Australian Coins and Notes
Learn about Australian money — what each coin and note looks like, how much they are worth, and how to count them!
Australian Coins
Australia has 6 different coins. Each coin is a different size and colour. Let's learn about each one!
5 cents
Small & silver. Has an echidna on it.
10 cents
Medium & silver. Has a lyrebird on it.
20 cents
Large & silver. Has a platypus on it.
50 cents
Big 12-sided shape! Has the coat of arms.
1 dollar
Gold & medium. Has kangaroos on it.
2 dollars
Small & dark gold. Has an Aboriginal elder.
Fun Fact: The $2 coin is the smallest Australian coin, but it is worth the most of all the coins! Size does not always tell you the value.
Australian Notes
Australia has 5 different notes (paper money). Each note is a different colour to help you tell them apart.
Five Dollars
Pink/purple colour. Features Queen Elizabeth II and Parliament House.
Ten Dollars
Blue colour. Features Banjo Paterson and Dame Mary Gilmore.
Twenty Dollars
Red/orange colour. Features Mary Reibey and Reverend John Flynn.
Fifty Dollars
Yellow colour. Features David Unaipon and Edith Cowan.
One Hundred Dollars
Green colour. Features Dame Nellie Melba and Sir John Monash.
Counting Money
To count money, start with the biggest coins first, then add the smaller ones. Let's try!
Example: How much money is here?
Step 1: Start with the biggest: $1.00
Step 2: Add 50c: $1.00 + $0.50 = $1.50
Step 3: Add 20c: $1.50 + $0.20 = $1.70
Step 4: Add 5c: $1.70 + $0.05 = $1.75
Total = $1.75
Making Change
When you pay for something, you might get change back. Change is the money left over after you pay.
Example: You buy an ice cream for $3 and pay with a $5 note
You pay: $5.00
Ice cream costs: $3.00
Change = $5.00 - $3.00 = $2.00
You get $2.00 change!
Key Vocabulary
Coin
A small, round piece of metal used as money. Australia has 6 coins.
Note
Paper (plastic) money. Australian notes are made of special polymer plastic.
Change
The money you get back when you pay more than the price of something.
Value
How much something is worth. A $2 coin has more value than a 50c coin.
Worked Examples
Count these coins: $2, $1, 20c, 10c
Step 1: Start big: $2.00
Step 2: Add $1: $2.00 + $1.00 = $3.00
Step 3: Add 20c: $3.00 + $0.20 = $3.20
Answer: $3.20 + $0.10 = $3.30
A toy costs $4.50. You pay with a $5 note. How much change?
Step 1: You paid $5.00
Step 2: The toy costs $4.50
Answer: $5.00 - $4.50 = $0.50 (50 cents change)
Which coins make exactly $1?
Way 1: One $1 coin
Way 2: Two 50c coins (50c + 50c = $1.00)
Way 3: Five 20c coins (20c + 20c + 20c + 20c + 20c = $1.00)
Way 4: 50c + 20c + 20c + 10c = $1.00
Knowledge Check
Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.
Question 1
How much is a $2 coin and a $1 coin together?
Question 2
Which Australian note is blue?
Question 3
You buy a drink for $2.50 and pay with a $5 note. How much change do you get?
Question 4
How many 50 cent coins do you need to make $2.00?
Question 5
You have a $1 coin, a 20c coin, and a 5c coin. How much money do you have?
Key Concepts Summary
- ●Australia has 6 coins: 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, and $2.
- ●Australia has 5 notes: $5 (pink), $10 (blue), $20 (red), $50 (yellow), $100 (green).
- ●Count money by starting with the biggest coins or notes first.
- ●Change = what you paid minus the price.
- ●The same amount of money can be made with different combinations of coins.