Depicts a fourth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara dividing year of issue, Malawi emblem and denomination below, legend of bank above.

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara was a wedding present in 1947 from her grandmother, Queen Mary, who received it as a gift from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland in 1893 on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of York, later George V. Made by E. Wolfe & Co., it was purchased from Garrard & Co. by a committee organised by Lady Eve Greville. In 1914, Mary adapted the tiara to take 13 diamonds in place of the large oriental pearls surmounting the tiara. At first, Elizabeth wore the tiara without its base and pearls but the base was reattached in 1969.

Malawi's coat of arms is based on Nyasaland's earlier heraldic arms. It features a shield supported by a lion and a leopard, standing on a representation of Mount Mulanje. The shield is divided into three parts: wavy lines symbolizing water, a central stripe with a lion representing strength, and a rising sun, symbolizing hope and new beginnings. Above the shield is a fish eagle in front of a rising sun, symbolizing freedom. The scroll below the shield bears the national motto, "Unity and Freedom," reflecting Malawi's goals of harmony and independence.

Engraver: Ian Rank-Broadley

Depicts a multicolored modern athlete in front of the Discobolus (a classical Greek sculpture by Myron) within a circle surrounded by the inscription of the event above, the date of two Summer Olympics dividing a wreath of olive, famous landmarks from the Acropolis, Athens and Temple of Heaven, Beijing in both sides with shadows of other Olympic games in the background.

The Discobolus of Myron, created around 460–450 BC, is a famous Greek sculpture depicting a young athlete throwing a discus. While the original bronze is lost, many Roman marble copies exist, including the notable Palombara Discobolus. The discus throw is an ancient sport, once part of the Greek pentathlon, and remains a modern decathlon event.

The Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 in Beijing, is a Taoist complex where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests. It spans 273 hectares, much larger than the Forbidden City.

The Acropolis, a 5th-century citadel in Athens, features ancient ruins on a hill overlooking the city.