Public Outcry Over Coin Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in Australia

Sat Feb 07 2026 00:18:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Controversy erupts as the Royal Australian Mint's new commemorative coins featuring the late Queen Elizabeth II receive backlash for their unflattering portrayal.

The Royal Australian Mint has come under fire for its recently released commemorative coins bearing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Critics have taken to social media to express their displeasure over the lack of resemblance, with comments ranging from humorous to harsh critiques. Despite the backlash, the mint has reported that the coins quickly sold out, indicating a mixed reception among collectors and the public at large.

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.

Some comments included: There's a reason most portraits are from the side. Looks like she just ran into a wall, and If I saw that face without the hairdo and pearls, would never guess who it was meant to be. There were humorous comparisons with TV characters, including Mrs. Doubtfire.

Despite the criticism, some individuals praised the design, expressing their appreciation for the mint's effort to honour the Queen. Collectors quickly snapped up the coins, with reports indicating that the ballot was fully subscribed.

The Royal Australian Mint has stated that the coins, designed to symbolically reflect the many facets of Queen Elizabeth II's life and legacy, included motifs of a horse and corgi, as well as flowers like roses and lily of the valley.

According to the mint, they created 30,000 of the 50c coins and 5,000 of the $5. The back of the coins features a portrait of King Charles, the Queen's son.