Twenty Cents 2021 Animalia, 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The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the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 2021.

Within a coloured circular border, the reverse design of the coin is based on cover art from the Australian children’s book, Animalia (1986) by Graeme Base, author and illustrator; it features a multitude of animals - real and mythological, and a boy sitting on the grass. On the left, and partially obscuring the circular border, a coloured strip of designs based on illustrations from the book.

On two lines above, the inscription 35th anniversary of ANIMALIA. Below right, the numeral for the value: 20 [cents].

The design was approved by in Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2021 Royal Australian Mint No. 2) Determination 2021 on 22 April 2021.

Coins issued by RAM in partnership with Children’s Book Council of Australia:
- 20 Cents (Coloured), Animalia, 2021
- 20 Cents (Coloured), Diary of a Wombat, 2022
- 20 Cents (Coloured), Edward the Emu, 2023
- 20 Cents (Coloured), Where Is The Green Sheep, 2024