The Australian Dollar When the Australian dollar was introduced in 1966 as a new decimal currency, it was pegged to the British pound until 1971. Since becoming a floating currency, it has become one out of the top ten currencies in popularity for most traders, constituting 3.3% of exchange. This is because Australia fills a crucial role for diversification. The primary exports in Australia (minerals and agriculture) make it a strong commodity currency. As one of the few developed economies in t…