Australia's commemorative coins of Queen draw comparisons with Shrek

The Royal Australian Mint has released two "beautiful" coins to mark the centenary of the birth of Queen Elizabeth II, but many Australians find them far from beautiful.

The commemorative coins bearing a portrait of the Queen have come in for criticism for not resembling her.

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, died in 2022 at the age of 96. 

The $5 (Australian) and 50c silver coins were released in an online ballot.

The design on the coins incorporates what the Mint said were her deep personal passions, including motifs of a horse and corgi, as well as references to art and theatre.

The portrait of the Queen is surrounded with flowers – roses, lily of the valley (her favourite), myrtle as a symbol of love and loyalty and golden wattle as Australia’s national floral emblem.

Peppered with some praise, much of the commentary online was negative.

"Is this what happens when the Queen is not around to approve the design?" exclaimed one. 

"That's got to be the most unpleasant portrait ever on a coin," wrote another.

There were also unflattering comparisons to screen characters, including Mrs Doubtfire (starring the late Robin Williams) and Shrek. 

The Royal Australian Mint defended the portrait, by one of its own designers, saying, “Our coin images don’t always capture the full beauty of a design once it’s etched in metal.”

Despite the criticism, collectors reported that the ballot was fully subscribed.