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The Royal Mint has just launched the new Portraits of a Queen coin collection, and early signs point to very strong demand from collectors. This exciting five-part series will celebrate the five definitive coinage portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, charting her remarkable 70-year reign through the designs that appeared on UK coins.
The first release focuses on Mary Gillick's iconic 1953 portrait, remastered in stunning detail for a modern audience. But which coins are available right now? How will the rest of the series unfold, and when can we expect the next designs to be issued?
Here's everything we know so far about what could become one of the most significant Royal Mint collections in recent years.
The Portraits Of A Queen Collection
During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) became one of the most recognisable figures in the world. Her image was a constant presence on British coinage, from the 1953 coronation coins through to the final 2022-dated issues, struck in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year.
The Portraits of a Queen series celebrates this incredible legacy by remastering all five of Elizabeth II's definitive coinage portraits for a new audience. Each effigy has been reinterpreted by Gordon Summers, Chief Engraver at The Royal Mint, with subtle updates to bring out the finest detail. All the coins we've seen previewed so far feature a striking sunburst background, which adds depth and a contemporary, cohesive aesthetic.
Browse the range: Portraits Of A Queen Collection
Mary Gillick's First Portrait
Mary Gillick (1881–1965) was a sculptor and medallist whose career spanned the first half of the 20th century. She was in her early 70s when she won a competition to design Queen Elizabeth II's first coinage portrait, following Her Majesty's accession to the throne in 1952.
Gillick's youthful portrait shows Elizabeth bare-shouldered and crowned with a laurel wreath. The elegant effigy was used on all UK coinage from 1953 until just before decimalisation in 1967, and remains highly regarded today.
The first Portraits of a Queen release (seen here in silver and gold) features a version of Mary Gillick's first definitive portrait of Elizabeth II.
This first release in the Portraits of a Queen series features a variant of Gillick's celebrated design, adding a light garment around her shoulders. The portrait is set against a textured sunburst background with an inscription to the right that reads ‘PORTRAIT OF A QUEEN 1953–1967'.
Releases in the Mary Gillick range include:
Each coin features Martin Jennings' portrait of King Charles III on the obverse, together with the date and denomination.
Definitive Coinage Portraits
The Portraits of a Queen collection will continue with four further designs, each representing a distinct chapter in Elizabeth II's reign:
Arnold Machin: Introduced in 1968 before the move to decimal currency and used until 1984, Machin's portrait shows a slightly older Queen wearing the ‘Girls of Great Britain and Ireland' tiara. Its refined simplicity made it a favourite among collectors.
Raphael Maklouf: Maklouf's effigy, used between 1985 and 1997, is formal and detailed, showing the Queen wearing the King George IV State Diadem. His aim was to capture the monarch's poise and dignity in a timeless, sculptural style.
Ian Rank-Broadley: The sculptor's bolder, more realistic design focused on accuracy and recognisable likeness. It shows the Queen later in life and remained on UK coins for nearly two decades, between 1998 and 2015, and is still regularly seen in change.
Jody Clark: The final definitive portrait, created digitally, again shows the Queen wearing the George IV State Diadem. It became the last image of Elizabeth II used on UK coinage and was used on currency between 2015 and 2022.
The five different portraits of Queen Elizabeth II used on British coinage during her reign.
Future Royal Mint Collectables
For collectors, Portraits of a Queen feels like a natural successor to The Royal Mint's Great Engravers series. Both celebrate historic designs and feature the work of some of Britain's finest sculptors. But while Great Engravers revisited iconic 19th-century masterpieces, Portraits of a Queen looks at designs that are both familiar and nostalgic: effigies we all know from the coins we remember using.
This series offers a fresh way to appreciate those engravings, with remastered detail, modern minting technology, and that distinctive sunburst design that ties the whole collection together. For collectors who like a complete, finite series, this five-part project is a perfect fit.
Share Your Thoughts
Which of the five portraits of the Queen is your favourite? Will you be collecting the entire series, or choosing the portrait that means the most to you? Let us know in the comments on Facebook or Instagram: we'd love to hear your thoughts!
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