Royal Australian Mint responds after Queen Elizabeth coin design mocked online

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A special coin created to celebrate what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday is receiving criticism online because of how she is portrayed on it.

The Royal Australian Mint released a new coin to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 96, before what would have been her 100th birthday.

So, the Royal Mint just dropped details on the new coins honoring the Queen, and apparently the design is officially approved by the palace! They really tried to pack in a lot about her life – it’s got her personal symbol, the crown, a nod to her service in the army during the war, and even a horse and one of her beloved corgis. It’s like a little tribute to everything she was into.

Mint defends design following backlash

Although there were some discussions about the coin’s design elements, most people online reacted to the portrait on it. After a post on Facebook announced the coin in February, many commenters said the portrait didn’t look quite right.

People online were quick to point out the new coin’s resemblance to characters from movies like Shrek and Mrs. Doubtfire, with many commenting that it barely looks like Queen Elizabeth II. One user stated it ‘doesn’t even look like her,’ while another suggested the mint could create a more accurate depiction of the late Queen.

After receiving criticism, the Mint posted more information on February 4th about how the coin was made. They included a video and explained that pictures don’t always show how beautiful the design looks when it’s actually stamped onto the metal.

The Royal Australian Mint subsequently said that “coin images don’t always capture the full beauty of a design once it’s etched in metal.”

Honestly, even though we put a ton of work into making these coins, nobody really seemed to care. They were only up for grabs through a lottery system for just two days – February 2nd and 3rd, 2026 – which probably didn’t help get them into players’ hands.

People reacted negatively to the portrait, with one commenter joking that the subject looked like she’d bumped into something. Others compared it to Robin Williams’ character, Mrs. Doubtfire, and urged officials to scrap it and commission a more fitting portrait of the Queen.

After the first announcement about RAM on Facebook, comments were turned off. However, people can still comment on the newer post about the same topic.

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2026-02-09 15:48