Australia’s Royal Australian Mint has defended a new commemorative coin featuring a front-facing portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, after the design sparked widespread online ridicule.
The 50-cent and $5 coins were released to mark 100 years since the late monarch’s birth, celebrating her reign of more than 70 years. The Mint described the effigy as a “stunning portrait” created with “warmth and dignity.”
However, social media users were quick to mock the image. Some compared it to fictional characters, while others questioned why the Queen was depicted head-on rather than in the traditional side profile used on most coins.
Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in 2022, had longstanding ties to Australia, where the British monarch remains head of state.
In response to the backlash, the Mint highlighted design details intended to honour her life, including subtle references to her love of horses and corgis, saying the coin was created as a respectful tribute to her legacy.
