OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 4:57 PM PT – Tuesday, September 13, 2022
The Australian government has vowed to replace the late Queen’s image on its $5 note with Australian figures.
The Royal Australian Mint’s flags fly at half-mast and production of coins has been halted for today as the Mint joins Australia and its fellow Commonwealth nations in honouring and paying respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her passing. pic.twitter.com/IpGWQa1kTZ
— RoyalAustralianMint (@RoyalAustMint) September 9, 2022
In a statement on Tuesday, Australian officials said the note would not automatically be replaced by the image of King Charles III. Officials added that the Queen’s face was not put on its currency due to her title but it was put on it because of her personality.
Royal Australian Mint, the sole producer of coins in the country, said they will no longer issue coins with the Queen’s image on it. Leigh Gordon, the CEO of Australian Mint made the announcement.
“We do not intend to mint any coins in 2023 with the Queen’s effigy on it but we are in a period of transition,” she said. “There are some coins that are out there now with a 2023 date and the Queen on it. They are collectable and investment coins being released as we do normally in September each year for the following year.”
Queen Elizabeth’s death has reignited debates about Australia’s future as a constitutional monarchy after voters narrowly chose to maintain the British monarch as its Head of State in 1999.