The Royal Australian Mint has provided an exciting look at the first 2023 coin to be minted not only in Australia but around the world.
In a surprising twist, the face of Queen Elizabeth II – not King Charles – features on one side of the coin in a touching tribute to the late monarch.
The piece includes the dates 1952 to 2022, the dates of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
The other side features the CSIRO’s flagship vessel, the Research Vessel Investigator, and “never-been-seen-before” deep sea creatures, including the bigfin squid, brittle star, dumbo octopus, cactus urchin and the spiny king crab.
“So much of our deep ocean remains a mystery – we know more about the surface of Mars than we do about our deepest oceans,” CSIRO CEO Dr Larry Marshall said.
This area, which is known as the abyss, is one of the least explored areas in the world, with depths of up to 5km below sea level.
“It’s exciting that the 2023 new coin collection will celebrate this voyage and the significant contribution it has made to better understand life in our oceans.”
One lucky coin enthusiast will be able to make history at the Royal Australian Mint today, pressing and taking home the first coin for 2023
Royal Australian Mint CEO Leigh Gordon welcomed back keen coin collectors for the first time since the start of the Covid pandemic.
“After a two-year hiatus, we are excited to bring back this annual tradition and have members of the public gather in person to collect the first coins, as well as observe the exciting new theme of the collection – Creatures of the Deep, ” Mr Gordon said.
“This year, we are celebrating the incredible discoveries of Australian scientists aboard the CSIRO’s Research Vessel Investigator.”
Since ascending the throne in 1953, six portraits of the Queen have appeared on Australian coins.
Existing coins bearing the Queen’s profile will remain in circulation and legal tender forever.
In the coming months, the Australian Government will announce details of the transition to the profile of King Charles III for all Australian coins.
Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh said:
“We expect to be able to announce the design of the first King Charles III coins early in 2023, with coins featuring this effigy to be released late in 2023.”