Queen Elizabeth II remains the last British monarch to remain on Australian banknotes. Her portrait has featured on the Australian five dollar bill since 1992. But not Charles III. will be the successor: the new design is intended to honor the culture and history of the Aborigines.
Sydney – Australia is one of 15 nations in the Commonwealth, which includes countries like New Zealand and Canada. Apparently the identification with Queen Elizabeth II (96, † 2022) was greater than with the new one King Charles III (74), her son and successor. This circumstance can be tied to a small piece of paper: the Australian five-dollar banknote, which previously featured the Queen’s portrait, is now to be replaced.
The Queen’s face on the Australian banknote is becoming obsolete
Australia will no longer have British monarchs on banknotes. After the death of Elizabeth II, her successor Charles III. not appear on banknotes, the central bank said. Instead, the five-dollar banknote should show an indigenous motif in the future.
The decision was agreed with the government, which supports the change, the central bank said. At the same time, she admitted that the conversion and printing of the new banknotes would take a few years. First of all, indigenous representatives should be consulted on what the future motif should look like. Until then, the five-dollar bills with the Queen’s face would continue to be printed. Furthermore, nobody has to bring their money back to the bank: the certificates remain valid afterwards.
Australian dollar
The Australian Dollar (Abbreviation: AUD, AU$, $A or A$) is the currency of the entire Commonwealth of Australia and is therefore used in Australia, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands and Norfolk Island. But the independent Pacific island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tavalu have also adopted the Australian dollar as a means of payment.
The AUD is now one of the strongest currencies in the world and is traded the most globally, just behind the US$, the euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound sterling.
Famous Aboriginal figures and works of art succeed British monarchs
With the introduction of the new five-dollar note, there will no longer be a British monarch on any Australian banknote. Other notes and coins Down Under already feature famous Aboriginal figures and artwork. The portrait of the monarch has been printed on banknotes since 1992.
At the end of October 2021, Barbados finally broke away from the British crown to become a republic; the island state’s independence from Great Britain dates back to 1966. In many Commonwealth realms, a possible detachment from the royal family is currently being discussed. The head of state of Australia is still the respective British monarch. The death of Elizabeth II in September last year also triggered public mourning in Australia. At the same time, however, indigenous groups protested against the royal family, accusing the monarchy of being partly responsible for colonial crimes. Sources used: dailymail.co.uk
