Fifty Cents 2020 Possum Magic, Coin from Australia - detailed information

The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait" worldwide but "Sixth Portrait" in Australia, where the Queen's portrait by Vladimir Gottwald was fifth).

The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen mother) in 1937.

Unlike on British coinage, the effigy is "uncouped" (includes the Queen's shoulders) and extends almost to the rim of the coin; consequently, the legend does not run continuously around the rim.

The artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark) are in tiny letters below left.

Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the date: ELIZABETH II · AUSTRALIA 2020.

The reverse features a cartoon representation of characters from the book “Possum Magic” positioned over a branch extending across the coin horizontally. The design includes a koala hanging on to that branch. Grandma Poss - a possum - is wearing glasses, slippers and an apron with stars printed on it and is pouring multi-coloured irregular star shapes from her apron. Two possums are looking down at the falling stars.

Around above is the inscription POSSUM MAGIC. Below left, the value 50 [cents].