50 Cents In the name of Elizabeth II, 6th Portrait - Year of the Dragon - Blue

The "6th portrait" designation marks a meaningful generational shift — this effigy of Elizabeth II, modeled by sculptor Jody Clark and first adopted by the Royal Mint in 2015, was already navigating an unusual situation by 2024, appearing on Australian coinage months after the Queen's death in September 2022. Perth elected to continue issuing Elizabeth II-obverse bullion and collector pieces into 2024 rather than undertake an immediate full transition, a decision that makes late-dated ERII strikes from this mint an artifact of institutional inertia as much as anything else.

The lunar series has been a Perth Mint staple since 1996. Colored silver issues in this format began attracting a distinct collector segment less interested in melt value than in series completion.