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This "Second Portrait" of Queen Elizabeth II was superseded by Raphael David Maklouf's design in 1985.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 3 of 6)
Coin NameReverseObverseDetails
Twenty Cents 1974 Australia / Twenty Cents 1974 - reverse photo Australia / Twenty Cents 1974 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 33,559,000
Five Cents 1974 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 608,000
Twenty Cents 1974 Fiji / Twenty Cents 1974 - reverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 252,000
One Crown 1974 Churchill Isle of Man / One Crown 1974 Churchill - reverse photo Isle of Man / One Crown 1974 Churchill - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Pobjoy Mint
Mintage: 45,000
One Dollar 1974 New Zealand Day New Zealand / One Dollar 1974 New Zealand Day - reverse photo New Zealand / One Dollar 1974 New Zealand Day - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 55,000
One Dollar 1974 Commonwealth Games New Zealand / One Dollar 1974 Commonwealth Games - reverse photo New Zealand / One Dollar 1974 Commonwealth Games - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 533,000
Ten Cents 1974 New Zealand / Ten Cents 1974 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 4,627,000
Five Cents 1974 New Zealand / Five Cents 1974 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 18,023,000
Two Cents 1974 New Zealand / Two Cents 1974 - reverse photo New Zealand / Two Cents 1974 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 50,023,000
One Cent 1974 New Zealand / One Cent 1974 - reverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 35,043,000
Fifty Cents 1974 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 1,223,000
Twenty Cents 1974 New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1974 - reverse photo New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1974 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 4,535,000
Half Penny 1974 United Kingdom / Half Penny 1974 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Penny 1974 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 365,548,000
Five Pence 1974 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Five Pence 1974 (Proof only) - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 100,000
Fifty Pence 1974 (Proof only) Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 100,000
Ten Pence 1974 United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1974 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1974 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 92,841,000
Sovereign 1974 United Kingdom / Sovereign 1974 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sovereign 1974 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 5,002,566
Two Pence 1974 (Proof only) Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 100,000
One Penny 1974 United Kingdom / One Penny 1974 - reverse photo United Kingdom / One Penny 1974 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 330,992,000
Fifty Cents 1975 Australia / Fifty Cents 1975 - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 1975 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 19,048,000
Twenty Cents 1975 Australia / Twenty Cents 1975 - reverse photo Australia / Twenty Cents 1975 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 53,323,000
Two Cents 1975 Australia / Two Cents 1975 - reverse photo Australia / Two Cents 1975 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Perth Mint: 67,000,000
- Royal Australian Mint: 33,100,000
Total Mintage: 100,068,000
One Cent 1975 Australia / One Cent 1975 - reverse photo Australia / One Cent 1975 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 134,798,000
Five Cents 1975 Australia / Five Cents 1975 - reverse photo Australia / Five Cents 1975 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 44,279,000
Ten Cents 1975 Australia / Ten Cents 1975 - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 1975 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 50,923,000
One Cent 1975 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 2,064,000
Ten Cents 1975 Fiji / Ten Cents 1975 - reverse photo Fiji / Ten Cents 1975 - obverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 752,000
Five Cents 1975 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,008,000
Fifty Cents 1975 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,000,000
Two Cents 1975 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,500,000
Twenty Cents 1975 Fiji / Twenty Cents 1975 - reverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 352,000
Twenty-five Pence (Crown) 1975 Manx Cat Isle of Man / Twenty-five Pence (Crown) 1975 Manx Cat - reverse photo Isle of Man / Twenty-five Pence (Crown) 1975 Manx Cat - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Pobjoy Mint
Mintage: 35,000
Five Cents 1975 New Zealand / Five Cents 1975 - reverse photo New Zealand / Five Cents 1975 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 32,025,000
Two Cents 1975 New Zealand / Two Cents 1975 - reverse photo New Zealand / Two Cents 1975 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 20,025,000
Twenty Cents 1975 New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1975 - reverse photo New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1975 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 5,027,000
Ten Cents 1975 New Zealand / Ten Cents 1975 - reverse photo New Zealand / Ten Cents 1975 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 7,025,000
One Dollar 1975 New Zealand / One Dollar 1975 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 50,000
Fifty Cents 1975 New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1975 - reverse photo New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1975 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 3,825,000
One Cent 1975 New Zealand / One Cent 1975 - reverse photo New Zealand / One Cent 1975 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 60,024,991
Fifty Pence 1975 (Proof only) Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 100,000
Two Pence 1975 United Kingdom / Two Pence 1975 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Two Pence 1975 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 145,645,000
One Penny 1975 United Kingdom / One Penny 1975 - reverse photo United Kingdom / One Penny 1975 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 221,704,000
Half Penny 1975 United Kingdom / Half Penny 1975 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Penny 1975 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 197,700,000
Ten Pence 1975 United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1975 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1975 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 181,659,000
Five Pence 1975 United Kingdom / Five Pence 1975 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Pence 1975 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 141,639,000
Twenty Cents 1976 Australia / Twenty Cents 1976 - reverse photo Australia / Twenty Cents 1976 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 59,795,000
Ten Cents 1976 Australia / Ten Cents 1976 - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 1976 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 57,081,000
Fifty Cents 1976 Australia / Fifty Cents 1976 - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 1976 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 27,301,000
Five Cents 1976 Australia / Five Cents 1976 - reverse photo Australia / Five Cents 1976 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 113,201,000
Two Cents 1976 Australia / Two Cents 1976 - reverse photo Australia / Two Cents 1976 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 71,900,000
- Perth Mint: 50,000,000
Total Mintage: 121,903,000
One Cent 1976 Australia / One Cent 1976 - reverse photo Australia / One Cent 1976 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 172,956,000
Five Cents 1976 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,205,000
Ten Cents 1976 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 805,000
Fifty Cents 1976 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 805,000
Two Cents 1976 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,004,999
One Cent 1976 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 2,005,000
One Dollar 1976 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 5,007
Twenty Cents 1976 Fiji / Twenty Cents 1976 - reverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 405,000
One Crown 1976 American Independence Isle of Man / One Crown 1976 American Independence - reverse photo Isle of Man / One Crown 1976 American Independence - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Pobjoy Mint
Mintage: 50,000
One Cent 1976 New Zealand / One Cent 1976 - reverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 20,011,000
Ten Cents 1976 New Zealand / Ten Cents 1976 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 5,027,000
Two Cents 1976 Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 15,027,000
Five Cents 1976 (mint sets only) New Zealand / Five Cents 1976 (mint sets only) - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 27,000
One Dollar 1976 New Zealand / One Dollar 1976 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 58,000
Twenty Cents 1976 New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1976 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 7,527,000
Fifty Cents 1976 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 2,027,000
Fifty Pence 1976 United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1976 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1976 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 43,846,500
Half Penny 1976 United Kingdom / Half Penny 1976 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Penny 1976 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 412,272,000
Ten Pence 1976 United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1976 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1976 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 228,320,000
Five Pence 1976 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Five Pence 1976 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Pence 1976 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 100,000
One Penny 1976 United Kingdom / One Penny 1976 - reverse photo United Kingdom / One Penny 1976 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 300,260,000
Two Pence 1976 United Kingdom / Two Pence 1976 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Two Pence 1976 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 181,479,000
Sovereign 1976 United Kingdom / Sovereign 1976 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sovereign 1976 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,150,000
Fifty Cents 1977 Coat of Arms Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: unknown
Five Cents 1977 Australia / Five Cents 1977 - reverse photo Australia / Five Cents 1977 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 108,855,000
Ten Cents 1977 Australia / Ten Cents 1977 - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 1977 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 10,995,000
Twenty Cents 1977 Australia / Twenty Cents 1977 - reverse photo Australia / Twenty Cents 1977 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 41,327,000
One Cent 1977 Australia / One Cent 1977 - reverse photo Australia / One Cent 1977 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 153,485,000
Two Cents 1977 Australia / Two Cents 1977 - reverse photo Australia / Two Cents 1977 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 88,700,000
- Perth Mint: 30,000,000
Total Mintage: 102,055,000
Fifty Cents 1977 Silver Jubilee Australia / Fifty Cents 1977 Silver Jubilee - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 1977 Silver Jubilee - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 25,131,000
Five Cents 1977 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 960,000
One Cent 1977 FAO Material:
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 3,000,000
Ten Cents 1977 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 240,000
Two Cents 1977 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,250,000
Twenty Cents 1977 Fiji / Twenty Cents 1977 - reverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 200,000
Fifty Cents 1977 New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1977 - reverse photo New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1977 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 2,032,000
One Dollar 1977 Waitangi Day New Zealand / One Dollar 1977 Waitangi Day - reverse photo New Zealand / One Dollar 1977 Waitangi Day - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 117,000
Ten Cents 1977 New Zealand / Ten Cents 1977 - reverse photo New Zealand / Ten Cents 1977 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 5,032,000
Twenty Cents 1977 New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1977 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 7,532,000
Five Cents 1977 (mint sets only) New Zealand / Five Cents 1977 (mint sets only) - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 32,000
One Cent 1977 (mint sets only) New Zealand / One Cent 1977 (mint sets only) - reverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 32,000
Two Cents 1977 New Zealand / Two Cents 1977 - reverse photo New Zealand / Two Cents 1977 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 20,012,000
Ten Pence 1977 United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1977 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1977 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 59,516,800
Fifty Pence 1977 United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1977 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1977 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 49,729,800
Five Pence 1977 United Kingdom / Five Pence 1977 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Pence 1977 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 24,501,800
Half Penny 1977 United Kingdom / Half Penny 1977 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Penny 1977 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 664,561,800
Two Pence 1977 United Kingdom / Two Pence 1977 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Two Pence 1977 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 109,474,800
One Penny 1977 United Kingdom / One Penny 1977 - reverse photo United Kingdom / One Penny 1977 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 285,623,800
Fifty Cents 1978 Australia / Fifty Cents 1978 - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 1978 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 25,804,000
Two Cents 1978 Australia / Two Cents 1978 - reverse photo Australia / Two Cents 1978 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 88,700,000
- Perth Mint: 40,000,000
Total Mintage: 128,739,000
Showing 201 to 300 of 539 Coins.
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Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait, by Arnold Machin: Details
Year1964
Personal InformationQueen Elizabeth II
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