Controversy Erupts Over New Coin Featuring Late Queen Elizabeth II in Australia

Sat Feb 07 2026 01:02:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Royal Australian Mint released commemorative coins to honor the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II's birth, sparking backlash due to the designs' poor likeness of the beloved monarch.

Two new commemorative coins from the Royal Australian Mint celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's centenary have faced significant criticism online for their inaccurate portraits. While some fans praised the effort to honor the late queen, others lamented the designs, noting that they bear little resemblance to her. The coin release coincided with public interest and avid collectors signing up for a ballot for the limited coins.

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 under a Facebook post from the mint.

If I saw that face without the hairdo and pearls, would never guess who it was meant to be, another said.

Comparisons have been made with various TV characters, including Mrs Doubtfire - the beloved fictional housekeeper in the comedy film of the same name, played by the late Robin Williams.

Other people were more positive about the design, which was created by one of the mint's artists. Awesome. I'm glad they put something out to do with Queen Elizabeth II, she deserves to have Recognition In a Special Way, one user wrote on social media.

Despite the criticism, collectors reported that the ballot was fully subscribed. Australian media, quoting a spokesperson for the Royal Australian Mint, reported that the silver proof coins had sold out, with limited stocks left in their contact centre and shop.

According to the mint's website, it created 30,000 of the 50c coins and 5,000 of the $5.

As well as the queen's portrait, the coins feature designs symbolically reflecting the many facets of Queen Elizabeth II's life and legacy, including motifs of a horse and corgi, references to art and theatre, and her favourite flowers - roses and lily of the valley. The design also incorporates Her Majesty's Royal Cypher, a stylised St Edward's Crown, and the Auxiliary Territorial Service emblem, acknowledging her wartime service and lifelong sense of duty.

The backs of the coins feature a portrait of the Queen's son, King Charles, in profile.