links to Britain.
The Royal Australian Mint marked the meeting with a commemorative $1. Its circulation mintage was 9,400,000, lower than most earlier commemorative dollars. The coin was released into general circulation and also sold to collectors. Because the meeting was held in Perth, the coin has a particular following in Western Australia. It also has a link to the end of an era: as a record of the Queen's last Australian tour, it carries more meaning today than it did at the time of release. The coin was the last commemorative dollar before the ANZAC centenary series began in 2014, closing a long run of commemoratives on the $1.
How to recognize it
The reverse is built around the emblem of CHOGM 2011, with lettering that names the meeting and Perth. The obverse carries Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with 2011 in the legend. Size and metal are unchanged from the everyday dollar: 25 mm, 9 g, aluminum bronze, with an interrupted milled edge. The CHOGM lettering is the quickest way to identify it, so read the legend if the central design is worn. If your 2011 dollar shows five kangaroos, it is the regular design. This coin is the only commemorative dollar devoted to a Commonwealth meeting. The design is clean and modern, with plenty of open field around the central emblem. That open space makes scratches easy to see.
2011 CHOGM Perth $1 by the numbers
Measured by how many were made, the 2011 CHOGM Perth $1 ranks 10th lowest of 27 circulating $1 coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the 2001 International Year of Volunteers $1 (6 million); the next more common is the 2003 Women's Suffrage $1 (10 million).
For scale, the most common is the 2002 Year of the Outback $1 with 35.4 million, about 3.8 times as many. The scarcest is the 2016 50 Years of Decimal Currency $1 with 560,000, 17 times fewer than this one.
It was the only circulating commemorative $1 coin dated 2011.
What to check on your 2011 CHOGM Perth $1
- Confirm the design and date: CHOGM Perth dated 2011.
- 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 9.4 million, this is one of the lower mintage commemorative dollars before the ANZAC centenary. Circulated examples are face value, though clean coins can bring a small premium. Uncirculated examples from Mint rolls are the best preserved. Look for even color and sharp lettering around the rim. The coin's link to the Queen's last visit to Australia gives it extra appeal for collectors of royal themes. Coins in change are often darkened by handling, which hides fine detail. Look for an example with bright color and smooth, unmarked fields. It is a sensible coin to keep in a matched set with other commemorative dollars of the 2000s.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 1 dollar |
| Issuer | Royal Australian Mint |
| Year | 2011 |
| Circulation mintage | 9,400,000 |
| Composition | Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel) |
| Weight | 9 g |
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Interrupted milling |
Frequently asked questions
What does CHOGM on the 2011 $1 mean?
CHOGM stands for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Australia hosted the meeting in Perth in October 2011. The Queen opened it during her last visit to Australia. The meeting brought Commonwealth leaders together to discuss shared issues.
How many 2011 CHOGM dollar coins were made?
The circulation mintage was 9,400,000. That's lower than most earlier commemorative dollars, but the coin is still common. Coins that have been in circulation are face value. Uncirculated examples can carry a small premium from collectors.
Mintage figures: Australian one-dollar coin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Australian Mint figures. How we build these pages.