Queen Elizabeth dropped from Fijian currency

Britain's Queen Elizabeth is to be dropped from the Fijian national currency.

The South Pacific nation's military ruler, Voreqe Bainimarama - who seized power of the country in a bloodless coup in 2006 - announced the Fijian cabinet had collectively made the decision for the image of the monarch to be replaced with local plants and animals on all coin and note denominations .

Speaking in a statement, he said: "Important and iconic flora and fauna of Fiji has been selected to replace Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's portrait."

While Bainimarama didn't confirm exactly what images would be replacing the queen, he explained the new currency would be introduced in June 2012.

Despite gaining independence from the UK in 1970, the former British colony has continued to use an image of the monarch on its coins until now.

Australia, Canada and New Zealand - all of which are also former British colonies that were ruled by the royal - still follow this practice, and have an image of Queen Elizabeth on their numismatic pieces.