One of my non coin collecting friends asked me this today and i wasnt really sure the answer. What will happen when Queen Elizabeth II passes away? And in the meaning of the sense in the numismatic world. Many different countries use her portrait on their coins. I am really sorry to ask a question like this. This is in no way meant to be a negative question against the queen.
Well. all countries that presently utilize her portrait on their coins will more than likely continue the tradition and put on her sucessor. The jury is still out if her 1st born (son Prince Charles), will take the thrown as he is entitled to it, or he will pass on it, in which case his 1st born (son Prince William) will crown. Everybody switched from the Queens father George VI, to the present Queen Elizabeth without much issue. (either than they continued to use old dies of the dead monarch to produce coinage while waiting for news ones to be produced.)
And when the portrait does change the direction will reverse with the bust facing left. Since at least the late 1600's or early 1700's by tradition the portrait changes direction with each change of monarch. (If Charles abdicates in favor of William thre is a chance the portrait will continue to face right because they may do left for Charles with no coins and then right for William. There is historical precedent with George V, Edward VIII, and then George VI. George V faced left, Edward should have faced right but no coins were struck, and then George VI faced left again. Actually if coins of Edward VIII had been struck they would actually have had him facing left because the king insisted on it.)
Now condors post above is interesting..never gave it much thought, and didnt know about this tradition..
Well....That part I kinda knew....will her coins go up in value cause of it becoming obsolete? A lot of people only know 1 monarch of Britain cause she has been in reign over 50 years.
Guess that the coins with Elizabeth's effigy will simply stay in circulation once there is a new head of state. Of course UK coins may be demonetized for other reasons: new sizes, modified alloys, etc. But as long as those specifications are not changed, older pieces can continue to circulate until they get too worn ... Christian
As chrisild said, they will continue in circulation. I have heard Victoria coins where found in change on late 60's; just before the decimal adoption.
as a youngster before decimilisation we used to regularly find coins from victoria in our change, and on rare occasions even older. i was had a william IV penny which i traded with my friend for some bubblegum cards, he had found it in his change about 1 week before. no doubt coins of elizabeth will continue to circulate for quite a few years after her death as our current coinage only goes back to 1968.
As stated, the existing coins of Elizabeth II will remain in circulation wherever, and the new monarch's portrait will circulate alongside. It is also likely that Charles, when he ascends, will not go by the name Charles III. There is a reasonable probability that he'd choose the regnal name George VII. This is the same thing a Pontiff does; he has a 'born' name, but when he becomes pope, he 'chooses' a new one. Of course, he could decide to stick with Charles III, but don't be surprised if he doesn't!
