Australian Dollar Symbol (A$)
The Australian Dollar (A$ or AUD) is the official currency of the Commonwealth of Australia and its external territories, including Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, and Norfolk Island, as well as three independent Pacific island states (Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu). Per the 2022 BIS Triennial Central Bank Survey, the Australian dollar is the sixth most traded currency in the world.
Dollar Family Disambiguation Guide
Like over 30 currencies worldwide, Australian Dollar shares the universal DOLLAR SIGN (U+0024) glyph. While domestic retail stores write plain $, international financial contracts and software APIs require prefix disambiguation to prevent monetary ambiguity.
| Currency | ISO 4217 | Domestic Notation | International Prefix | Example Formatting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Dollar | USD | $ | US$ | $100.00 / US$100.00 |
| Canadian Dollar | CAD | $ | C$ or CAD | C$100.00 (EN) / 100,00 $ (FR) |
| Australian Dollar | AUD | $ | A$ or AUD | A$100.00 / AU$100.00 |
| New Zealand Dollar | NZD | $ | NZ$ or NZD | NZ$100.00 |
| Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | $ | HK$ or HKD | HK$100.00 / 港元100 |
| Singapore Dollar | SGD | $ | S$ or SGD | S$100.00 |
| Mexican Peso | MXN | $ | Mex$ or MX$ | $100.00 / Mex$ 100.00 |
Typographic & Developer Encoding Codes
Quickly copy HTML entities, CSS content escape sequences, and Unicode code points for Australian Dollar.
| Format | Value / Code | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Symbol | A$ | Standard plain text character or abbreviation | |
| Encoding Classification | Plain Latin Letters | Written as standard text without a single dedicated Unicode point | |
| Base Character / Block | U+0024 (Prefix A) | DOLLAR SIGN (PREFIX A) | |
| HTML Representation | A$ | Standard text in HTML documents (No dedicated entity) | |
| CSS Content String | "A$ " | CSS content string for pseudo-elements |
How to Type Australian Dollar Symbol (A$) on Any Device
Windows PC
Type A$ directly as standard letters on your physical keyboard.
Mac / macOS
Type A$ directly as plain letters on your keyboard.
iPhone & iPad (iOS)
Type A$
Android (Gboard)
Type A$
Formatting Rules & Real-World Examples
Symbol Placement: Before Amount
In standard financial notation, the Australian Dollar symbol is positioned immediately before the numerical amount.
Typography & International Usage Guidelines
Domestically within Australia, the symbol '$' is placed before the amount without a space ($50.00). In international contexts, 'A$' or the ISO 4217 code 'AUD' is prefixed. Australia uses a decimal point for cents and commas for thousands grouping.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Inventing fake HTML entities like A$ (write as plain text 'A$').
- Calling it the fifth most traded currency (per the 2022 BIS Triennial Survey, AUD is 6th, behind USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, and CNY).
- Forgetting that sovereign Pacific island nations Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu also use the Australian dollar.
Historical Background & Monetary Evolution
The Australian dollar was introduced on February 14, 1966 ('Decimal Currency Day'), replacing the Australian pound at a rate of two dollars per pound (ten shillings per dollar). Australia famously pioneered the world's first commercial polymer (plastic) banknotes in 1988, developed jointly by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the CSIRO to prevent counterfeiting.
Countries & Jurisdictions Using A$
Related Tools & Guides for Australian Dollar
ISO 4217 Lookup
Search standard three-letter currency codes and ISO country pairings.
ToolCurrency Formatter
Calculate before/after position styles and international decimal notations.
GuideMac Option Key Shortcuts
How to configure and type international financial marks quickly on macOS.
GuideGoogle Docs & Sheets Guide
Insert special characters and configure currency formats in spreadsheets.
GuideiPhone & iPad Shortcuts
Quick long-press keyboard shortcuts on iOS to type monetary symbols.
SpecsUnicode Technical Standards
Master technical index for U+20A0–U+20CF blocks, HTML entities & CSS codes.
Similar & Related Currency Symbols
View all Dollar Sign Currencies ($) →Standards Verification & Official Registry Specifications
This specification has been verified against official international standards registries (ISO 4217 Maintenance Agency, Unicode Consortium 16.0, and Unicode CLDR).
Frequently Asked Questions about Australian Dollar (A$)
Common questions and direct answers regarding currency symbols, typing shortcuts, and international formatting.
What rank is the Australian Dollar among the world's most traded currencies?
According to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) 2022 Triennial Central Bank Survey, the Australian Dollar is the sixth most traded currency globally, accounting for 6.4% of total daily global foreign exchange turnover.
Which countries and territories use the Australian Dollar?
The Australian dollar is used in Australia, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island. Additionally, three independent Pacific nations—Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu—use the Australian dollar as their official currency.
Why are Australian banknotes made of plastic?
Australia pioneered polymer banknotes in 1988 with the Reserve Bank of Australia and CSIRO to combat counterfeiting. Polymer notes are significantly cleaner, more durable, and incorporate advanced transparent optical security features.