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This "Second Portrait" of Queen Elizabeth II was superseded by Raphael David Maklouf's design in 1985.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 4 of 6)
Coin NameReverseObverseDetails
Five Cents 1978 Australia / Five Cents 1978 - reverse photo Australia / Five Cents 1978 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 25,249,000
Ten Cents 1978 Australia / Ten Cents 1978 - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 1978 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 48,400,000
Fifty Cents 1978 Fiji Mule Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: unknown
One Cent 1978 Australia / One Cent 1978 - reverse photo Australia / One Cent 1978 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 97,292,000
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
Fifty Cents 1978 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 6,006
One Cent 1978 FAO Fiji / One Cent 1978 FAO - reverse photo Fiji / One Cent 1978 FAO - obverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 3,034,000
Five Cents 1978 Material:
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 882,000
Ten Cents 1978 Material:
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 666,000
Twenty Cents 1978 Fiji / Twenty Cents 1978 - reverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 408,000
Two Cents 1978 Fiji / Two Cents 1978 - reverse photo Fiji / Two Cents 1978 - obverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 1,504,000
Fifty Cents 1978 Australia Mule Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: unknown
One Cent 1978 New Zealand / One Cent 1978 - reverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 15,038,000
Fifty Cents 1978 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 2,038,000
Five Cents 1978 New Zealand / Five Cents 1978 - reverse photo New Zealand / Five Cents 1978 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 20,038,000
Two Cents 1978 (mint sets only) Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 38,000
One Dollar 1978 Opening of Parliament (Beehive) New Zealand / One Dollar 1978 Opening of Parliament (Beehive) - reverse photo New Zealand / One Dollar 1978 Opening of Parliament (Beehive) - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Mint: 1,000,000
- Royal Canadian Mint: 33,000
Total Mintage: 156,000
Twenty Cents 1978 New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1978 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 2,538,000
Ten Cents 1978 New Zealand / Ten Cents 1978 - reverse photo New Zealand / Ten Cents 1978 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 16,038,000
One Penny 1978 United Kingdom / One Penny 1978 - reverse photo United Kingdom / One Penny 1978 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 292,856,100
Fifty Pence 1978 United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1978 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1978 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 72,091,600
Two Pence 1978 United Kingdom / Two Pence 1978 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Two Pence 1978 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 189,744,100
Ten Pence 1978 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1978 (Proof only) - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 86,100
Half Penny 1978 United Kingdom / Half Penny 1978 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Penny 1978 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 59,618,100
Five Pence 1978 United Kingdom / Five Pence 1978 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Pence 1978 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 61,180,100
Sovereign 1978 United Kingdom / Sovereign 1978 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sovereign 1978 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 6,550,000
Ten Cents 1979 Australia / Ten Cents 1979 - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 1979 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 36,986,000
Fifty Cents 1979 Australia / Fifty Cents 1979 - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 1979 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 24,922,000
Twenty Cents 1979 Australia / Twenty Cents 1979 - reverse photo Australia / Twenty Cents 1979 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 22,336,000
One Cent 1979 Australia / One Cent 1979 - reverse photo Australia / One Cent 1979 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 130,375,000
Five Cents 1979 Australia / Five Cents 1979 - reverse photo Australia / Five Cents 1979 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 44,569,000
Two Cents 1979 Australia / Two Cents 1979 - reverse photo Australia / Two Cents 1979 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Perth Mint: 40,000,000
- Royal Australian Mint: 29,700,000
Total Mintage: 69,741,000
One Cent 1979 FAO Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 2,500,000
Ten Cents 1979 Fiji / Ten Cents 1979 - reverse photo Fiji / Ten Cents 1979 - obverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 702,000
Fifty Cents 1979 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 264,004
Twenty Cents 1979 Fiji / Twenty Cents 1979 - reverse photo Fiji / Twenty Cents 1979 - obverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 500,000
Five Cents 1979 Fiji / Five Cents 1979 - reverse photo Fiji / Five Cents 1979 - obverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,500,000
Two Cents 1979 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 500,000
Twenty Cents 1979 New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1979 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 8,041,000
Ten Cents 1979 New Zealand / Ten Cents 1979 - reverse photo New Zealand / Ten Cents 1979 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 6,041,000
Fifty Cents 1979 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 2,441,000
One Cent 1979 New Zealand / One Cent 1979 - reverse photo New Zealand / One Cent 1979 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 35,041,000
Five Cents 1979 (mint sets only) New Zealand / Five Cents 1979 (mint sets only) - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 41,000
Two Cents 1979 (mint sets only) Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Canadian Mint
Mintage: 41,000
Five Pence 1979 United Kingdom / Five Pence 1979 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Pence 1979 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 155,537,000
Fifty Pence 1979 United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1979 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1979 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 58,761,000
Ten Pence 1979 United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1979 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1979 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 115,538,000
Two Pence 1979 United Kingdom / Two Pence 1979 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Two Pence 1979 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 260,281,000
One Penny 1979 United Kingdom / One Penny 1979 - reverse photo United Kingdom / One Penny 1979 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 459,081,000
Half Penny 1979 United Kingdom / Half Penny 1979 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Penny 1979 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 219,213,000
Sovereign 1979 United Kingdom / Sovereign 1979 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sovereign 1979 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 9,150,000
Fifty Cents 1980 Australia / Fifty Cents 1980 - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 1980 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 38,749,000
Five Cents 1980 Australia / Five Cents 1980 - reverse photo Australia / Five Cents 1980 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 115,110,000
Ten Cents 1980 Australia / Ten Cents 1980 - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 1980 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 55,600,000
One Cent 1980 Australia / One Cent 1980 - reverse photo Australia / One Cent 1980 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 137,960,000
Twenty Cents 1980 Australia / Twenty Cents 1980 - reverse photo Australia / Twenty Cents 1980 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 84,468,000
Two Hundred Dollars 1980 Australia / Two Hundred Dollars 1980 - reverse photo Australia / Two Hundred Dollars 1980 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 257,577
Two Cents 1980 Australia / Two Cents 1980 - reverse photo Australia / Two Cents 1980 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 105,600,000
- Perth Mint: 40,000,000
Total Mintage: 145,671,000
Two Cents 1980 Material:
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 4,022,499
Fifty Cents 1980 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 318,500
Five Cents 1980 Material:
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 2,508,500
Ten Cents 1980 Fiji / Ten Cents 1980 - reverse photo Fiji / Ten Cents 1980 - obverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 1,002,500
Twenty Cents 1980 Fiji / Twenty Cents 1980 - reverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 1,016,500
One Cent 1980 FAO Fiji / One Cent 1980 FAO - reverse photo Fiji / One Cent 1980 FAO - obverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 316,500
Five Cents 1980 New Zealand / Five Cents 1980 - reverse photo New Zealand / Five Cents 1980 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 12,000,000
- Royal Mint: 44,000
Total Mintage: 12,044,000
Fifty Cents 1980 New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1980 - reverse photo New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1980 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 8,000,000
- Royal Mint: 44,000
Total Mintage: 8,044,000
Twenty Cents 1980 New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1980 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 9,000,000
- Royal Mint: 44,000
Total Mintage: 9,044,000
Ten Cents 1980 New Zealand / Ten Cents 1980 - reverse photo New Zealand / Ten Cents 1980 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 28,000,000
- Royal Mint: 44,000
Total Mintage: 28,044,000
One Cent 1980 New Zealand / One Cent 1980 - reverse photo New Zealand / One Cent 1980 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 40,000,000
- Royal Mint: 44,000
Total Mintage: 40,044,000
Two Cents 1980 Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 10,000,000
- Royal Mint: 44,000
Total Mintage: 10,044,000
Ten Pence 1980 United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1980 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1980 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 88,793,400
Queen Mother 80th Birthday Crown, 1980 United Kingdom / Queen Mother 80th Birthday Crown, 1980 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Queen Mother 80th Birthday Crown, 1980 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 9,306,000
Half Sovereign 1980 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Half Sovereign 1980 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Sovereign 1980 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 76,700
Five Sovereigns 1980 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Five Sovereigns 1980 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Sovereigns 1980 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 10,000
Fifty Pence 1980 United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1980 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1980 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 89,229,400
Sovereign 1980 United Kingdom / Sovereign 1980 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sovereign 1980 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 5,181,200
Double Sovereign 1980 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Double Sovereign 1980 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Double Sovereign 1980 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 10,000
Half Penny 1980 United Kingdom / Half Penny 1980 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Penny 1980 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 202,931,400
Five Pence 1980 United Kingdom / Five Pence 1980 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Pence 1980 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 220,709,400
One Penny 1980 United Kingdom / One Penny 1980 - reverse photo United Kingdom / One Penny 1980 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 416,447,400
Two Pence 1980 United Kingdom / Two Pence 1980 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Two Pence 1980 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 408,670,400
Fifty Cents 1981 Australia / Fifty Cents 1981 - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 1981 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 24,254,000
Twenty Cents 1981 Australia / Twenty Cents 1981 - reverse photo Australia / Twenty Cents 1981 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 65,586,000
- Royal Mint: 50,000,000
- Royal Canadian Mint: 50,000,000
Total Mintage: 165,586,000
Five Cents 1981 Australia / Five Cents 1981 - reverse photo Australia / Five Cents 1981 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 62,000,000
- Royal Mint: 50,300,000
- Royal Canadian Mint: 50,000,000
Total Mintage: 162,350,000
One Cent 1981 Australia / One Cent 1981 - reverse photo Australia / One Cent 1981 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 183,686,000
- Royal Mint: 40,300,000
Total Mintage: 223,986,000
Two Hundred Dollars 1981 Australia / Two Hundred Dollars 1981 - reverse photo Australia / Two Hundred Dollars 1981 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 77,890
Two Cents 1981 Australia / Two Cents 1981 - reverse photo Australia / Two Cents 1981 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 97,400,000
- Perth Mint: 81,800,000
- Royal Mint: 70,800,000
Total Mintage: 247,386,000
Ten Cents 1981 Australia / Ten Cents 1981 - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 1981 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Australian Mint: 76,186,000
- Royal Mint: 40,000,000
Total Mintage: 116,146,000
Fifty Cents 1981 Royal Wedding Australia / Fifty Cents 1981 Royal Wedding - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 1981 Royal Wedding - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 20,000,000
Fifty Cents 1981 Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 511,000
Five Cents 1981 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,980,000
Two Cents 1981 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 3,250,000
Ten Cents 1981 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,200,000
One Cent 1981 FAO Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,043,000
Twenty Cents 1981 Fiji / Twenty Cents 1981 - reverse photo Fiji / Twenty Cents 1981 - obverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,200,000
Ten Cents 1981 New Zealand / Ten Cents 1981 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 5,000,000
- Royal Mint: 43,000
Total Mintage: 5,043,000
One Cent 1981 New Zealand / One Cent 1981 - reverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 10,000,000
- Royal Mint: 43,000
Total Mintage: 10,043,000
Two Cents 1981 Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 25,000,000
- Royal Mint: 43,000
Total Mintage: 25,043,000
Twenty Cents 1981 New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1981 - reverse photo New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1981 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 7,500,000
- Royal Mint: 43,000
Total Mintage: 7,543,000
Fifty Cents 1981 New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1981 - reverse photo New Zealand / Fifty Cents 1981 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 4,000,000
- Royal Mint: 43,000
Total Mintage: 4,043,000
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Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait, by Arnold Machin: Details
Year1964
Personal InformationQueen Elizabeth II
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