Depicts the national emblem of Papua New Guinea, the state name above, date and mintmark (if any) below.

The national emblem of Papua New Guinea consists of a bird-of-paradise over a traditional spear and a kundu drum. Designed by Hal Holman, an Australian artist working for the Papuan government, Holman was also involved in the design of the National flag. Both the emblem and the flag was accepted by the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea and signed into law as the National Identity Ordinance by the Administrator Sir Leslie Johnson on 24 June 1971.

Depicts a Papuan eagle, value on the left.

The Papuan eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguineae) also known as the Papuan harpy eagle, New Guinea eagle, or Kapul eagle, is a large (length 75–90 cm, wingspan 157 cm, weight 1600–2400 g) greyish brown raptor with a short full crest, broad three-banded wings, powerful beak, large iris, long rounded tail and white underparts. It has long and powerful unfeathered legs with sharp claws. The sexes are similar, and the female is slightly larger than the male.

The Papuan eagle is endemic to undisturbed tropical rainforests of New Guinea, where it became the top predator of the island after the extinction of local giant monitor lizards and possibly Thylacoleo.