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Australia Holey Dollar

2003 Proof One Dollar

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The first official currency of New South Wales began in 1813 when Governor Lachlan Macquarie ordered a hole be punched through 40,000 Spanish dollars. The holey dollar was given a value of five shillings while the punched 'dump' was worth one shilling and three pence. (Cassie Crofts, 2016) 190 years since this significant moment in Australian numismatic history has been commemorated by the Royal Australian mint with the release of this One Dollar piece. The reverse features the design found on the holey dollar and dump both surrounded by the legend "HOLEY DOLLAR AND DUMP - 1813 - Colony of New South Wales." The obverse features the obverse of the holey dollar and dump with a small Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth the second at the top and the legend "ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2003," "ONE DOLLAR."

The piece was released as part of the subscription dollar series which ran yearly between 1996 and 2011 with the exception of 2001. The subscription series was distinct from others as each issue was made to order. This meant that the total mintage was limited to the number of orders that had been made in advance of mintage. The series commemorated Australian numismatic history with a number of significant designs being re-struck as well as coins celebrating milestones such as a century of Australian coinage.