The obverse’s designer, Humphrey Paget, had previously worked on Edward VIII’s portrait prior to Edward’s abdication. This design had Edward facing to the left as his father had before him, which was to break from the tradition of the head’s direction alternating between the coinage of successive monarchs; this was due to Edward believing his left side to be more imposing.

It must have been very disappointing for Paget not to see his coins widely circulated following Edward VIII’s abdication in 1936, but he found redemption when he was appointed to design the portrait of George VI in 1937. Incredibly, he did so in just one month! Despite the tight schedule, his portrait of the new king was a success and has been described as “the classic coinage head of the 20th century” and “near perfect”.

In his portrait George VI is also facing left to keep in line with tradition, as Edward VIII would, ordinarily, have been facing right.