Two collector coins produced by Australia’s central mint and bearing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II have drawn criticism for their lack of resemblance to the late monarch. The silver coins, with face values of 5 Australian dollars and 50 cents, were created to mark what would have been Elizabeth’s 100th birthday and were offered for sale online until last Wednesday.
In a response, the Royal Australian Mint said, "The images on our coins do not always capture the full beauty of the original once it is struck in metal." The reverse side of the coins features a profile portrait of King Charles, Elizabeth’s son.
Elizabeth II died in 2022 at the age of 96 after becoming the longest-reigning monarch in British history. "There is a reason most portraits are done from the side. It looks like she walked into a wall," one commenter wrote on a post shared by the mint. "If I saw her without the hairstyle and pearls, I would never recognize who it was," another user wrote. Comparisons were also made to various television characters, including Mrs. Doubtfire, portrayed by comedian Robin Williams. Despite the criticism, the coins have seen strong demand.
According to the mint, 30,000 of the 50-cent coins and 5,000 of the 5-dollar coins were produced. These are collector items and will not enter general circulation. In addition to the queen’s portrait, the coins feature "various designs representing different facets of her life and legacy," the mint said. The designs include images of a horse and a corgi dog, references to theater and the arts and several flowers that were among the queen’s favorites.
"The design also includes the queen’s royal cypher, the St. Edward’s Crown and the Territorial Service emblem, symbolizing the sense of duty in which the queen believed throughout her reign," the mint said.