Australian Dollar (AUD): Symbol, Sign & Currency Code
The Australian dollar symbol is the dollar sign ($), written as A$ or AU$ in international contexts to distinguish it from the US dollar. Its ISO 4217 code is AUD and its numeric code is 036. The Australian dollar is the official currency of Australia, issued by the Reserve Bank of Australia, and is the world’s fifth most-traded currency.
The Australian dollar uses the dollar sign ($) as its symbol, written as A$ or AU$ internationally to set it apart from the US dollar. Its ISO 4217 currency code is AUD and its numeric code is 036. One Australian dollar divides into 100 cents (¢).
The currency’s full name is the Australian dollar. It is the official currency of Australia and of Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu, the Australian Antarctic Territory and several Australian external territories. It is managed by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and has floated freely since December 1983.
What is the symbol for the Australian dollar?
Within Australia, the Australian dollar is written simply as $ — a price of $50 in Sydney or Melbourne means 50 Australian dollars. In international contexts, particularly in finance, trade and on currency exchange platforms, the prefix A$ or AU$ is used to distinguish the Australian dollar from other dollar-denominated currencies such as the US dollar (US$), Canadian dollar (C$), New Zealand dollar (NZ$) and Singapore dollar (S$).
A$ and AU$ mean exactly the same thing — A$ is the more common shorthand, while AU$ spells out the country code more explicitly. For banking, FX trades and international transfers, the three-letter ISO code AUD is the standard. The numeric ISO code, used in some banking and payment systems, is 036. The currency has no separate sign for its subunit — cents are written as ¢ or spelled out (50 cents).
Australian Dollar — Quick Facts
| Currency name | Australian Dollar |
|---|---|
| ISO 4217 code | AUD |
| ISO numeric code | 036 |
| Symbol | $ (A$ or AU$ internationally) |
| Subunit | 100 cents (¢) |
| Issuing authority | Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) |
| Banknote denominations | $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 |
| Coin denominations | 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2 |
| Banknote material | Polymer (plastic) |
| Free float since | December 1983 |
| Decimalisation | 14 February 1966 |
| Most-traded pair | AUD/USD (~6% of global FX turnover) |
A short history of the Australian dollar
The Australian dollar replaced the Australian pound on 14 February 1966, when Australia decimalised its currency at a rate of two dollars to one pound. The new currency was initially pegged, first to the British pound and later to the US dollar.
In December 1983, the Hawke government floated the Australian dollar, ending the fixed-exchange regime. Since then AUD/USD has traded freely on world markets, ranging from a low of around US$0.48 in 2001 to a high of approximately US$1.10 in July 2011 during the China-led commodity supercycle.
Australia was the first country to issue polymer (plastic) banknotes nationwide, introducing the $10 note in 1988 for the Australian Bicentenary. Polymer notes are more durable and harder to counterfeit, and the technology is now used by more than 30 countries.
Australian bank holidays affecting AUD payments in 2026
AUD transfers do not settle on Australian public holidays. The Reserve Bank of Australia and Australian commercial banks observe the following federal holidays in 2026 — state-specific holidays may add further non-settlement days depending on the bank’s registered state.
- New Year’s DayThursday 1 January 2026
- Australia DayMonday 26 January 2026
- Good FridayFriday 3 April 2026
- Easter MondayMonday 6 April 2026
- Anzac DaySaturday 25 April 2026
- King’s BirthdayMonday 8 June 2026 (most states)
- Christmas DayFriday 25 December 2026
- Boxing DayMonday 28 December 2026 (in lieu)
For time-critical AUD transfers, allow at least one extra working day around these dates. State-level holidays — such as Melbourne Cup Day in Victoria or Labour Day in Western Australia — may also affect settlement depending on the originating or receiving bank’s state.
Transferring AUD — what to know for larger payments
For private clients
Australian property purchases, expat repatriations, end-of-residency transfers and university fee payments are the most common reasons UK and international clients convert into or out of AUD with a specialist broker.
Above AUD 50,000, the rate margin matters: a 1% difference equals AUD 500. A forward contract lets you fix today’s rate for a transfer up to 12 months ahead.
For businesses
UK and EU businesses paying Australian suppliers, settling Sydney or Melbourne payroll or receiving AUD revenue typically benefit from a dedicated specialist for amounts over AUD 25,000 per transfer or recurring monthly volumes.
Cambridge Currencies operates with FCA-authorised partners Currencycloud (FRN 900199) and ScioPay (FRN 927951). All transfers are completed by phone with a dedicated specialist.
Popular AUD currency pages
Live rates, historical charts and conversion tables for the most-traded Australian dollar pairs.
Australian Dollar (AUD) — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the symbol for the Australian dollar?
The Australian dollar symbol is the dollar sign ($). Internationally it is written as A$ or AU$ to distinguish it from the US dollar and other dollar currencies. Its three-letter ISO code is AUD.
What is the AUD currency code?
The ISO 4217 currency code for the Australian dollar is AUD. Its numeric code, used in some banking and payment systems, is 036.
What is the Australian currency called?
Australia’s currency is called the Australian dollar. It is divided into 100 cents and is issued by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Is A$ the same as the US dollar?
No. A$ (or AU$) refers specifically to the Australian dollar, while US$ refers to the US dollar. The two are separate currencies with different values and ISO codes — AUD for the Australian dollar and USD for the US dollar.
Why is the Australian dollar written as A$ or AU$?
Within Australia the dollar is written simply as $. The A$ and AU$ prefixes are used internationally so the Australian dollar is not confused with the US dollar (US$), Canadian dollar (C$) or New Zealand dollar (NZ$). Both A$ and AU$ are correct and mean the same thing.
What is the subunit of the Australian dollar?
One Australian dollar is divided into 100 cents. Cents are written with the symbol ¢ or spelled out, for example 50 cents.
Which countries use the Australian dollar?
The Australian dollar is the official currency of Australia, Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu, as well as the Australian Antarctic Territory and several Australian external territories such as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Norfolk Island.
How do I transfer a large amount of AUD?
For larger AUD transfers, a specialist currency broker typically offers tighter exchange rates than a high-street bank. Cambridge Currencies operates with FCA-authorised partners Currencycloud and ScioPay, and completes every transfer by phone with a dedicated specialist. You can request an AUD transfer quote or read more about using a forward contract to fix a rate ahead of time.
Authoritative sources used on this page
- Reserve Bank of Australia — banknotes, monetary policy, history: rba.gov.au
- ISO 4217 — currency codes standard: iso.org
- Bank for International Settlements — Triennial Survey of FX turnover: bis.org
- Australian Government — public holidays: australia.gov.au