In 1964 Arnold Machin was chosen to design the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II that still features on our stamps to this day. In fact, his portrait that features on our stamps is the most reproduced work of art in history, with over 320 reproductions. Her Majesty has been asked on several occasions if she would approve a replacement to Arnold Machin’s design, but has always refused, stating a replacement would have to be “a work of real quality”.

Machin’s coinage portrait of Her Majesty first appeared on the change in our pockets in 1968, but it would take 6 years before it was used on a Sovereign that the public could own.