Two commemorative coins, released by the Royal Australian Mint and bearing a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, have been criticised 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 on Thursday in an online ballot.
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.
There's a reason most portraits are from the side. Looks like she just ran into a wall, one person commented underneath a Facebook post from the mint.
Other comparisons included remarks like: If I saw that face without the hairdo and pearls, would never guess who it was meant to be. Additionally, some likened the portrait to characters from popular culture, including Mrs. Doubtfire.
However, not all reactions were negative. Some individuals expressed appreciation for the design, stating it was a fitting tribute to Queen Elizabeth II's legacy. Awesome. I'm glad they put something out to do with Queen Elizabeth II, she deserves to have Recognition In a Special Way, wrote one supporter.
Despite the criticism, collectors reported that the ballot was fully subscribed, and the mint later confirmed that the silver proof coins had sold out, with limited stocks remaining in their contact center and shop.
The Royal Australian Mint stated that a total of 30,000 50-cent coins and 5,000 $5 coins were created, featuring designs that symbolize various facets of Queen Elizabeth II's life and legacy, including motifs of a horse, corgi, and flowers significant to her. The design also includes her Royal Cypher and emblems acknowledging her wartime service.
On the reverse side of the coins, there is a portrait of her son, King Charles III, in profile.
