The new design to be used on British coins from this year is a portrait by Jody Clark
(photo Royal Mint)
The chosen design was unveiled at the Royal Mint in London this week and shows the Queen looking more mature than in any of the previous four portraits used. She wears a crown and an enigmatic smile, the look of a monarch comfortable in her position and confident of the future.
The new portrait of the Queen is the fifth to be used on British coins in her reign
It was designed by Jody Clark whose image was chosen in an anonymous competition and it was only after it was selected that it was discovered that, for the first time in 100 years, an engraver from the Royal Mint was responsible for a portrait that will be reproduced millions of times and seen by billions around the world. The man himself said he was thrilled to be involved in a little part of the Royal Mint's 1000 years history.
The J.C beneath the #newportrait is for Jody Clark... And, we're proud to say he's a Royal Mint engraver. pic.twitter.com/Tu6wjB6YYz
— The Royal Mint (@RoyalMintUK) March 2, 2015
The first image of Elizabeth II to be used on coins was designed by Mary Gillick and showed the young Queen with a laurel wreath in her hair. All the images used have shown the Monarch facing right - it is traditional that rulers face in opposite directions to one another. And as she stands on the brink of booting her great, great grandmother out of the history books there is one more fact that seems particularly appropriate. Victoria only had five images of herself on coins throughout her epic reign. Her successor now matches her and may well overtake her in that as well. The age of the new Elizabeth, reflected in the Gillick portrait, goes from strength to strength.
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