2021 Donation Dollar $1 Coin
The 2021 Donation Dollar $1 is a circulating $1 coin with 12.9 million made. Value band: face value. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 2021
- Circulation mintage
- 12,901,000
- 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 2021 Donation Dollar $1 worth?
12.9 million were made, so the 2021 Donation Dollar $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 2021 Donation Dollar $1 rare?
- No. 12.9 million were made, so circulated examples are worth face value.
- How many 2021 Donation Dollar $1 coins were made?
- 12,901,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the 2021 Donation Dollar $1 made of?
- Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel). It weighs 9 g and measures 25 mm.
- Is the 2021 Donation Dollar $1 still legal tender?
- Yes. Every $1 coin, commemoratives included, is legal tender in Australia.
Why the 2021 Donation Dollar $1 was made
In 2021 the Royal Australian Mint released a second year of Donation Dollars, continuing the program that began in 2020. The coin keeps the same green center and gold ripple, with only the date changing. The idea was unchanged too: anyone who found one in their change was encouraged to give it to a charity, a struggling local business or a person in need.
The 2021 circulation mintage is often given as 5,000,000, but that covers only the first production run. The Mint's annual reports list 4,951,000 coins dated 2021 struck in the year to June 2022 and another 7,950,000 in the year to June 2023, about 12.9 million in all. That puts the 2021 date roughly level with the 12,500,000 of 2020. The coin also highlights an interesting tension in the coin's design: a coin meant to be given away is also one many people now want to keep. Neither choice is wrong. Some collectors keep one of each date and donate any extras, which neatly honors both the coin's purpose and the hobby. For the Mint, the second year showed that the idea of a coin designed for giving had become a recognized part of Australian money.
How to recognize it
The design is the same as the 2020 Donation Dollar: a green center with a gold ripple pattern spreading outward, symbolizing how one donation can ripple through a community. The obverse carries Jody Clark's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with 2021 in the legend. The date is the only way to tell the two years apart. Measure it and you get the familiar 25 mm and 9 g of the $1, in golden aluminum bronze with an interrupted milled edge. Turn your green dollar over and check the year, since collectors who want a pair need one of each date. The ripple rings are raised, so on worn coins the gold rings stay visible even as the green fades.
2021 Donation Dollar $1 by the numbers
Measured by how many were made, the 2021 Donation Dollar $1 ranks 14th lowest of 27 circulating $1 coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the 2010 Centenary of Girl Guiding $1 (12.6 million); the next more common is the 2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 (17.2 million).
For scale, the most common is the 2002 Year of the Outback $1 with 35.4 million, about 2.7 times as many. The scarcest is the 2016 50 Years of Decimal Currency $1 with 560,000, 23 times fewer than this one.
It was the only circulating commemorative $1 coin dated 2021.
What to check on your 2021 Donation Dollar $1
- Confirm the design and date: Donation Dollar dated 2021.
- 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.
Struck in the millions, much like the 2020 date, the 2021 Donation Dollar is a common coin. Circulated examples are generally face value, though a coin with bright, intact color may draw a small premium from collectors. The green wears with use, so color condition is the most important factor. Don't clean or rub the coin, which strips the color. Keep a good example in a holder. If you'd like a full pair, set aside the best 2020 and 2021 coins you find and give the rest away. That keeps your collection small and the coin's spirit intact. Check both sides for scratches before choosing a keeper.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 1 dollar |
| Issuer | Royal Australian Mint |
| Year | 2021 |
| Circulation mintage | 12,901,000 |
| Composition | Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel) |
| Weight | 9 g |
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Interrupted milling |
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Donation Dollar rarer than the 2020 one?
Not really. The 5,000,000 figure often quoted covers only the first run; the Mint's production reports add up to about 12.9 million coins dated 2021, against 12,500,000 for 2020. Both are common and usually worth face value.
Should I donate my Donation Dollar or keep it?
Either is fine. The coin was designed to be given away, but many collectors keep one of each date and donate any extras. If you keep one, choose a coin with bright, intact green color.
Mintage figures: Australian one-dollar coin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Australian Mint figures. How we build these pages.