The Royal Australian Mint has come under fire following the release of two commemorative coins featuring a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Critics on social media have lambasted the design, with some describing it as the most unpleasant portrait on a coin. These coins, priced at $5 and 50 cents, were issued to commemorate the centenary of the Queen's birth. A spokesperson for the Mint defended the design, saying that coin images sometimes don’t capture the beauty of the original design once etched in metal.

Despite the negative feedback, which included comments such as 'It looks like she just ran into a wall' and unfavourable comparisons to various TV characters, the coins proved popular among collectors, leading to a fully subscribed ballot. Reports indicated that all 30,000 of the 50-cent coins and 5,000 of the $5 coins sold out quickly, reflecting a strong interest in memorabilia associated with the late monarch.

The mint highlighted that these coins not only feature the Queen's portrait but also symbolic designs reflecting her life, such as motifs of horses and corgis, along with her Royal Cypher and emblems recognizing her wartime service. While the front features Queen Elizabeth II, the back depicts her son, King Charles III. These limited-edition coins are collector’s items and will not be released into general circulation.