Honoring the Holey Dollar

The Royal Australian Mint has released a Holey dollar uncirculated commemorative to celebrate 60 years of diplomacy between Australia and Mexico. 

The coin is a tribute to Australia’s early coins: the Holey dollar and Dump. To combat a critical currency shortage in the early 1800s, New South Wales Governor Lachlan Macquarie authorized Spanish silver dollars struck at colonial Mexican mints to become the colony’s first distinctive coins. The center of each coin was removed, and the obverse was overstamped.

The 2026 commemorative is a reproduction of the 1813 Holey dollar in the Australian National Coin Collection, with the legend ORIGINS OF AUSTRALIAN COIN at the top of the reverse. Dahlia and wattle flowers, representing Mexico and Australia, respectively, frame a small reproduction of a Dump coin at the bottom. The obverse also recreates the original design. King Charles III’s effigy appears at the top, and CHARLES III • ONE DOLLAR • AUSTRALIA 2026 encircles the design.

The commemorative is available from Royal Australian Mint distributors and the Royal Australian Mint’s store for US$25. Mintage is limited to 35,000.