Aussie Commem Coins Spark Royal Ruckus with Unflattering Portrait
The Australian commemorative coins honoring Queen Elizabeth II have left collectors underwhelmed, sparking ridicule on social media. The $5 and 50c silver coins, released as part of the centenary celebration of the late monarch's birth, feature a portrait that has been likened to characters from popular films and TV shows.
Critics claim the image bears more resemblance to Mrs Doubtfire or Shrek than the regal figure it aims to represent. Even the Royal Australian Mint defended its design, stating that the metal version might not fully capture the intended beauty of the artwork once minted.
The coins feature a frontal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by symbols from her life and interests, including horses, corgis, theatre, art, and her favorite flowers. However, many have expressed disappointment with the likeness, with one collector commenting that it doesn't resemble her at all.
While some have praised the image, calling it "awesome" or "beautiful", others have seized on the misfire, joking about the Queen's absence from approving the design once she passed away in 2022. The Royal Australian Mint reported that silver proof coins had sold out and there were limited stocks left, cementing the coins' status as collector's items outside of general circulation.
Interestingly, the backs of the coins feature a portrait of King Charles III, Queen Elizabeth II's son, providing an alternative depiction of the late monarch. Nonetheless, the Aussie commemorative coins have become the subject of royal ridicule, leaving collectors both amused and underwhelmed by their likeness to beloved characters from popular culture.
The Australian commemorative coins honoring Queen Elizabeth II have left collectors underwhelmed, sparking ridicule on social media. The $5 and 50c silver coins, released as part of the centenary celebration of the late monarch's birth, feature a portrait that has been likened to characters from popular films and TV shows.
Critics claim the image bears more resemblance to Mrs Doubtfire or Shrek than the regal figure it aims to represent. Even the Royal Australian Mint defended its design, stating that the metal version might not fully capture the intended beauty of the artwork once minted.
The coins feature a frontal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by symbols from her life and interests, including horses, corgis, theatre, art, and her favorite flowers. However, many have expressed disappointment with the likeness, with one collector commenting that it doesn't resemble her at all.
While some have praised the image, calling it "awesome" or "beautiful", others have seized on the misfire, joking about the Queen's absence from approving the design once she passed away in 2022. The Royal Australian Mint reported that silver proof coins had sold out and there were limited stocks left, cementing the coins' status as collector's items outside of general circulation.
Interestingly, the backs of the coins feature a portrait of King Charles III, Queen Elizabeth II's son, providing an alternative depiction of the late monarch. Nonetheless, the Aussie commemorative coins have become the subject of royal ridicule, leaving collectors both amused and underwhelmed by their likeness to beloved characters from popular culture.
and honestly, who needs a perfect likeness when its just a coin anyway its more about the collectible aspect now & i think the fact that they sold out is pretty cool so yeah, i guess its all good in the end 
. I mean, who designed them? The person behind this should've been a serious artist or sculptor, not just someone with decent Photoshop skills 
. I get that it's meant to be a tribute, but can't we do better than a Shrek impersonation? 
It's like they took a few cool things about the Queen and mashed them into this...this mess 
.
. I'd rather see the Royal Australian Mint invest in actual art projects or conservation efforts than churn out these mediocre coins. The fact that they're selling out is more due to nostalgia and collector FOMO than any genuine artistic merit 
.
. But for me, it's a major letdown 
.
They're trying to celebrate the Queen's life and interests, but I guess some designs just won't translate well from paper to metal. I don't think it's that weird that people are finding her portrait looks like characters from movies and shows - maybe they just have too much time on their hands? 
The fact that collectors are making such a big fuss about it is almost... amusing? And can we talk about how weird it is that the Royal Mint released these coins without even getting approval from the Queen's estate, considering she passed away in 2022?