This Week - Gold Coast Info, Australia Australia's major currency development in recent times was the switching to polymer notes which use sophisticated Australian technology and maximise protection against counterfeiting. Click here for Australia's latest currency exchange rate. The current portrait design, in use since 1985, is by Raphael Maklouf. This design replaced the portrait of the Queen by Arnold Machin which was standard on all coins between 1966 and '84.
Echidnas live in most Australian habitats.
The 10 cent coin shows a male lyrebird dancing, its magnificent tail expanded and thrown forward over its head. A clever mimic, the lyrebird inhabits the dense, damp forests of Australia's eastern coast. The Platypus is found on the banks of waterways on the east of the continent. It has webbed feet, rich, brown fur and uses its duck-like bill to hunt for food along the bottom of streams and rivers. The standard 50 cent piece carries a representation of the Australian Coat of Arms which is the six state badges on a central shield supported by a kangaroo and an emu, with a background of Mitchell grass.