Gold Five Ounces 2023 Year of the Rabbit, 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The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the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 2023 · 500 DOLLARS ·.

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

Around the rim outside that circle, a "Lunar Calendar Wheel": 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 rabbit is on top.

The reverse of the coin shows a rabbit surrounded by plantain lilies, enclosing a crescent-shaped clear space with the inscriptions.

Above left, the Chinese character for "rabbit" 兔 and, on four lines, the inscription YEAR OF THE RABBIT.

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 BS (for Bronwyn Scott) are on the left.

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

Finish: proof.
Packaging: in acrylic capsule packaged in mahogany presentation box within a bright red shipper, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Date of issue: 1 March 2023.
RAM Product Code: 11161.

The coins have the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, even though they were issued during the reign of King Charles III.