The Coins of a Celebrated Queen

Our commitment to Her Majesty started from the moment she acceded to the throne following the death of her father, George VI, in February 1952. When Princess Elizabeth became queen, The Royal Mint Advisory Committee (presided over by Her Majesty’s husband The Duke of Edinburgh) was tasked with finding a new royal effigy for the United Kingdom’s coinage. The winning design, created by the sculptor Mary Gillick, appeared on circulating coins from 1953 until decimalisation in 1971; a second definitive coinage portrait, created by Arnold Machin RA, also appeared in circulation from 1968.

From 1952, we followed Queen Elizabeth II’s journey from a young monarch to a respected global icon through our coins, with the significance of each achievement captured by beautiful craftsmanship. Across five definitive coinage portraits, we have charted Her Majesty’s life as a much-loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

In 2022, we had the privilege of striking one of our most prestigious coin collections to date to mark the unprecedented occasion of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, which has now taken on even more significance. As Britain’s longest-serving monarch, and the first to reign for 70 years, we wanted to honour Her Majesty’s historic achievement with a collection of coins that reflected the gratitude of the nation. For the collection, acclaimed artist John Bergdahl created designs including a special obverse portrait depicting Queen Elizabeth II on horseback, and two beautifully decorative reverse designs. The collection also included the first UK 50p coin issued by The Royal Mint to celebrate a royal event, which features a bold and modern celebration of Her Majesty’s reign by the design agency Osborne Ross on the reverse.

The Royal Mint has also struck coins marking other notable milestones during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. In 1977, we marked the Silver Jubilee with a coin that came to symbolise the national mood of celebration and togetherness, street parties adorned with bunting and time spent with family and friends. In 2002, we struck coins for Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee as the UK honoured her reign once more, and there can be no forgetting 2012, a year that saw a huge surge in national pride as we celebrated the London 2012 Olympic Games and Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee over a joyous summer.

The Royal Mint has also struck coins for notable events, such as significant royal birthdays. In 2021, we released a collection of coins to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 95th birthday. Referencing a promise Her Majesty made in her 1957 Christmas speech and kept throughout her reign, the coins bear the inscription ‘My Heart and My Devotion’.

As we reflect on Queen Elizabeth II’s extraordinary life, our commitment to the Royal Family and the monarchy continues. Our memorial coin collection is a tribute to a remarkable monarch and an appreciation of a lifetime spent in dedication to public service. As we embark upon a new era, we cherish the memories of Queen Elizabeth II’s remarkable reign through our coinage.