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This "Second Portrait" of Queen Elizabeth II was superseded by Raphael David Maklouf's design in 1985.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 39 of 539 coins (Page 6 of 6)
Coin NameReverseObverseDetails
Two Cents 1984 Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 10,000,000
- Royal Mint: 40,000
Total Mintage: 10,040,000
Ten Cents 1984 (mint sets only) New Zealand / Ten Cents 1984 (mint sets only) - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 40,000
One Dollar 1984 Black Robin Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 95,000
One Penny 1984 United Kingdom / One Penny 1984 - reverse photo United Kingdom / One Penny 1984 - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 155,024,965
Two Pence 1984 (mint sets only) United Kingdom / Two Pence 1984 (mint sets only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Two Pence 1984 (mint sets only) - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 265,340
Fifty Pence 1984 (mint sets only) United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1984 (mint sets only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 1984 (mint sets only) - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 265,340
Half Sovereign 1984 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Half Sovereign 1984 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Sovereign 1984 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 12,410
Twenty Pence 1984 United Kingdom / Twenty Pence 1984 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Twenty Pence 1984 - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 65,616,305
Five Sovereigns 1984 United Kingdom / Five Sovereigns 1984 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Sovereigns 1984 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 23,104
One Pound 1984 Thistle and Diadem United Kingdom / One Pound 1984 Thistle and Diadem - reverse photo United Kingdom / One Pound 1984 Thistle and Diadem - obverse photo Material: Nickel Brass
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 146,549,801
Half Penny 1984 (mint sets only) United Kingdom / Half Penny 1984 (mint sets only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Penny 1984 (mint sets only) - obverse photo Material: Bronze
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 265,340
Ten Pence 1984 (mint sets only) United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1984 (mint sets only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Ten Pence 1984 (mint sets only) - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 265,340
Sovereign 1984 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Sovereign 1984 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sovereign 1984 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 12,880
Five Pence 1984 (mint sets only) United Kingdom / Five Pence 1984 (mint sets only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Pence 1984 (mint sets only) - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 265,340
Twenty Cents 1985 Fiji / Twenty Cents 1985 - reverse photo Fiji / Twenty Cents 1985 - obverse photo Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 240,000
Two Cents 1985 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,700,000
Ten Cents 1985 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 660,000
One Cent 1985 Material:
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: unknown
One Cent 1985 New Zealand / One Cent 1985 - reverse photo Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 40,000,000
- Royal Mint: 32,000
Total Mintage: 40,032,000
Ten Cents 1985 New Zealand / Ten Cents 1985 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 8,000,000
- Royal Australian Mint: 32,000
Total Mintage: 8,032,000
Two Cents 1985 Material: Bronze
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 22,500,000
- Royal Australian Mint: 32,000
Total Mintage: 22,532,000
Five Cents 1985 New Zealand / Five Cents 1985 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 14,000,000
- Royal Australian Mint: 32,000
Total Mintage: 14,032,000
One Dollar 1985 Black Stilt New Zealand / One Dollar 1985 Black Stilt - reverse photo New Zealand / One Dollar 1985 Black Stilt - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 85,000
Twenty Cents 1985 New Zealand / Twenty Cents 1985 - reverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 6,000,000
- Royal Mint: 32,000
Total Mintage: 6,032,000
Fifty Cents 1985 Material: CuproNickel
Mints:
- Royal Canadian Mint: 2,000,000
- Royal Australian Mint: 32,000
Total Mintage: 2,032,000
One Cent 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait) Australia / One Cent 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait) - reverse photo Australia / One Cent 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait) - obverse photo Material: 0.999 Silver
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 5,829
Two Cents 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait) Australia / Two Cents 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait) - reverse photo Australia / Two Cents 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait) - obverse photo Material: 0.999 Silver
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 5,829
Fifty Cents 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait) Material: 0.999 Silver
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 5,829
One Dollar 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait) Material: 0.999 Silver
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 5,829
Two Dollars 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait) Material: 0.999 Silver
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 5,829
Ten Cents 2006 Second Portrait (Silver) Australia / Ten Cents 2006 Second Portrait (Silver) - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 2006 Second Portrait (Silver) - obverse photo Material: 0.999 Silver
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 5,829
Five Cents 2006 Second Portrait (Silver) Australia / Five Cents 2006 Second Portrait (Silver) - reverse photo Australia / Five Cents 2006 Second Portrait (Silver) - obverse photo Material: 0.999 Silver
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 5,829
Twenty Cents 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait) Australia / Twenty Cents 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait) - reverse photo Australia / Twenty Cents 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait) - obverse photo Material: 0.999 Silver
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 5,829
Five Pounds 2013 Second Portrait United Kingdom / Five Pounds 2013 Second Portrait - reverse photo United Kingdom / Five Pounds 2013 Second Portrait - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,465
Fifty Cents 2019 (Second Portrait) Australia / Fifty Cents 2019 (Second Portrait) - reverse photo Australia / Fifty Cents 2019 (Second Portrait) - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 20,000
Ten Cents 2019 Second Portrait Australia / Ten Cents 2019 Second Portrait - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 2019 Second Portrait - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 20,000
Fifty Pence 2021 Anniversary of Decimalisation (Machin effigy) United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 2021 Anniversary of Decimalisation (Machin effigy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fifty Pence 2021 Anniversary of Decimalisation (Machin effigy) - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 58,263
Gold Ounce 2022 Queen Elizabeth II - Arnold Machin Portrait Saint Helena / Gold Ounce 2022 Queen Elizabeth II - Arnold Machin Portrait - reverse photo Saint Helena / Gold Ounce 2022 Queen Elizabeth II - Arnold Machin Portrait - obverse photo Material: 0.9999 Gold
Mints:
- East India Company (modern): 70
Total Mintage: 70
Ten Cents 2024 Queen Elizabeth II Australia / Ten Cents 2024 Queen Elizabeth II - reverse photo Australia / Ten Cents 2024 Queen Elizabeth II - obverse photo Material: CuproNickel
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage: 100,000
Showing 501 to 539 of 539 Coins.
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The Definitive Guide to Australian Silver Coins
The Definitive Guide to Australian Silver Coins
Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait, by Arnold Machin: Details
Year1964
Personal InformationQueen Elizabeth II
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