£5 Coins
Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II £5 Coin Collection
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
With the release of this new series, collectors now have the chance to collect all five portraits on beautifully designed UK £5 coins.
Continue your Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II £5 Collection
Add the 2026 UK Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II Jody Clark £5 to your collection >>
Or Secure The Entire Set If You Missed It
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First ever Princess Anne £5 honours a lifetime of service
As The Princess Royal celebrates her 75th birthday in 2025, a UK £5 coin has been issued to mark the milestone.
Issued by The Royal Mint and personally approved by Princess Anne herself, the 2025 UK 75th Birthday of Princess Anne £5 is the first ever UK coin dedicated to Her Royal Highness.
A Royal and numismatic first
This coin marks a numismatic first, as Princess Anne has never before featured on a UK coin, and to make it extra special, The Princess Royal personally approved the design.
The reverse design features Princess Anne’s official Coat of Arms, along with an official photographic portrait by acclaimed royal photographer John Swannell, Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society.
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Honouring a lifetime of service
From her earliest days, Princess Anne has remained one of the hardest-working royals, carrying out public duties since the age of 18 and supporting over 300 charities and organisations.
Image Credit: Chatham House, via Wikimedia Commons
Whether it’s representing the UK abroad, or devoting time to causes close to her heart, The Princess Royal has spent decades showing what it truly means to serve.
Passion for equestrianism
Her Royal Highness is perhaps best known for her love horses and her passion for equestrianism. Did you know, Princess Anne became the first member of the British Royal Family to compete in the Olympic Games? She represented Great Britain in eventing at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, however she unfortunately fell from her horse after he hit the 19th fence on the steeplechase course.
Her trusted mount, Doublet – a Thoroughbred cross gelding – helped her to victory at the 1971 European Eventing Championships, where she claimed individual gold. This dedication to the sport not only showcased her skill and determination, but also cemented her status as one of the most respected figures in the equestrian world.
Image Credit: The Gait Post
The 2025 UK 75th Birthday of Princess Anne £5 is a fitting tribute to her legacy and unwavering commitment to the Crown.
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150 Years of Liberty London celebrated on a UK £5
For the first time ever, one of London’s most iconic department stores, Liberty, has been celebrated on a UK coin, and you won’t believe how stunning it looks.
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150 Years of Liberty
2025 marks 150 years since British merchant Arthur Lasenby Liberty opened his first store, sourcing fabrics, ornaments and trinkets from around the world. Since then, Liberty has gained international acclaim for its unique and trendsetting pieces, and is famed for its directional design, cultural collaborations and inspiring curation.
Image Credit: Oast House Archive, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Did you know? The Tudor style Liberty building was constructed from the timbers of two ancient battle ships – the HMS Impregnable and the HMS Hindustan.
A breath taking design
The reverse design on the 2025 150 Years of Liberty £5 has been created by The Royal Mint and the Liberty design team, and features the famous Liberty building with decorative half-timbering and iconic Mayflower ship weather vane. An elegant floral paisley motif also sweeps across the design, an homage to the bold fabrics Liberty is known for, along with the Liberty logo and the inscription ‘150 YEARS’.
While we’ve seen UK coins celebrate everything from Royal anniversaries to literary legends, this release is truly one-of-a-kind, as it’s the very first time Liberty has appeared on a UK coin.
In fact, the Gold Proof 150 Years of Liberty £5 was completely reserved at The Royal Mint within just hours of release!
London landmarks on coins
Liberty isn’t the first iconic London building to feature on a UK coin, in fact we’ve seen a fair few London landmarks on our coins in recent years…
2024 Buckingham Palace £5
One of the most recognisable buildings in the world, Buckingham Palace, has been home to British monarchs since Queen Victoria, and was celebrated on a UK £5 coin in 2024.
Originally issued as part of the 2024 Annual Coin Set and individually issued later that year, the Buckingham Palace £5 features a beautifully detailed depiction of the front of Buckingham Palace with the Royal Standard flying, encircled by a floral ring.
Many a state visit and national celebration have taken place at the Palace, most recently The King’s Coronation celebrations in 2023 and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
2024 National Gallery £2
Another coin that featured in the 2024 Annual Set was the National Gallery £2, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the gallery.
Originally founded in 1824, the gallery was initially based in financier John Julius Angerstein’s house, until a dedicated building was commissioned to be built in Trafalgar Square in London in 1838.
The iconic gallery building features on this £2 coin along with the inscription ‘200 years of the National Gallery’.
2018 and 2019 Paddington 50ps
Paddington first featured on a UK coin in 2018, when two 50p coins were issued to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Michael Bond’s classic book, A Bear Called Paddington. The beloved bear was seen visiting popular landmarks around London, such as his namesake train station and Buckingham Palace.
Paddington’s tour of London continued when two more Paddington 50ps were issued in 2019. He stopped off at the Tower of London, where he enjoyed a marmalade sandwich, and tipped his hat at St Paul’s Cathedral.
With so many historic London buildings having already featured on UK coins, Liberty is a fitting addition, especially in its 150th year!
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