Information about legend: + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :

Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.

This legend was displayed on Australian coinage between 1954 and 1964, and on British coinage since 1954 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. It is associated with Mary Gillick's effigy (known as the First Portrait) of Her Majesty. On circulating coinage it was superseded by Arnold Machin's effigy (Second Portrait) with a different legend, but the Queen decided to retain it on Maundy money.

By long-standing tradition, the legends of ruling British monarchs are rendered in Latin. On coinage, these are abbreviated because of the limited space available. After decimalisation though, Australia switched to legends in English on its new currency in 1966 (namely, ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA [year]).

The cross was used on Medieval English coins to assist in reading the (somewhat cryptic at the time) legends by showing where the legend starts. Later, some other symbols were also used in its place serving also the role of mint marks.

Below, you can find a list of the individual coins that have this legend on their obverse.

Note: on some coins, the legend is rendered as ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D : (no cross) for which see separate list.

Legend in Latin on Australian coinage

Australia / Penny 1962

Apart from the coinage of the United Kingdom, this legend in Latin was also displayed on Australian pre-decimal coinage. At decimalisation, Australian legends changed to English while the United Kingdom preserved Latin for its decimal coinage.