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. Reactions continued, with some commenters suggesting that the design made the Queen appear as if she had just run into a wall, while others joked it resembled the character Mrs. Doubtfire.
Despite the backlash, others praised the coins. As collectors expressed interest, the ballot for the coins was fully subscribed. So far, there are reports of the limited edition coins selling out, with high demand noted from collectors and the public, emphasizing a complex mix of nostalgia and criticism surrounding the representation of the late Queen.
The designs of the coins, created by the mint's artists, were meant to symbolically reflect various aspects of Queen Elizabeth II's life and legacy. This includes motifs such as horses, corgis, flowers, and symbols of her service, alongside a profile of her son, King Charles, featured on the reverse of the coin.
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. Reactions continued, with some commenters suggesting that the design made the Queen appear as if she had just run into a wall, while others joked it resembled the character Mrs. Doubtfire.
Despite the backlash, others praised the coins. As collectors expressed interest, the ballot for the coins was fully subscribed. So far, there are reports of the limited edition coins selling out, with high demand noted from collectors and the public, emphasizing a complex mix of nostalgia and criticism surrounding the representation of the late Queen.
The designs of the coins, created by the mint's artists, were meant to symbolically reflect various aspects of Queen Elizabeth II's life and legacy. This includes motifs such as horses, corgis, flowers, and symbols of her service, alongside a profile of her son, King Charles, featured on the reverse of the coin.
