<P> From 1966 until 1984 the obverse featured the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin . It was changed in 1985 to a version by Raphael Maklouf, which remained until its withdrawal from circulation in 1992 . </P> <P> The reverse side of the coin features the image of a feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus), a gliding possum unique to Australian states bordering the Pacific Ocean . The image was designed by Stuart Devlin, who designed the reverses of all of the original Australian decimal coins . </P> <P> The first issue (1966) was produced by three mints: 146.5 million were minted at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra, with 239 million at the Melbourne Mint and 26.6 million at the Perth Mint . With the exception of 1966 and 1981, all other one - cent coins have been produced at the Canberra mint . In 1981, 40.3 million were struck at the British Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales, as well as 183.6 million in Canberra . The only year when it was not minted during its years in general circulation was 1986 . It was last minted in 1990 . </P> <P> The decision to remove the one and two - cent coins was confirmed by the Treasurer in a Budget Speech on 21 August 1990 . The action was due to inflation reducing its value, and the high cost of bronze . Around the same time other countries removed their bronze coins--New Zealand removed its one and two cent coins in 1990, while the United Kingdom and Ireland changed their bronze one and two pence coins into copper - plated steel . </P>

When did australia stop making 1 cent coins