Coins will switch faces and direction in the new year

The head of Charles III will face left rather than right under a tradition of swapping the direction between each ­monarch.

The Queen and Charles during the opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

The Royal Australian Mint has said it expects Australian coins will carry an effigy of King Charles III by next year.

However, the head of Charles will face left rather than right under a tradition of swapping the direction each ­monarch faces, dating back to the reign of Charles II in the 1600s.

The Royal Australian Mint and the Perth Mint paused their presses on Friday as a mark of respect for the Queen.

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The Department of Treasury has been working with the Royal Australian Mint and the Perth Mint to implement a ­succession plan for the change on the effigy on all coins which needs to occur following a change in sovereign.

The Weekend Australian ­understands the transition may take some time, meaning coins showing the late Queen’s face may continue to be minted.

The effigies were designed by a number of people including Mary Gillick (1953), Arnold ­Machin (1966), and Raphael Maklouf (1985).

Australian coins have shown an effigy designed by Ian Rank-Broadley since 1998. The sixth effigy on Australian currency was designed by Jody Clark and unveiled in September 2018.

The Queen’s effigy is also shown on Australian $5 notes as it is customary for the monarch to be depicted on the lowest-valued note. The Reserve Bank said on Friday there would be no immediate change to Australian banknotes.

Queen Elizabeth’s face has appeared on coins from 35 countries including the UK, Canada, New Zealand and various other nations in the ­commonwealth.

The inclusion of an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse of Australia’s coinage is mandated by regulations made under the Currency Act 1965.

Coins with Queen Elizabeth’s effigy will remain legal tender.