Just realised that the Cocos (Keeling Islands) gold coin that I own doesn't have an obverse image of the Queen. Since the Cocos (Keeling Islands) is Australian territory it just seems a bit unusual. Anyone here know whether having an image of Lizzie on a coin is optional? BTW it has a denomination of $100 so it's not a token.
Minted in 2003 http://www.auroraetluna.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=234 I have never seen or heard of a legal tender coin issued by an Australian Territory that doesn't have Lizzie on the Obverse. Maybe a numismatist here can explain the reason why her face doesn't grace this coin.
Perhaps she sent a very stern letter to then Prime Minister John Howard, "Please do not put my face on the back of a coin that has a ship on it!"
Lizzie isn't 'optional', the poor old dear's offspring is another matter, but the Regent must preside over the currency of the realm, has done from Ceasar's time to now.
When the Perth Mint released a coloured commemorative coin to mark the passing of half a century since the Cocos (Keeling) Islands officially became an Australian territory on the 23 November 1955, the Queen was on the obverse of that coin. But with my coin Lizzie is optional. It's puzzling
Maybe the Perth Mint is having a bit of an historical joke. Read this article, in particular paragraph 5 http://www.australianstamp.com/coin-web/keeling/keeling.htm or http://www.australianstamp.com/coin-web/keeling/decimal/decimal.htm palm tree and beach - from Clunies-Ross V coins? Ship is obviously The Beagle. Actually it wasn't issued by Perth Mint was It?
