Living monarchs: number of portraits on the regular coinage

[<k>]

Queen Elizabeth II reigned for 70 years. She had five different portraits on the UK's regular coinage.

How does that compare with the number of portraits for those monarchs alive today?


Which monarchies portray the monarch on their regular coinage and which do not?

Do they have a policy regarding how often the monarch's portrait should be updated?

[chrisild]

Do they have a policy regarding how often the monarch's portrait should be updated?

As for the euro area, see my reply over there. In other words - once every 15 years is the max. Of course, when the head of state dies, portraits can and will be changed. Now most countries in the world do not have crowned heads of state, and the euro area is no exception. But yes, living people depicted on coins do get older and that may be reflected by modified designs.

Note that EU law is quite specific with regard to "vacancy" periods. That is because the Vatican issued an entire Sede Vacante set after the death of John Paul in 2005. Now in a kingdom and such you will hardly ever have that issue, as it is known in advance who will be the successor.

[<k>]

As for the euro area, once every 15 years is the max. Of course, when the head of state dies, portraits can and will be changed. But yes, living people depicted on coins do get older and that may be reflected by modified designs.

Thank you, chrisild.

It is notable that three European monarchies are in the EU but not in the euro.

These are Denmark, Norway and Sweden. So those rules do not apply to their coinages.

[<k>]

King Sobhuza II: Swaziland, 1 cent, 1974.

Let's see what happens over in Africa.

It still has a few monarchies.


Swaziland (now Eswatini) did not issue a national coinage until 1974.

It had become independent from the British in 1968.


King Sobhuza II appeared on the coinage until his death in 1982.

Unsurprisingly, only one portrait was used of him on the circulation coinage.




Swaziland, 1 lilangeni, 1986.  Left: Mswati III.  Right: Queen regent.

From Wikipedia:

When King Sobhuza II died on 21 August 1982, the Great Council of State (the Liqoqo) selected the 14-year-old prince Makhosetive to be the next king.

For the next four years, two wives of Sobhuza II, Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe (1982–1983) and Queen Ntfombi Tfwala (1983–1986), served as regent.




Since 1995, a portrait of the mature king has appeared on the coinage.

[<k>]

King Moshoeshoe on the coinage of Lesotho.

Lesotho issued its first national circulation coinage in 1979.

The portrait of King Moshoeshoe II appeared on the coins from 1979 to 1989.

The king was forced into exile in 1990.


He was succeeded by his son, Letsie III.

Moshoeshoe was briefly restored to the throne in 1995.

However, he died in a car crash in early 1996.


Since 1990 the coat of arms has replaced a royal portrait on the coins.

Letsie III has however appeared on commemorative collector coins only.

[chrisild]

It is notable that three European monarchies are in the EU but not in the euro.

Actually only two; Norway is in the EEA but not in the EU. Not sure whether any of those three countries has an official policy with regard to how often effigies may change. Denmark seems to have a "roughly every ten years" rule; Margrethe II became queen more than 50 years ago (now the longest-serving monarch in the world) and has made it to her sixth portrait on coins. Portrait #4, from 2001, I never really liked; portrait #5 came in 2011. Now - introduced this year, I think – we have portrait #6.

[<k>]

Actually only two; Norway is in the EEA but not in the EU.

Now why did I forget that?