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, saying: 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. In reaction to the coin's design, one social media user remarked, There's a reason most portraits are from the side. Looks like she just ran into a wall, while another stated, If I saw that face without the hairdo and pearls, would never guess who it was meant to be. Some users even compared the likeness to that of Mrs. Doubtfire, a character portrayed by the late Robin Williams.
Despite the criticism, others praised the design. One user expressed, Awesome. I'm glad they put something out to do with Queen Elizabeth II, she deserves to have Recognition In a Special Way. Collectors reported that the ballot was fully subscribed, and the mint revealed that the silver proof coins had sold out with limited stocks remaining in their contact center and shop.
The mint created 30,000 of the 50c coins and 5,000 of the $5, all of which are collector's items and will not enter general public circulation. Besides the Queen's portrait, the coins feature designs reflecting various aspects of her life and legacy, including motifs of a horse and corgi, references to cultural support, and her favorite flowers. The design also showcases her Royal Cypher, a stylized St Edward's Crown, and the Auxiliary Territorial Service emblem, acknowledging her wartime service. The reverse side features a portrait of her son, King Charles, in profile.
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, saying: 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. In reaction to the coin's design, one social media user remarked, There's a reason most portraits are from the side. Looks like she just ran into a wall, while another stated, If I saw that face without the hairdo and pearls, would never guess who it was meant to be. Some users even compared the likeness to that of Mrs. Doubtfire, a character portrayed by the late Robin Williams.
Despite the criticism, others praised the design. One user expressed, Awesome. I'm glad they put something out to do with Queen Elizabeth II, she deserves to have Recognition In a Special Way. Collectors reported that the ballot was fully subscribed, and the mint revealed that the silver proof coins had sold out with limited stocks remaining in their contact center and shop.
The mint created 30,000 of the 50c coins and 5,000 of the $5, all of which are collector's items and will not enter general public circulation. Besides the Queen's portrait, the coins feature designs reflecting various aspects of her life and legacy, including motifs of a horse and corgi, references to cultural support, and her favorite flowers. The design also showcases her Royal Cypher, a stylized St Edward's Crown, and the Auxiliary Territorial Service emblem, acknowledging her wartime service. The reverse side features a portrait of her son, King Charles, in profile.
