Arnold Machin

1911–1999 · Sculptor; second portrait of Queen Elizabeth II

Designer of the second portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, used on UK circulating coinage from 1968 (with the introduction of decimal 5p and 10p) until 1984. Machin's portrait shows a more mature monarch wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, and was used on Royal Mail postage stamps from 1967 in arguably the most-reproduced portrait of the 20th century.

£58
20
Coins in catalogue
3
Decades active
Arnold Machin's sculpted portrait of Elizabeth II
The sculpted Machin portrait of Elizabeth II, as used on British coins and stamps.Image: Elizabeth II Machin head sculpture Portrait by Matthew Brown. Background removed by Matankic, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0

Notable works

1968–1984 Elizabeth II decimal portrait The first decimal-era portrait, on 1971 decimalisation coinage.
1971 decimalisation set Machin obverse paired with Christopher Ironside reverses.
Royal Mail Machin stamps On every UK definitive postage stamp 1967–2022.

Arnold Machin coins in our catalogue (20)

Coins where Arnold Machin is credited as the obverse or reverse designer. Click any coin for full grade-by-grade prices, mintage, and reference images. Grouped by decade.

1960s 3 coins

10 New Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait 1968–1981 · 336,143,250 · £3 5 New Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait 1968–1981 · 98,868,250 · £4 50 New Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait 1969–1981 · 188,400,000 · £10

1970s 5 coins

1 New Penny - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait 1971–1981 · 1,521,666,250 · £2 ½ New Penny - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait 1971–1981 · 1,394,188,250 · £2 2 New Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait 1971–1981 · 1,454,856,250 · £7 25 New Pence - Elizabeth II Silver Wedding 1972 · 7,452,100 · £29 50 Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait; Entry into EEC 1973 · 89,775,000 · £6

1980s 12 coins

25 New Pence - Elizabeth II Queen Mother 1980 · 9,306,000 · £4 25 New Pence - Elizabeth II Royal Wedding 1981 · 26,773,600 · £58 1 Penny - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait 1982–1984 · 100,292,000 · £2 ½ Penny - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait 1982–1984 · 190,752,000 · £2 10 Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait; set issue 1982–1984 · 205,000 · £5 2 Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait; set Issue 1982–1984 · 205,000 · £7 20 Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait 1982–1984 · 740,815,000 · £3 5 Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait; set issue 1982–1984 · 205,000 · £4 50 Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait 1982–1984 · 51,312,000 · £5 1 Pound - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait; Royal Arms 1983 · 443,053,510 · £49 2 Pence - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait; Mule - New Pence 1983 1 Pound - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait; Scottish Thistle 1984 · 146,256,501 · £23

Other UK coin designers

Benedetto Pistrucci William Wyon Leonard Charles Wyon Bertram Mackennal Mary Gillick Arnold Machin Raphael Maklouf Ian Rank-Broadley Jody Clark Martin Jennings Christopher Le Brun Christopher Ironside Matthew Dent Stephen Taylor Edwina Ellis Bruce Rushin Stephen Raw

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