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British Decimal Currency - Numismatics,
Two Pound 200p
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2015
Fifth Definitive Portrait of the Queen
A new portrait of the Queen to appear on coins has been unveiled by the Royal Mint.
It is only the fifth definitive coin portrait of the monarch since her accession to the throne in 1952.
When it appears in our change later this year, it will become the fourth portrait currently in circulation, joining those created in 1968, 1985 and 1998.
Pictured: The plaster casts for the four previous versions that have graced British coinage since 1953.
It is only the fifth definitive coin portrait of the monarch since her accession to the throne in 1952.
When it appears in our change later this year, it will become the fourth portrait currently in circulation, joining those created in 1968, 1985 and 1998.
Pictured: The plaster casts for the four previous versions that have graced British coinage since 1953.
2. The new portrait is designed by Jody Clark, the first Royal Mint engraver to be chosen to create a definitive royal coinage portrait in over 100 years.
Just 33 when his design was selected from a number of anonymous submissions to a design competition, Jody is the youngest of the five designers to have created the portraits of the Queen that have appeared on UK circulating coin during her 63-year reign.
3. .The new face
Jody’s elegant portrayal of the Queen (pictured above transitioning from sketch, to model to minted coin) shows her wearing the royal diamond diadem crown worn for her Coronation.
The winning artwork was recommended to the Chancellor and, ultimately, the Queen for approval.
Jody’s elegant portrayal of the Queen (pictured above transitioning from sketch, to model to minted coin) shows her wearing the royal diamond diadem crown worn for her Coronation.
The winning artwork was recommended to the Chancellor and, ultimately, the Queen for approval.
4. Adam Lawrence, Chief Executive of the Royal Mint, said: “This change of royal portrait will make 2015 a vintage year for UK coins, and it will be hugely exciting for us all to see the new design appear on the coins we use every day.
The last Royal Mint Engraver to be commissioned to undertake a royal portrait was George William de Saulles, who engraved the portrait of Edward VII which first appeared on the coinage in 1902.
The last Royal Mint Engraver to be commissioned to undertake a royal portrait was George William de Saulles, who engraved the portrait of Edward VII which first appeared on the coinage in 1902.
5. In 1952, Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II, and the first coins of her reign were struck. The first definitive portrait of the Queen was created by Mary Gillick, a British sculptor born in Nottingham, England in 1881.
Gillick captured the promise of the young Elizabeth, (1953) wishing to reflect her youthfulness rather than a perfect likeness of her physical age. Her portrait echoed the classical, with the Queen wearing a wreath of laurel, rather than the crown we are so used to seeing today.
Gillick captured the promise of the young Elizabeth, (1953) wishing to reflect her youthfulness rather than a perfect likeness of her physical age. Her portrait echoed the classical, with the Queen wearing a wreath of laurel, rather than the crown we are so used to seeing today.
6. Since embarking on his career at the Royal Mint, Jody has worked on some notable projects such as the medals struck to celebrate the 2014 Ryder Cup and Nato Summit.
Jody’s portrait of the Queen has a sense of the monarch’s warmth, with a hint of a smile, reflecting the modern queen we see today. It incorporates both modern elements and some that recognise the effigies that have gone before.
Jody’s portrait of the Queen has a sense of the monarch’s warmth, with a hint of a smile, reflecting the modern queen we see today. It incorporates both modern elements and some that recognise the effigies that have gone before.
7. Preparations for decimalisation began secretly in 1962, with the coinage needing a whole new suite of designs, including a more up-to-date portrait of the Queen, who had been on the throne for 15 years.
Sculptor Arnold Machin, born in Stoke-on-Trent, England in 1911, was selected from initial designs and would go on to model his portrait in two sittings to perfect his effigy.
Unusually, although still in side-profile, the Queen is seen almost from the back, perhaps prompting John Betjeman’s judgment of the portrait as a little “racy”.
Sculptor Arnold Machin, born in Stoke-on-Trent, England in 1911, was selected from initial designs and would go on to model his portrait in two sittings to perfect his effigy.
Unusually, although still in side-profile, the Queen is seen almost from the back, perhaps prompting John Betjeman’s judgment of the portrait as a little “racy”.
8. Jody Clark said: “I really liked the four previous coin portraits - each one is strong in its own way. I hope that I’ve done Her Majesty justice and captured her as I intended, in a fitting representation.
The news that my design had been chosen was quite overwhelming, and I still can’t quite believe that my royal portrait will be featured on millions of coins."
The news that my design had been chosen was quite overwhelming, and I still can’t quite believe that my royal portrait will be featured on millions of coins."
9. Raphael Maklouf was born in Jerusalem in 1937 and came to Britain after the Second World War. His was the third definitive portrait of the Queen, and it first appeared in 1985.
It was a formal depiction and was ‘couped’ (or cut-off) above the shoulders, the first time a coinage portrait has been treated this way during the Queen’s reign.
It was a formal depiction and was ‘couped’ (or cut-off) above the shoulders, the first time a coinage portrait has been treated this way during the Queen’s reign.
10. Coins featuring the new effigy go into production as of today, and the public are being urged to keep a watchful eye on their coins later this year when it will start to appear in pockets, purses and piggy banks across the land.
11. The fourth definitive coinage portrait was introduced in 1998, and was created by Surrey-born sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.
His design was strong and took many months to complete, but Mr Rank-Broadley felt “it was essential to the integrity of the project for the portrait to be a recognisable one, and not over-idealised".
His design was strong and took many months to complete, but Mr Rank-Broadley felt “it was essential to the integrity of the project for the portrait to be a recognisable one, and not over-idealised".
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