As I mentioned in another thread, I recall in the early to mid 60’s seeing even Edward on coins in Canada. Mind you, they were usually worn pretty much flat. George coins, especially George VI were common. Most of those - except nickels - disappeared with the Hunts and their silver price shenanigans. Coins last a long time, especially now that they are not silver. It’s still not very rare to find a George VI coin, assuming people use cash any more.
Less than 20 years ago I was still finding those odd nickels they made during the war, with a smelter on them instead of our friend the beaver.
The news just mentioned the monarch (Queen, now King) is “Head of State” for 14 of the commonwealth countries. For example, the monarch approves (basically, automatically) the Canadian government’s choice for Governor General, who signs bills passed by parliament on behalf of the monarch. So presumably, there’s a valid reason for those countries to have her/his head on the money.
(Plenty of threads here over the years on what happens if the monarch or GG actually vetoes a bill like the US president can. Theoretically it’s possible, but it can trigger such a serious constitutional crisis since they have no political mandate to be assertive. It’s just “not done”. If they did, certainly political upheaval and possibly a change of how the head of state is determined, would follow.)
The Governor General sacked our federal government in 1975, turns out there had been quite a lot of correspondence with the palace about it too. It lead to Gough Whitlam uttering the immortal line
“Well may we say “God save the Queen”, because nothing will save the Governor-General!”
With the Australian $5 note now needing a redesign I applaud The Chaser initiative to replace one ubiquitous, majestic and slightly annoying bird with another. Specifically the Australian white ibis (Threskiornis molucca) aka the bin chicken or tip turkey
