So far this year, 120m coins have been minted featuring the Queen. On retaking the throne, King Charles II demanded he face the right on his coins, and the tradition stuck – each monarch turns their back on the one before. Not because of any differences in how they viewed the world – although as king, Charles can’t be as vocal on issues like climate change, lest he be accused of interference – but allegedly because the last King Charles (the second, back in 1660) wished to ‘turn his back’ on the upstart Oliver Cromwell, who’d been cast on coins facing the left. He’s also facing left, while his mother faced right. He’s without his crown, which is traditional for a first coin effigy – a regent of the people, on the people’s coin. The regent will appear on the $1 coin for the time being, and his appearance on other denominations will depend on demand – from banks, not the people. That was confirmed in early 2023, when the RBA, which is in charge of such things, said the new $5 note would pay tribute to the “the culture and history” of Indigenous people.īut the heads side of the coin is the royal domain, and there was no doubt King Charles III would grace the currency, to be lost down the back of couches and stuck in car consoles for the coming decades. The federal assistant treasury minister, Dr Andrew Leigh, lit a firestorm of conservative rage in 2022 when he suggested there was “no guarantee” King Charles would appear on the $5 note shortly after the Queen died.

With some imagination, an Iris flower can be identified, suggesting a visible link to designer Iris Bruijns.Presuming, of course, that Australia doesn’t become a republic by then – the unspoken elephant in the room. The design shows the asymmetry that was typical of this art movement, as well as the link to nature through the elegant lines. The coin shows a facade detail of Victor Horta's House of Eetvelde with 'ART NOUVEAU' written above it. This movement was born in the heart of Brussels! The house was designed by Victor Horta, one of the founders of the Art Nouveau art movement. The presentation was held at Eetvelde House, which was no coincidence. This collector's item very elegantly commemorates Belgium's precious Art Nouveau art movement, which already celebrates 130 years! Register in the Assay office register of the Royal Mint of BelgiumĬOIN PRESENTATION OF THE UNIQUE 2-EURO COMMEMORATIVE ART NOUVEAU COIN - ĭuring the coin presentation on Tuesday 20 June, the unique 2-euro commemorative coin was unveiled, entirely dedicated to the Art Nouveau year in Belgium.

Royal mint new coin