King Charles' image for Australian coins revealed

The first Aussie coins with King Charles' head on them will enter circulation before Christmas - and now, we know what they'll look like.

Assistant Minister for Treasury Andrew Leigh today released an image showing what the effigy of the new king will look like on Australia's dollar coins.

Charles III will be only the second monarch to adorn Australian decimal currency.

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His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was crowned before Australia switched to dollars and cents in the 1960s.

During her long reign, six different effigies of Elizabeth II were made for Australian coins.

The first coin to have the new king's effigy will be the $1 coin.

They will start appearing in banks and cash registers across the country before Christmas.

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The other denominations will be released next year, based on demand from the banks as they run out of Elizabeth-embossed coinage.

The first collector and investment coins bearing the King's effigy are expected to be available for sale early next year.

"For most Australians, this will be the first time they have held in their hands a coin with a king," Leigh said.

"As is traditional, the new effigy will switch direction. Queen Elizabeth II faced to the right. King Charles III will face to the left."

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Royal Australian Mint CEO Leigh Gordon confirmed again that coins bearing the late queen's effigy would remain legal tender.

$5 notes bearing the Queen's portrait will also remain legal tender and will continue to be printed after it was confirmed King Charles III's image would not replace hers.

A new $5 note, still several years away, will feature Parliament House on one side, and a design that honours the culture of Indigenous Australians on the other, designed in collaboration with First Nations Elders.