Gold Five Ounces 2021 Year of the Ox, 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The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the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). In small letters on the left, the artist's initials JC (for Jody Clark).

Running continuously around the rim is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the face value: ELIZABETH II · AUSTRALIA 2021 · 500 DOLLARS ·.

The effigy, legend and face value are in a small circle, surrounded by a decorative border.

Around the rim outside that circle, the twelve animals of the Lunar Calendar walking counter-clockwise: rat, pig, dog, rooster, monkey, goat, horse, snake, dragon, rabbit, tiger and an ox; the ox is on top.

The reverse of the coin shows at its centre an ox, with willow branches above enclosing a crescent-shaped clear space with the inscriptions.

Above right, the Chinese character for "ox" 牛 (pronounced niú under the Pinyin system) and, on four lines, the inscription YEAR OF THE OX.

Below that, the precious metal content: 5 oz .9999 Au (five troy ounces of 99.99% gold; Au is abbreviated from the Latin "Aurum" and is used internationally on gold bullion coinage).

The designer's initials BK (for Bronwyn King) are to the right.

The face value and the date of issue are on the obverse.

Gold content (Troy oz): 5.000
Finish: Proof FDC.
Packaging: in mahogany presentation box in illustrated shipper, with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Royal Australian Mint Product Code: 10735.

The coin designs were approved by the Assistant Minister for Treasury and Finance in Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2020 Royal Australian Mint No. 2) Determination 2020 on 20 May 2020.