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Australians want Steve Irwin's face on money instead of King Charles III
Featured Image Credit: James D Morgan/Shutterstock/CBW/Alamy Stock Photo

Australians want Steve Irwin's face on money instead of King Charles III

Another Australian icon, Russell Coight, was also named as a possibility

Aussies are calling for Steve Irwin's face to be printed on their money instead of King Charles.

Today (9 September) the Australian National Bank announced that King Charles III will be printed on their $5 note in the place of the late Queen.

Coins will also be minted with his profile facing to the right, the opposite way from his mother, in order to continue a royal tradition that dates back to 1660.

The news comes after the Queen's death at Balmoral Castle yesterday (8 September).

King Charles will take the place of his mother on Australian currency.
blickwinkel / Alamy Stock Photo

However, if you're in Australia, there's no need to worry about changing your notes just yet.

As reported by The Guardian, a spokesperson for the Reserve Bank of Australia said: "All Australian banknotes issued from 1913 retain their legal tender status."

"We will plan for an update to the $5 banknote design in due course. Creating the design for new banknotes is a complex process.

"It can be several years [between] when a banknote is printed and when it is issued into circulation depending on demand from the public and the need to replace banknotes that have become worn in circulation."

King Charles' face will be printed on coins and the $5 note.
Agencja Fotograficzna Caro / Alamy Stock Photo

New coins are also expected to be released in 2023 and notes will be going into circulation sometime after.

However, Aussies are instead calling for a different face to feature on their currency.

And who could that person be?

The one and only Steve Irwin, with people taking to Reddit to suggest that the Crocodile Hunter should take Charles' place.

A user wrote: "Alright c****, now old Betty has dropped off the perch time for the important s***. Who we gonna put on all our money? Because I can't see that c*** Charles on there. Maybe Steve Irwin, or Russell Coight? Throw us some ideas."

Another user agreed: "Steve Irwin deserves our highest form of currency,"

Some Aussies called for a different face to be on the currency.
Zoonar GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo

A third commenter didn't suggest a replacement but agreed that King Charles shouldn't be on their money, saying it was 'going too far'.

This isn't the first time Irwin has considered the perfect candidate for the face of Australian currency, with someone creating a petition in August in 2016 to put 'the all-time greatest Australian bloke' on their money.

Steve Irwin would be fine, but also, why does it need to be a person?

One person suggested that they should use Australia's wildlife, saying: "I for one would like to see animals and plants etc on coins as they are now - and the reverse of every coin has the Australian coat of arms. A nod to regal tradition - but no actual monarch. This way whether we become a republic or not - no need to take money out of circulation."

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Topics: News, The Queen, UK News, Money