Coin portrait of late Queen draws criticism in Australia

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete February 6, 2026 at 12:53 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

The Royal Australian Mint released two commemorative coins, a $5 and a 50 cent piece, featuring a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II to mark the centenary of her birth. The coins, launched via an online ballot, have drawn criticism online for their perceived lack of resemblance to the late Queen. Despite the negative reactions to the portrait, the coins have proven popular with collectors, with the silver proof versions selling out quickly. The coins feature designs symbolizing aspects of Queen Elizabeth II's life, including references to her interests and Australia's national floral emblem. The Mint created 30,000 of the 50c coins and 5,000 of the $5 coins.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Kathryn Armstrong 30% Robin Williams 30% UK 40% Australia 60% Royal Australian Mint ×690% Queen Elizabeth II ×7100%

Keywords

queen elizabeth ii 90% portrait criticism 80% coin portrait 80% coin design 70% commemorative coin 70% centenary 60% royal australian mint 60%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral

Score: -0.10

Source Transparency

Source

BBC News - World

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Australia

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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queen elizabeth ii portrait criticism coin portrait coin design commemorative coin centenary royal australian mint

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