Information about effigy: Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait, by Arnold Machin

Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait, by Arnold Machin
Australia / Fifty Cents 1966 (round, silver)

Arnold Machin O.B.E., R.A. (30 September 1911 - 9 March 1999) was a British artist, sculptor, coin and stamp designer. He designed the first portrait of Her Majesty on decimal coinage for the British Royal Mint, approved in 1964. This portrait was adopted for the obverse design of Australia's new coinage to be released on C-Day, 14 February 1966 and preceded its first use on British coins in 1968.

According to the Royal Mint, "As part of the change [to decimal coinage], a new portrait of The Queen was adopted for the decimal coins. Designed by Arnold Machin RA, it had in fact been approved by The Queen as early as June 1964. Like Mary Gillick, Machin avoided the couped portrait - cut off by the neck - which had been usual on coins earlier in the century. The wreath, however, was replaced with the tiara which The Queen had been given as a wedding present from her grandmother, Queen Mary." The "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947, is also displayed on the Rank-Broadley and Gottwald portraits.

This effigy was used on coins in:
- Canada from 1965 to 1989
- Australia from 1966 to 1984
- New Zealand from 1967 to 1985
- United Kingdom from 1968 to 1984

In 1966 the Queen approved Machin's similar design for an effigy of her to be used on what came to be known as the "Machin series" of British definitive postage stamps. Machin produced a bas-relief in clay, which when combined with a different coloured background, is reminiscent of the overlaid decoration of potteries such as Wedgwood. The design was first used on the 4d value which was issued in June 1967, and has been used on all British definitive stamps (except more recent regional issues) ever since. It is thought that this design is the most reproduced work of art in history with, to date, approximately 320 billion copies produced.

In 2007 the Machin-designed stamp was still in use at its 40th anniversary and to mark the occasion, the Post Office issued a commemorative stamp featuring a photograph of Arnold Machin. It was also available for sale in a miniature sheet which incorporated another stamp with a reproduction of a Machin series stamp as well as two £1 Machins in different colours.

This "Second Portrait" of Queen Elizabeth II was superseded by Raphael David Maklouf's design in 1985.

Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait, by Arnold Machin - Example/s on coins
Australia / Fifty Cents 1966 (round, silver)

Arnold Machin's Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on Australian coinage

Australia / Fifty Cents 1966 (round, silver)

Some countries of the British Commonwealth, such as Australia, adopted the new effigy of Queen Elizabeth II earlier than the United Kingdom did. In the case of Australia and New Zealand, this coincided with their introduction of decimal currency, so that the new currencies started with this portrait of the monarch.

Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait, by Arnold Machin - showing 100 of 539 coins (Page 2 of 6)
Coin NameReverseObverseDetails
Five Pence 1970 United Kingdom / Five Pence 1970 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Pence 1970 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 225,948,525
Fifty Pence 1970 United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1970 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1970 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 19,461,500
Ten Pence 1970 United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1970 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1970 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 133,571,000
Five Cents 1971 Australia / Five Cents 1971 - reverse photo Australia / Five Cents 1971 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 39,526,000
Ten Cents 1971 Australia / Ten Cents 1971 - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 1971 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 20,736,000
Twenty Cents 1971 Australia / Twenty Cents 1971 - reverse photo Australia / Twenty Cents 1971 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 8,957,000
One Cent 1971 Australia / One Cent 1971 - reverse photo Australia / One Cent 1971 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 102,465,000
Two Cents 1971 Australia / Two Cents 1971 - reverse photo Australia / Two Cents 1971 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 60,745,000
Fifty Cents 1971 Australia / Fifty Cents 1971 - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 1971 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 21,066,000
One Cent 1971 Material: Brass
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 1,038,000
Five Cents 1971 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 44,000
Five Dollars 1971 Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 60,000
Fifteen Cents 1971 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 44,000
One Dollar 1971 Material: 0.800 Silver
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 46,000
Twenty-five Cents 1971 Material: Nickel
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 44,000
Fifty Cents 1971 Material: 0.800 Silver
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 45,000
Two Dollars 1971 Bahamas / Two Dollars 1971 - reverse photo Bahamas / Two Dollars 1971 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 148,000
Ten Cents 1971 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 44,000
Two Cents 1971 New Zealand / Two Cents 1971 - reverse photo New Zealand / Two Cents 1971 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 15,050,000
- Royal Mint: 20,000
Total Mintage: 15,070,000
Fifty Cents 1971 New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1971 - reverse photo New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1971 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 1,123,200
- Royal Mint: 20,000
Total Mintage: 1,143,200
Five Cents 1971 New Zealand / Five Cents 1971 - reverse photo New Zealand / Five Cents 1971 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 11,520,000
- Royal Mint: 20,000
Total Mintage: 11,540,000
One Cent 1971 New Zealand / One Cent 1971 - reverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 10,000,000
- Royal Mint: 20,000
Total Mintage: 10,020,000
One Dollar 1971 New Zealand / One Dollar 1971 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 50,000
Twenty Cents 1971 New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1971 - reverse photo New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1971 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 1,600,000
- Royal Mint: 20,000
Total Mintage: 1,620,000
Ten Cents 1971 New Zealand / Ten Cents 1971 - reverse photo New Zealand / Ten Cents 1971 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 2,808,000
- Royal Mint: 20,000
Total Mintage: 2,828,000
Fifty Pence 1971 (Proof only) Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 350,000
Half Penny 1971 United Kingdom / Half Penny 1971 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Penny 1971 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,394,538,250
Two Pence 1971 United Kingdom / Two Pence 1971 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Two Pence 1971 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,455,206,250
Five Pence 1971 United Kingdom / Five Pence 1971 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Pence 1971 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 82,133,475
One Penny 1971 United Kingdom / One Penny 1971 - reverse photo United Kingdom / One Penny 1971 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,522,016,250
Ten Pence 1971 United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1971 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1971 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 63,555,000
Twenty Cents 1972 Australia / Twenty Cents 1972 - reverse photo Australia / Twenty Cents 1972 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 16,653,000
Two Cents 1972 Australia / Two Cents 1972 - reverse photo Australia / Two Cents 1972 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 77,580,000
Five Cents 1972 Australia / Five Cents 1972 - reverse photo Australia / Five Cents 1972 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 8,236,000
One Cent 1972 Australia / One Cent 1972 - reverse photo Australia / One Cent 1972 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 82,410,000
Fifty Cents 1972 Australia / Fifty Cents 1972 - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 1972 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 5,596,000
Ten Cents 1972 Australia / Ten Cents 1972 - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 1972 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 12,512,000
Fifty Cents 1972 Material: 0.800 Silver
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 47,000
Twenty-five Cents 1972 Material: Nickel
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 46,000
Fifteen Cents 1972 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 46,000
Five Cents 1972 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 46,000
Five Dollars 1972 Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 57,000
Ten Cents 1972 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 46,000
Two Dollars 1972 Bahamas / Two Dollars 1972 - reverse photo Bahamas / Two Dollars 1972 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 124,000
One Cent 1972 Material: Brass
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 1,072,000
One Dollar 1972 Material: 0.800 Silver
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 53,000
Twenty-five Pence (Crown) 1972 Silver Wedding Isle of Man / Twenty-five Pence (Crown) 1972 Silver Wedding - reverse photo Isle of Man / Twenty-five Pence (Crown) 1972 Silver Wedding - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 70,000
Twenty Cents 1972 New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1972 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 1,539,000
Ten Cents 1972 New Zealand / Ten Cents 1972 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 2,047,000
Fifty Cents 1972 New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1972 - reverse photo New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1972 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 1,431,045
One Cent 1972 New Zealand / One Cent 1972 - reverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 10,063,045
Two Cents 1972 New Zealand / Two Cents 1972 - reverse photo New Zealand / Two Cents 1972 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 17,533,045
One Dollar 1972 New Zealand / One Dollar 1972 - reverse photo New Zealand / One Dollar 1972 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 53,045
Five Cents 1972 New Zealand / Five Cents 1972 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 20,023,000
Silver Wedding Crown, 1972 United Kingdom / Silver Wedding Crown, 1972 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Silver Wedding Crown, 1972 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 7,602,100
Two Pence 1972 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Two Pence 1972 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Two Pence 1972 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 150,000
One Penny 1972 (Proof only) United Kingdom / One Penny 1972 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / One Penny 1972 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 150,000
Fifty Pence 1972 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1972 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1972 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 150,000
Five Pence 1972 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Five Pence 1972 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Pence 1972 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 150,000
Half Penny 1972 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Half Penny 1972 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Penny 1972 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 150,000
Ten Pence 1972 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1972 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1972 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 150,000
Five Cents 1973 Australia / Five Cents 1973 - reverse photo Australia / Five Cents 1973 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 48,826,000
Two Cents 1973 Australia / Two Cents 1973 - reverse photo Australia / Two Cents 1973 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 68,100,000
- Perth Mint: 26,000,000
Total Mintage: 94,068,000
One Cent 1973 Australia / One Cent 1973 - reverse photo Australia / One Cent 1973 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 140,720,000
Ten Cents 1973 Australia / Ten Cents 1973 - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 1973 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 27,330,000
Twenty Cents 1973 Australia / Twenty Cents 1973 - reverse photo Australia / Twenty Cents 1973 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 23,366,000
Fifty Cents 1973 Australia / Fifty Cents 1973 - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 1973 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 4,019,000
Five Cents 1973 (Queen Elizabeth II) Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 56,000
Ten Cents 1973 (Queen Elizabeth II) Bahamas / Ten Cents 1973 (Queen Elizabeth II) - reverse photo Bahamas / Ten Cents 1973 (Queen Elizabeth II) - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 50,000
Fifty Cents 1973 Material: 0.800 Silver
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 46,000
Fifteen Cents 1973 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 49,000
Twenty-five Cents 1973 Material: Nickel
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 37,000
Five Dollars 1973 Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 57,000
One Dollar 1973 Material: 0.800 Silver
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 45,000
One Cent 1973 Material: Brass
Mints:
- Royal Mint: 7,000,000
- Franklin Mint: 1,075,000
Total Mintage: 8,075,000
Two Dollars 1973 Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Franklin Mint
Mintage: 93,000
One Cent 1973 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 3,000,000
Ten Cents 1973 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 750,000
Twenty Cents 1973 Fiji / Twenty Cents 1973 - reverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 250,000
Five Cents 1973 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 600,000
Two Cents 1973 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 2,110,000
Two Cents 1973 New Zealand / Two Cents 1973 - reverse photo New Zealand / Two Cents 1973 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 38,573,000
Ten Cents 1973 New Zealand / Ten Cents 1973 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 3,533,000
Fifty Cents 1973 New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1973 - reverse photo New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1973 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 2,531,000
Twenty Cents 1973 New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1973 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 3,051,000
Five Cents 1973 New Zealand / Five Cents 1973 - reverse photo New Zealand / Five Cents 1973 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 4,051,000
One Dollar 1973 New Zealand / One Dollar 1973 - reverse photo New Zealand / One Dollar 1973 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 53,000
One Cent 1973 New Zealand / One Cent 1973 - reverse photo New Zealand / One Cent 1973 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 15,063,000
Crown 1973 Saint Helena Tercentenary Saint Helena / Crown 1973 Saint Helena Tercentenary - reverse photo Saint Helena / Crown 1973 Saint Helena Tercentenary - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 110,000
Half Penny 1973 United Kingdom / Half Penny 1973 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Penny 1973 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 365,780,000
Ten Pence 1973 United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1973 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1973 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 152,274,000
Two Pence 1973 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Two Pence 1973 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Two Pence 1973 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 100,000
Five Pence 1973 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Five Pence 1973 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Pence 1973 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 100,000
One Penny 1973 United Kingdom / One Penny 1973 - reverse photo United Kingdom / One Penny 1973 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 280,296,000
Fifty Pence 1973 EEC United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1973 EEC - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1973 EEC - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 89,875,000
Two Cents 1974 Australia / Two Cents 1974 - reverse photo Australia / Two Cents 1974 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 91,700,000
- Perth Mint: 86,000,000
Total Mintage: 177,734,000
Fifty Cents 1974 Australia / Fifty Cents 1974 - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 1974 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 8,973,000
Ten Cents 1974 Australia / Ten Cents 1974 - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 1974 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 46,561,000
Five Cents 1974 Australia / Five Cents 1974 - reverse photo Australia / Five Cents 1974 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 64,259,000
One Cent 1974 Australia / One Cent 1974 - reverse photo Australia / One Cent 1974 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 131,733,000
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Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait, by Arnold Machin: Details
Year1964
Personal InformationQueen Elizabeth II
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