Portraits of a Queen – the changing face of Britain’s coinage

Discover a little of the history behind the Queen’s effigy and vote for your favourite portrait.

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As well as the 60th Coronation Anniversary, 2013 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Queen’s coinage.

The first Queen Elizabeth II coins were struck in 1953 and since then four different effigies adorned our coins.

gillick - Portraits of a Queen - the changing face of Britain's coinage

1953 – 1967: Mary Gillick

The first coins of Queen Elizabeth’s reign  bore Mary Gillick’s portrait of the young Queen, engraved especially for the new coins.

Her uncrowned portrait of the Queen is still used on the Maundy Money distributed each year by Her Majesty.


machin - Portraits of a Queen - the changing face of Britain's coinage1968 – 1984: Arnold Machin RA

With the upcoming decimilisation, it was decided to refresh the Queen’s portrait with Arnold Machin’s new sculpture of the Queen. Commissioned in 1964, it first appeared in 1968 on the new 5p and 10p coins.  A version of the design with tiara was also introduced on stamps in 1967 and remains to this day.

maklouf - Portraits of a Queen - the changing face of Britain's coinage

1985 – 1997: Raphael Maklouf

In creating his new effigy of Her Majesty, Raphael Maklouf aimed “to create a symbol, regal and ageless”.

His “couped” portrait depicts Queen Elizabeth II wearing the royal diadem favoured by her on the way to and from the State Opening of Parliament.

irb - Portraits of a Queen - the changing face of Britain's coinage1998 – current: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

The current Queen’s head on our coinage was designed in 1997 by Ian Rank-Broadley. Created to fill the full circle of the coin, its larger size was a deliberate response to the smaller 5p and 10p coins in circulation. A noticeably more mature portrayal of Her Majesty, Rank-Broadley aimed to show the Queen with “poise and bearing”.


portraits of a queen - Portraits of a Queen - the changing face of Britain's coinage

You can own all four Portraits on original UK Crowns.

Click here for more info about the Portraits of the Queen 4-coin set