Two commemorative coins, released by the Royal Australian Mint and bearing a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, have been criticized 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 underneath 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.
Other individuals praised the design, appreciating the honor paid to the Queen. Despite the backlash, collectors reported that the ballot was fully subscribed, and Australian media stated the coins had sold out quickly.
According to the mint, it created 30,000 of the 50-cent coins and 5,000 of the $5 coins, featuring designs that reflect the Queen's life and legacy, including motifs of a horse and corgi, flowers, and symbols acknowledging her service during the war.
The reverse side of the coins features a portrait of King Charles in profile.
