Five Cents 2023, 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The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the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 2023.

The reverse of the coin depicts an echidna (also known as a spiny ant-eater) seen from below as it rolls into a protective ball.

The denomination numeral 5 [cents] is above the lower half of the animal.

The artist's initials SD (for Stuart Devlin) are below the numeral in (very) tiny letters.

Coins dated 2023 were released on 17 November 2022 in the Royal Australian Mint's annual sets - with the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II even though they were issued after her death and are dated in the reign of King Charles III, whose portrait should have been on the obverse instead.