Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a sovereign [the monarch’s face on the coin].

1851		Bell’s Life in Sydney 9 Aug. 3/1: [She] was charged with having shown too strong a predilection, for ten portraits of Her Majesty set in gold.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1873		Sl. Dict.
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 60: Portrait, a sovereign (same as‘queen’s picture’).
1925		Western Mail (Perth) 28 May 21/1: [from Daily Mail, London] A sovereign had a lot of slang names [...] a portrait, a yellow boy, [...] a canary, a couter, a foont, a poona [and] a bean.

2. (US black) one’s face.

1893		S. Crane in Truth (N.Y.) 25 Nov. in Stallman (1966) 27: hero – Well, you are a beautiful collection of portraits, Move, and I blow you full of holes.
1944		‘Jiver’s Bible’ in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.