Malawi 10 Kwacha 2006

History

10 Kwacha 2006, Malawi, 80th Anniversary of Birth of Elizabeth II

Obverse. Photo © Cambridgeshire Coins

Description

Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 80th birthday in 2006 with many special events and activities. In the month prior to her birthday on 21st April, she had travelled to Australia for a visit which included opening the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. A commemorative 50c was issued for the occasion of this special milestone, her 80th birthday.

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 1926–2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and of 14 other Commonwealth realms. Her reign of 70 years and seven months, which began on 6 February 1952, was the longest of any British monarch in history.

When her father died in February 1952, Elizabeth—then 25 years old—became queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), as well as Head of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth reigned as a constitutional monarch through major political changes such as the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution in the United Kingdom, the decolonisation of Africa, and the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities and withdrawal from the European Union. The number of her realms varied over time as territories have gained independence and some realms have become republics.

Times of personal significance have included the births and marriages of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, her coronation in 1953 and the celebrations of her Silver, Golden, Diamond, and Platinum jubilees in 1977, 2002, 2012, and 2022, respectively.

Obverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Lion, Leopard Coat of arms Malawi Depicts the coat of arms of Malawi dividing the date, country name above and denomination below. 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. REPUBLIC OF MALAWI 20 06 UNITY AND FREEDOM 10 KWACHA
Reverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Dog, dingo British royal family Birth or death Person (king, queen, tsar etc.) Elizabeth II Depicts HM Queen Elizabeth II with two corgis in the front of Windsor Castle, H.M. name above and inscription of occasion below. Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, about 25 miles (40 km) west of central London. It is strongly associated with the English and succeeding British royal family and embodies almost a millennium of architectural history. The royal corgis were Pembroke Welsh Corgis once owned by Queen Elizabeth II and her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Elizabeth II, who developed a love for corgis as a child, owned over 30 corgis during her reign from 1952 until her death in 2022, always having at least one corgi from 1933 to 2018. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi, which means "dwarf dog" in Welsh, is a cattle herding breed that originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is one of two types of Welsh Corgis, the other being the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and descends from the Spitz family of dogs. This breed became widely known as Queen Elizabeth II's favorite, with the monarch owning more than 30 royal corgis during her lifetime. Despite their long-standing association with British royalty, the breed's popularity has declined in recent years among the British public. H.M. QUEEN ELIZABETH II 80th BIRTHDAY
Edge	Reeded (milled)