Lexi Webster
Australia's central bank has announced that King Charles III will not feature on the country's new $5 note, opting instead for an indigenous design. This marks a significant shift, as the $5 bill was Australia's last remaining banknote to feature the monarch. However, King Charles III's effigy is set to grace Australian coins, with the Royal Australian Mint releasing a full suite of coins bearing his image. This transition to a new monarch on Australian currency reflects the country's changing relationship with its colonial past and the ongoing debates about its future as a constitutional monarchy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| King Charles' image on Australian $5 note | No |
| King Charles' image on Australian coins | Yes |
| Australian $5 note design | Indigenous design honouring the culture and history of First Australians |
| Australian coins with King Charles' image | $1, 5c, $2, 10c, 20c, 50c |
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What You'll Learn
King Charles III will feature on Australian coins
The new effigy of His Majesty King Charles III is the official Commonwealth Effigy designed by The Royal Mint in London with Royal Approval. The effigy of King Charles III displayed on the new coins was unveiled in October 2023, and the coins started appearing in banks and cash registers across the country before Christmas. The other denominations were progressively released in 2024, based on bank demand.
The decision to feature King Charles III on Australian coins is in line with tradition, as every decimal currency coin has featured Queen Elizabeth II since 1953. As is customary, the new effigy will switch direction. Queen Elizabeth II faced right, while King Charles III will face left. This is the first time in 59 years that the Royal Australian Mint has changed the monarch on its full suite of legal coins.
While King Charles III will feature on Australian coins, he will not appear on the country's new $5 note. The $5 banknote was the only Australian banknote to carry the image of a British monarch, but it will now feature an indigenous design. This decision was made in consultation with the Australian government and is intended to honour the culture and history of Indigenous Australians.
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The $5 note will not feature King Charles
Australia's central bank has announced that King Charles III will not feature on the country's new $5 note. The decision to feature an indigenous design instead of the King's portrait was made in consultation with the Australian government. The $5 note was the last Australian banknote to display the image of a British monarch. The bank said that the new design would honour the "culture and history of the First Australians".
The move has been welcomed by Aboriginal politicians and community leaders. Lidia Thorpe, a Greens senator and DjabWurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara woman, called it "a massive win for the grassroots, First Nations people who have been fighting to decolonise this country". Opponents of the decision, however, argue that it is politically motivated.
The current $5 note, featuring a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II, will continue to be issued and will remain legal tender even after the new bill goes into circulation. The new note is expected to take several years to be designed and printed. The bank has stated that it will consult with indigenous groups during the design process.
While King Charles III will not be featured on the $5 note, his effigy will appear on Australian coins. The Royal Australian Mint has announced that the King's image will be featured on all circulating coins, marking a significant change in Australian currency. The first coin to bear the King's effigy was the $1 coin, with other denominations progressively released in 2024.
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The $5 note will feature an indigenous design
Australia's central bank has announced that the new $5 note will feature an indigenous design instead of King Charles III. The decision to remove the British monarchy from its bank notes is a significant one, as the $5 note was the only remaining banknote to feature the image of the monarch. The new design will pay tribute to and honour the culture and history of Indigenous Australians, also known as First Nations Australians. This decision follows consultation with the Australian government, which supports the change. The process of designing the new $5 note is expected to take several years, and the current $5 note featuring Queen Elizabeth II will continue to be issued and remain legal tender even after the new note is introduced.
The move to feature an indigenous design on the $5 note is part of a broader trend in Australia to recognise and honour the culture and history of Indigenous people. In 2021, Australia changed its national anthem to remove references to the country being "young and free", acknowledging that its Indigenous people are the oldest civilization in the world. Additionally, Indigenous Australian figures and artworks are already featured on much of Australia's currency. For example, the $50 banknote features David Uniapon, a Ngarrindjeri man from South Australia, who is known for his contributions as an author, inventor, activist, and musician.
The decision to remove King Charles III from the $5 note has been welcomed by Aboriginal politicians and community leaders, with some calling it "a massive win for the grassroots, First Nations people who have been fighting to decolonise this country." However, opponents of the decision argue that it is politically motivated and an "attack on our systems, our society, and institutions." Nevertheless, the Australian treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has defended the change, stating that it offers an "opportunity to strike a good balance between the monarch on the coins and a First Nations design on the fiver."
The design process for the new $5 note will involve consultation with indigenous groups and First Nations organisations. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has stated that the new banknote will take several years to be designed and printed. The RBA has a history of recognising the culture and history of First Nations Australians on banknotes and will continue to do so with the new $5 note. The reverse side of the new $5 note will continue to feature the Australian Parliament, maintaining a balance between honouring Indigenous culture and the country's institutions.
The removal of King Charles III from the $5 note comes at a time when Australia is debating its future as a constitutional monarchy. The death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 reignited discussions about becoming a republic, with some advocating for an Australian figure or a First Nations leader to be featured on the $5 note instead of the monarch. These debates reflect a broader shift in Australia's relationship with the British monarchy, as the country reconsiders its constitutional ties to Britain and seeks to recognise First Nations Australians in the constitution and enshrine an Indigenous voice in parliament on policy matters that affect them.
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The Queen's death reignited debates about Australia's future as a constitutional monarchy
The death of Queen Elizabeth II has brought up questions about Australia's future as a constitutional monarchy. The Queen's image previously appeared on Australian currency, and the decision about whether King Charles III should replace her has sparked debate. Australia's central bank announced that the new $5 bill will feature an indigenous design instead of an image of the King. This decision was made in consultation with the Australian government and supported by Aboriginal politicians and community leaders. Opponents of this decision claim that it is politically motivated.
The British monarch remains Australia's head of state, a position that was maintained by voters in a 1999 referendum. However, the role is largely symbolic and ceremonial. While Australian coins are mandated to carry the image of the British monarch, the late Queen's image on the $5 note was a choice made by the government. The decision to feature an indigenous design on the new $5 note is part of a broader movement to recognize Indigenous Australians' culture and history and decolonize the country.
The debate about Australia's future as a constitutional monarchy is not new. Prime Minister Julia Gillard stated that she wanted Australia to become a republic but acknowledged that the monarch was "a vital constitutional part of Australian democracy." Kevin Rudd, another former prime minister, affirmed his support for a republic while serving. The current prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has expressed a desire for Australia to have an appointed head of state but has not committed to a timeline for a referendum.
The transition to King Charles III on Australian coins is significant, as it will be the first time most Australians have held a coin with a King's image. The Royal Australian Mint CEO, Leigh Gordon AO CSM, acknowledged the importance of this transition, stating, "One of the most asked questions since The Queen's passing has been when The King will appear on our coins." The first coin to feature the King's effigy will be the $1 coin, with other denominations released progressively based on bank demand.
The removal of the Queen's image from Australian currency and the decision not to include King Charles III on the new $5 note have become symbolic of the broader debate about Australia's relationship with the British monarchy. While some Australians support maintaining the constitutional monarchy, others advocate for a republic or the crowning of an Indigenous "First Elder." The Queen's death has reignited these discussions, and it remains to be seen how Australia's relationship with the monarchy will evolve.
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The transition from Queen Elizabeth to King Charles was an involved process
The transition from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III on Australian currency was an involved process. The Australian government faced criticism for its decision to remove the image of Queen Elizabeth from the $5 note and replace it with an indigenous design rather than an image of the new monarch. This move was seen by some as politically motivated and part of a potential shift away from the British monarchy as Australia's head of state.
The $5 note was the last Australian banknote to display the monarch's image. The new design, which will feature a tribute to the culture and history of Indigenous Australians, is expected to take several years to be designed and printed. In the meantime, the current $5 note with the Queen's portrait will continue to be issued and will remain legal tender even after the new bill goes into circulation.
The transition to King Charles on Australian coins was also a complex process. The Royal Australian Mint had to obtain an approved effigy of the King from Buckingham Palace via the Royal Mint in London, which was then adapted for Australian coins as the metal used is different from that used in overseas mints. The first coin to feature the King's effigy was the $1 coin, released in late 2023, with other denominations following in 2024.
The transition from Queen Elizabeth to King Charles on Australian currency reflects the country's changing relationship with the British monarchy. While the monarch remains Australia's head of state, this role is largely symbolic, and there is ongoing debate about the extent to which Australia should retain its constitutional ties to Britain.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, King Charles III's effigy is now on all coins made at the Royal Australian Mint.
King Charles III's image debuted on Australian coins in late 2023, starting with the $1 coin.
King Charles' effigy is now on all six coins, including the 5c piece, the $2 coin, the 10c piece, the 20c piece, the 50c piece, and the $1 coin.
The $5 note will feature an indigenous design instead, honouring the culture and history of the First Australians.
The Albanese Government is releasing a $40 King Charles III 2024 Six-Coin Uncirculated Year Set, which will be available to the public.
