The Australian five cent piece was first put into circulation with the introduction of decimal currency in 1966 and continues to be circulated today. During these years three standard types have been issued, the first (1966 - 1984) featured the Arnold Machin portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II, the second (1985 - 1998) featured the Raphael Maklouf portrait, and the third (1999 - Present) features the Ian Rank-Boardley portrait. Some additional uncirculated varieties of these types have been produced as part of the Masterpieces in Silver collection. Despite changes to the obverse the reverse of these types has remained as the same Echidna design by Stuart Devlin. Devlin's initials (SD) can be found below the denomination.
In addition to these three main types, another three non-circulating commemorative five cent pieces have been released. The first was issued in 1999 as part of the masterpieces in silver collection and commemorated the design of the 1939 Half Penny, the second was a golden miniature piece issued in 2012, and the final type was a 2016 piece that commemorated fifty years since the introduction of decimal currency in Australia.
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