United Kingdom. New ‘Portraits’ Gold and Silver Proof Coins Feature Elegant Maklouf Effigy

Queen Elizabeth II's third effigy was created by the sculptor Raphael Maklouf, his regal and elegant image was couped lower at the neck and well-received by coin collectors. For the first time, a variation of the British effigy was also introduced especially for Commonwealth countries and territories. 

The Royal Mint Advisory Council invited Maklouf to submit designs for their competition in which they would select a new coinage portrait for Queen Elizabeth II. In the previous competition, Arnold Machin had rejected the official photographs given to all those competing and Maklouf was also not happy with the supplied profile photograph of The Queen. By coincidence, he was invited at that time to a royal garden party and having been introduced to the Queen, he mentioned he was working from a less than satisfactory photograph. She responded by saying she would tell Lord Snowdon, a royal photographer of notoriety and her former brother in law.

From the models submitted, Maklouf’s was the successful entry and the Queen granted the artist two live sittings. Again, like Machin, the sculptor worked in clay and the artist explained that he preferred to work directly from a subject rather than taking photographs, measurements and creating preliminary sketches. During one of these sittings, the Queen told Maklouf she thought it took less time to complete the portrait in front of her eyes than it sometimes took photographers to get the right lighting and take photographs.

Maklouf’s finished effigy was somewhat stylised and a representation of the monarch rather than a direct likeness. Although some critics described the effigy of being ‘flatteringly young’, Maklouf firmly rejected the criticism, saying his intention was to sculpt a symbol and not just a photographic image. The Queen is portrayed wearing the George IV Royal Diadem which she traditionally wore on her way to and from the State Opening of Parliament, and included a necklace and earrings.  The first coins to feature the third portrait were dated 1985 and the first commemorative coin released with the Maklouf effigy were new two pound coins marking the Commonwealth Games hosted in Scotland. The effigy was in use in the United Kingdom for twelve years with other Commonwealth countries utilising the likeness for several years further. The first bi-metallic two pound coins dated 1997 were some the last coins to carry the Maklouf effigy, this denomination became a one-year only issue.

The portrait on the reverse of the coin has been re-mastered by Gordon Summers, Chief Engraver at The Royal Mint and replicates the third definitive coinage portrait of Elizabeth II, designed by sculptor and artist Raphael Maklouf and introduced in 1985. The background includes a linear design and the text placed along the right rim reads PORTRAIT OF A QUEEN 1985 – 1997. The obverse of each coin option features the definitive effigy of HM King Charles III designed by Martin Jennings. The denomination 5 POUNDS or 25 POUNDS and year of issue 2026 also appears on the obverse as part of the legend surrounding the King’s likeness. 

Available from the 11^th December, the BU Cupro-nickel crown coins are housed in a blister-pak type folder with informative text and illustrations. The silver proof coins are encapsulated and presented in black leatherette matte cases accompanied with numbered certificates of authenticity. The gold proof coins are encapsulated and presented in polished gloss wood cases accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Royal Mint.