The last Australian coin featuring the head of the late Queen Elizabeth II will be released across Australia.
The limited edition 50 cent edition will be released on Thursday to commemorate the Queen’s 70th anniversary as Head of the Commonwealth.
The coin was made by the Royal Australian Mint and features the design of the Queen’s last portrait before her death in September 2022.
The final Australian coin commemorating the late Queen Elizabeth II (pictured) will be released across Australia on Thursday
The print of the portrait can be seen on the obverse (or ‘heads’) of the coin.
On the tail end, six previous portraits of the Queen that appeared on Australian coins during her seventy-year reign appear in a fan design.
Carvings of the Lily of the Valley, one of the Queen’s favorite flowers, and the golden acacia are also engraved on the top of the six effigies.
The unusual coin will become a prized collector’s item.
Royal Australian Mint CEO Leigh Gordon said the latest coin was a fitting final addition to a collection of Australian coins featuring portraits of the former monarch.
“Historically, coins testify to a monarch’s reign, with their royal images appearing on the obverse,” Gordon said.
“In keeping with that tradition, this exceptional coin features Jody Clark’s Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Effigy on the obverse.”
The coin features Her Majesty’s final portrait (pictured) and on the other side the six previous portraits of the Queen that appeared on Australian coins during her seven-decade reign.
Queen Elizabeth II ruled the Commonwealth for seventy years, making her the longest-serving British monarch in history
The special edition coin will go on sale at 8.30am on Thursday at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra and through various distributors across the country.
The first portrait of the Queen, designed by Mary Gillick, appeared on Australian coins from 1953 to 1965.
The Queen’s most recent portrait was designed by Jody Clark and the image appeared on Australian coins from 1999 until her death last year.
After her coronation in 1952, Queen Elizabeth was the longest-serving British monarch in history.
She surpassed Queen Victoria, who ruled the monarchy for 63 years.