Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II £5 Coin Collection

By Change Checker | September 8, 2025

In the last century, the late Queen Elizabeth II became the most frequently depicted monarch in British history. Throughout her reign, five different portraits of Her Majesty appeared on UK coinage, each capturing a unique era in her life and reign.

In the Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II £5 coin series, each effigy is being celebrated on a UK coin once more. All five coins have now been released – so let us take a closer look at each remarkable portrait in turn.

Mary Gillick Portrait

The first coin in the Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II £5 Collection features the very first portrait of Her Majesty by Mary Gillick.

Mary Gillick was the first artist chosen to design a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, and remains the only female designer of a UK coinage effigy to date.

Her portrait debuted in 1953, showing the young Queen uncrowned with a laurel wreath – a classical symbol of victory and honour. This design is especially significant as it was the last portrait to appear on pre-decimal UK coinage before decimalisation took place in 1971.

Add the Mary Gillick Portrait £5 to your collection now >>

Arnold Machin Portrait

The second effigy was created by Arnold Machin, whose design featured on the very first decimal coins issued in the UK. Introduced in 1968, his portrait shows the Queen wearing the ‘Girls of Great Britain and Ireland’ tiara.

Machin’s work became iconic, not only gracing our coinage for nearly two decades, but also appearing on definitive British stamps from 1967 right up until 2023.

Add the Arnold Machin Portrait £5 to your collection now >>

Raphael Maklouf Portrait

In 1985, Israeli-born British sculptor Raphael Maklouf’s design was introduced as the ‘Third Portrait’. It depicts the Queen wearing the royal diadem, as well as jewellery including pearl earrings and necklace – a more regal representation of Her Majesty.

This effigy remained on our coins until 1997, and was also used on Commonwealth issues, making it one of the most widely recognised portraits of the Queen around the world.

Add the Raphael Maklouf Portrait £5 to your collection now >>

Ian Rank-Broadley Portrait

The ‘Fourth Portrait’ by Ian Rank-Broadley arrived in 1998. His bold, highly detailed likeness of the Queen portrayed a greater sense of maturity, reflecting her later years.

Rank-Broadley’s design was also distinctive in that it filled much of the coin’s field, influenced by Benedetto Pistrucci’s 1817 portrait of George III. This effigy remained on UK coinage until 2015.

Add the Ian Rank-Broadley Portrait £5 to your collection now >>

Jody Clark Portrait

In 2015, Jody Clark became the youngest designer to create a UK coinage portrait at just 33 years old. His effigy of Queen Elizabeth II was also the first to be created using computer-aided design software.

Clark’s portrait continues to feature on circulating UK coins today, even alongside new coins depicting King Charles III. It is a lasting reminder of Her Majesty’s extraordinary reign.

Add the Jody Clark Portrait £5 to your collection now >>

An Incredible Reign Celebrated

From the youthful uncrowned portrait by Mary Gillick to the digitally crafted likeness by Jody Clark, the five portraits of Queen Elizabeth II trace the story of a monarch whose reign spanned more than 70 years.