The passing of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act empowered the Government to make laws with respect to currency, coinage and legal tender. The Coinage Act 1909 put in place the first steps for an Australian coinage. Thus began the journey towards a mint owned by the Commonwealth and independence from the branches of the Royal Mint.
The establishment of the Royal Australian Mint at its final site in Canberra followed propositions to place it near to the present National Library and on Camp Hill, between the Old Parliament House and Capital Hill. The Commonwealth Government approved the construction of the Mint in 1962 and construction commenced in 1963 on a site in the Canberra suburb of Deakin.