Two commemorative coins, released by the Royal Australian Mint and bearing a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, have been criticized for their lack of resemblance to the late monarch.
The $5 (£2.56) and 50 cent silver coins, created to commemorate the centenary of the Queen's birth, were released in an online ballot that closed on Wednesday.
That's got to be the most unpleasant portrait on a coin, said one of several people who reacted negatively online. The Royal Australian Mint defended the portrait, stating, Our coin images don't always capture the full beauty of a design once it's etched in metal.
Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022 at the age of 96 and was the UK's longest-serving monarch.
“There's a reason most portraits are from the side. Looks like she just ran into a wall,” one person commented on social media.
Others likened the imagery to TV characters, including Mrs. Doubtfire, played by Robin Williams. However, some responses were positive, praising the mint's tribute to the queen. Awesome. I'm glad they put something out to do with Queen Elizabeth II; she deserves to have recognition in a special way, one user noted.
Despite the negative feedback, collectors quickly enrolled in the ballot, which was fully subscribed, with reports highlighting that the specially minted coins had sold out. The mint announced 30,000 of the 50-cent coins and 5,000 of the $5 version were produced, all of which are intended as collector's items and won't enter general circulation.
Features of the coins include motifs celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's life and legacy, alongside her Royal Cypher and the Auxiliary Territorial Service emblem, acknowledging her wartime service. The reverse of the coins showcases a portrait of her son, King Charles.
