Crowning Achievement 

On November 23, the Royal Australian Mint released a surprise 50-cent coin commemorating the late Queen Elizabeth II. The obverse showcases Jody Clark’s memorial effigy of Britain’s longest-ruling monarch, while the notable reverse features all six effigies that appeared on Australian coins throughout Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign, fanned above the queen’s royal cypher. 

Two versions of the coin are available—an uncirculated example for AU$15 limited to 25,000 issues and a silver proof for AU$135 (7,500 mintage). The coin is expected to be extremely popular. Visit ramint.gov to learn more.

A version of this article appears in the January 2024 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).