The Australian two dollar coin denomination (written as $2) was introduced in 1988 to replace a banknote of the same value. Its original ("definitive") design depicts an Aboriginal Elder and is issued every year. The Royal Australian Mint also uses the denomination to issue a large variety of circulating commemorative coins with the same size and composition - such as this one.
This coin was issued as part of a series celebrating 30 years of The Wiggles.
The Mint says about the set: "Celebrating 30 years of The Wiggles, The Royal Australian Mint proudly presents this colourful collection, featuring beloved characters The Wiggles and their friends, Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wag the Dog and Henry the Octopus. These coins reflect the joy, creativity and popularity of The Wiggles. Emma, Lachy, Simon along with Anthony continue to entertain and delight children worldwide, following the footsteps of the original members, Greg, Jeff and Murray."
Children’s entertainers The Wiggles formed in Sydney in 1991 when original member Anthony Field decided to create a children’s music album, enlisting Murray Cook, Greg Page and Jeff Fatt to help him. The group soon became so successful that they were able to quit their teaching jobs. By 2009, the group had been listed as Australia’s top-earning earning for four years in a row by Business Review Weekly, and were earning around $45 million per year in revenue. The skivvied group, now with new members, performs to around 1 million people per year and have received more than 1 billion streams. |
Obverse | |
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The Queen also wears the Coronation Necklace; originally made for Queen Victoria in 1858, it was also worn at the coronations (as Queen's Consort) of Queen Alexandra in 1902, Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Elizabeth (the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.
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Reverse | |
The reverse of the coin shows at its centre Henry the Octopus, a supporting character in The Wiggles children's show, wearing a costume with hat and bow tie, surrounded by music symbols and stars. The centre is surrounded by a purple strip similarly decorated with music symbols and stars.
Around above, the inscription HENRY THE OCTOPUS.
Separated by the above inscription by two bow ties, around below the value and denomination: TWO DOLLARS. |
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