Royal Australian Mint's Queen Elizabeth II Coins Fully Subscribed Amid Design Debate
The Royal Australian Mint has issued two new collector coins, a $5 silver proof coin and a 50-cent uncirculated coin, in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth II. These coins, which feature a front-facing portrait of the late monarch, were made available through an online ballot that saw both types become fully subscribed. Public responses to the portrait design have varied, with some critiquing its likeness while others expressed appreciation for its artistic representation.
Public responses to the portrait design have varied, with some critiquing its likeness while others expressed appreciation for its artistic representation.
Coin Release and Availability
The Royal Australian Mint released the commemorative coins, which are designated as collector’s items and are not intended for general circulation. The online ballot for acquiring these coins concluded on Wednesday, with both the silver proof and uncirculated 50-cent coins becoming fully subscribed shortly after opening.
The Mint produced 30,000 of the 50-cent coins, valued at $20 each, and 5,000 of the $5 silver proof coins, valued at $190 each. Australian media outlets have reported that the silver proof coins have sold out, with limited stock potentially remaining at the Mint's contact centre and shop.
Design Elements
Both coins feature a front-facing portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, created by Royal Australian Mint artist Alex Stokic, who died in 2022 at the age of 96. Surrounding the monarch's image are various symbols intended to represent aspects of her life, including horses, corgis, theatre, art, roses, lily of the valley, myrtle, golden wattle floral details, and the Royal cypher. The reverse side of the coins features a profile portrait of King Charles.
Royal Australian Mint CEO Emily Martin stated that the coins are intended as "a commemoration and a tribute to a remarkable life," with the design aiming to reflect the "many dimensions of her life and her impact on Australia and the world."
Public Reception and Mint Response
The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the coins has elicited varied reactions from collectors and social media users. Some individuals expressed the view that the image did not accurately resemble Queen Elizabeth II.
Comments from social media users included comparisons to fictional characters such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Mrs. Brown, and Shrek, as well as remarks like "Looks like she just ran into a wall," "it looks like she's in a very bad mood," and a comparison to a "restored fresco of Jesus."
Conversely, other collectors described the image as "awesome" and "beautiful."
The Royal Australian Mint acknowledged the feedback, stating that "coin images don’t always capture the full beauty of a design once it’s etched in metal."
Secondary Market Activity
Despite some criticism regarding the portrait, interest in the coins remained high, with some individuals expressing frustration on social media over not securing a place in the online ballot. Following their release, the coins appeared on the online auction site eBay. The 50-cent coin has been listed at prices between $25 and $35, exceeding its initial $20 value. Silver proof coins were listed at prices up to $265 and $289 on Saturday.