Ian Rank-Broadley's Coin Designs And Portrait Of Elizabeth II

Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is one of the most recognisable and widely circulated coin designs of the modern era. 

Used on British and Commonwealth currency for nearly two decades, the artist's most famous work has had a lasting impact on contemporary numismatic art and is regarded by many as the best coinage portrait of Her Majesty.

Rank-Broadley is also responsible for several other beloved modern coinage designs, created as part of a diverse career as a sculptor that has included notable royal and military commissions.

Here's the internet's most complete guide to Ian Rank-Broadley's coinage art and a biography of this important UK artist.

Who Is Ian Rank-Broadley?

Ian Rank-Broadley was born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England in 1952.

In the 1970s, he studied at the Epson School of Art and then the Slade School of Fine at University College London before taking up a scholarship to the British School at Rome.

In 1994, Rank-Broadley became a Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors (ARBS). He is also a Brother of the Art Workers Guild, a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and a Trustee of the King's Foundation School of Traditional Arts.

Rank-Broadley's work can be found in many notable museum collections, including the National Portrait Gallery and the British Museum. He is particularly noted for large-scale depictions of the male nude, often in bronze, but his small-scale medallic work, including commissions from the Royal Numismatic Society and the British Art Medal Society, is also well regarded.

Some of Rank-Broadley's most famous works are military sculptures, including the Essex Regimental Memorial and the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, and the Royal Anglian Regimental Memorial at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford.

In 2021, Rank-Broadley's sculpture of Princess Diana, commissioned by her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, was unveiled at Kensington Palace. Other royal commissions include bronze reliefs of King Charles III and Queen Camilla for Poundbury in Dorset.

Ian Ran-Broadley's Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum by Bs0u10e01 / Wikimedia Commons (Attribution 3.0 Unported).

Ian Rank-Broadley's Coin Portrait Of Elizabeth II

Ian Rank-Broadley is most famous among coin collectors for another royal work: the fourth definitive coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

The artist's design was chosen as part of a 1997 Royal Mint competition to replace the previous portrait by Raphael Maklouf, introduced in 1985. Rank-Broadley's design was selected and began being used on UK coins in 1998.

The fourth definitive effigy is a pleasing but realistic portrait of Her Majesty, who is shown with wrinkles around her eyes and mouth.

She wears simple earrings and the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, which was originally made for Elizabeth II's grandmother, Queen Mary. 

Ian Rank-Broadley's coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on a silver proof £5 coin.

Rank-Broadley defended his choice of a more naturalistic effigy, stating:

'There is no need to flatter her. She's a 70-year-old woman with poise and bearing.'

His approach was widely praised for its dignity and honesty, marking a departure from previous, softer and more stylised portrayals.

The five coinage portraits of Queen Elizabeth II as seen on gold Sovereigns, with Ian Rank-Broadley's design second from the right.

On his own website, Rank-Broadley says that he took inspiration for his coinage portrait from 19th-century engraver Benedetto Pistrucci's laureate effigy of King George III. The portraits are similar in their realism, the attention paid to the hair, the fact that the bust is truncated (cropped) at the neck, and the way in which the head fills the available space. The larger size of the portrait was a reaction to the introduction of smaller coins, including the resized 5p and 10p, making the image easier to see.

Benedetto Pistrucci's portrait of George III on an 1819 silver Crown (right), compared to Rank Broadley's bust of Elizabeth II on a modern silver proof £5.

Other Commonwealth countries, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, also adopted Rank-Broadley's effigy. Some international commemorative coinage utilises an 'uncoupled' version of Rank-Broadley's portrait, which includes Her Majesty's shoulders.

The Royal Mint stopped using Rank-Broadley's royal portrait in 2015 when a new design by Jody Clark was introduced. However, some Commonwealth countries continued using Rank-Broadley's portrait after this date, some through until Her Majesty's passing in 2023.

Other Coin Designs By Ian Rank-Broadley

The popularity of Rank-Broadley's portrait led to further commissions from The Royal Mint to design several important commemorative Crown coins, including:

• 2000 Queen Mother Centenary £5 Crown
• 2002 Golden Jubilee £5 Crown
• 2007 Diamond Wedding Anniversary £5 Crown
• 2008 Prince Of Wales 60th Birthday £5 Crown
• 2012 Diamond Jubilee £5 Crown

Queen Mother Centenary Crown

Queen Mother 100th Birthday 2000 silver proof £5 reverse by Ian Rank-Broadley.

The first collectable coin to feature a reverse designed by Ian Rank-Broadley was a £5 coin released in the year 2000 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother's 100th birthday.

This coin features a left-facing portrait of the Queen Mum wearing the Greville tiara. In a nod to her enduring popularity, crowds cheer behind her, some dressed in Victorian garb and others in modern clothing, indicating the different eras that she lived through. Her signature appears below the portrait. 

2000 Queen Mother coins feature Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, meaning that he designed both sides of this collectable Royal Mint coin.

Browse the range: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Coins

2002 Golden Jubilee Equestrian Portrait

Both the obverse and reverse of the 2002 Golden Jubilee £5 were designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Very few UK coins feature alternative royal portraits. Deviations from the official coinage portrait are generally only authorised for special occasions, with their use limited to non-circulating commemorative releases.

Queen Elizabeth's 2002 Golden Jubilee was such an occasion, and to celebrate, Ian Rank-Broadley was commissioned to update his own definitive effigy.

The 2002 Golden Jubilee £5 coin features a striking image of Her Majesty wearing the Robes of State, looking over her shoulder with a pensive expression. This is paired with an equestrian portrait similar to that used on the 1977 Silver Jubilee Crown.

Both the obverse and the reverse of the Golden Jubilee £5 were designed by Rank-Broadley.

Diamond Wedding Anniversary Double Portrait

The Royal Mint celebrated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's 2007 Diamond Wedding Anniversary with a double portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Another non-standard royal portrait was authorised for the 2007 Diamond Wedding Anniversary £5, issued 60 years after the wedding of the then Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten, later the Duke of Edinburgh.

Ian Rank-Broadley designed a 'conjoined' or double portrait of Elizabeth and Philip for Diamond Wedding Anniversary coins, the only time that the royal couple has appeared on the same side of a UK coin. Similar double portraits have been seen on historic medals, and last appeared on coinage during the joint reign of William and Mary.

This is paired with a stained-glass reverse design created by Emma Noble and inspired by the Rose Window at Westminster Abbey, the location of Her Majesty's 1947 wedding.

Portrait Of The Future King Charles III 

Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of the future King Charles III on the reverse of the silver proof 2008 Prince Charles 60th Birthday £5.

In 2008, Ian Rank-Broadley created a portrait of the future King Charles III for a coin created to celebrate his 60th birthday.

These commemorative £5 coins feature the artist's portrait of Elizabeth II on the obverse and a similar image of her eldest son, then Prince Charles, on the reverse.

This is a deceptively simple bust with some similarities to Rank-Broadley's depiction of the Queen. The portrait is similarly truncated at the neck and presents a realistic and highly detailed image of the Prince of Wales at sixty.

It is also worth comparing this 2008 portrait to Martin Jennings' first definitive coinage portrait of Charles, which also depicts Charles uncrowned and with a level of honesty that is now a standard for British coinage portraits.

2012 Diamond Jubilee Coin Designs

Obverse and reverse of a silver proof 2012 Diamond Jubilee £5 coin, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee was marked with an extensive range of commemorative coins, including a collectable Five Pound, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.

This 2012 Royal Mint coin features two portraits of Her Majesty. The first is Rank-Broadley's interpretation of Mary Gillick's first coinage portrait of Elizabeth, wearing a wreath of laurel with another sprig of leaves at her shoulder.

The other side features an older head-and-shoulders bust of the Queen, wearing her Order of the Garter robes. This is not dissimilar to Rank-Broadley's 2002 design for the Golden Jubilee £5 and is equally as stately.

This bust was also used on a scarce 5oz coin, issued in gold and silver, together with a one-off enthroned portrait of Elizabeth, used only on this issue and also designed by Rank-Broadley. This exclusive engraving is reminiscent of that used on royal seals and on historic hammered gold Sovereigns. 

A limited edition gold proof 2012 Diamond Jubilee 5oz coin, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Browse the range: 2012 Diamond Jubilee Royal Mint Coins

Since 2012, Rank-Broadley has not created any new UK coins but his fourth definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II remains in circulation, and his commemorative designs remain highly collectable.

What's your favourite Ian Rank-Broadley coin design? Is his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II your favourite? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.