The first portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Australian coinage was designed by Mary Gillick. Featured on Australia's pre-decimal coinage from 1953, Gillick beat 16 other artists in a competition conducted by The Royal Mint Advisory Committee. The effigy of the Queen was Gillick's first coin work
Her portrait of an uncrowned queen was considered fresh and approachable and is still struck on coins today at The Royal Mint, LLantrisant, although not on current circulating coins.