Posts Tagged ‘Coin Collecting’
The 50th anniversary of the most reproduced image in the world
Arnold Machin’s Effigy of the Queen in silhouette
50 years ago in 1964 Her Majesty the Queen approved a new portrait for her coinage, and set in motion a chain of events that led to the creation of the most reproduced image in the world.
The portrait in question was designed by Arnold Machin RA – and if you look in your pocket now you’re still likely to find a coin bearing the distinctive profile.
But even though millions of coins are struck every year – it was when the design was adapted for use on our stamps that it really took off…
300 billion and counting
The 6 1/2p Definitive Stamp featuring Arnold Machin’s effigy of the Queen.
Best estimates suggest that the Arnold Machin RA effigy of Queen Elizabeth II has now been reproduced on our stamps over 300 billion times – a staggering number.
In fact, amongst collectors, UK definitive stamps are now simply referred to as ‘Machins’ because the image is so ubiquitous.
But who is Arnold Machin RA, and how did he come to design this instantly recognisable image?
From pottery to sculpting the Queen’s portrait
Arnold Machin was born in 1911 in Stoke-on-Trent. Modelling and sculpture was in the family, but his father struggled to make ends meet with his freelance modelling job. Consequently Machin started work aged 14 at the Minton China Factory, as an apprentice china painter.
But he could not keep away from sculpture, and after a working for many years in the arts was appointed an associate member of the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 1947.
Arnold Machin’s Effigy on a UK Crown
As if this wasn’t enough of an honour, in 1964 Machin was approached to design an effigy of the Queen for the new decimal coinage to be introduced in 1971. So, despite never having designed a coin before, Machin was granted four sittings with the Queen.
Cleverly using the bas-relief technique, which creates a raised sculpture from a plaster base, Machin came up with a design the Queen appreciated so much she has insisted it be used unchanged on our stamps for the past 40 years.
An £18,000 plaster cast
Perhaps testament to the enduring popularity of the image, and the design process behind it, one of Machin’s original plaster casts recently sold at auction for the princely sum of £18,000.
And I don’t think this will be the last we’ll hear of record breaking Machin sales – as time goes by the power of the image will not diminish, yet the availability of collectables will.
And now we are due to see a new portrait of the Queen on our coinage in 2015, this is bound to be an area to watch.
You may be interested in…
The Arnold Machin Queen Elizabeth II Philatelic Silver Set
The Westminster Collection is proud to present the first ever officially licensed silver philatelic set featuring Arnold Machin’s famous effigy of the Queen.
NOW SOLD OUT
The story behind the new ‘100 Poppies’ coin
The new ‘100 Poppies’ £5 Proof Coin issued on behalf of the Bailiwick of Jersey
On Friday 10th October the new ‘100 Poppies’ coin was released, and the distinctive design has been turning heads.
Commemorative coins have been issued in support of the Royal British Legion since 2008, some of them even struck in the famous poppy shape. But this year’s coin is a little different.
100 Poppies for 100 years
As 2014 marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, digital artist Chris Lloyd wanted to subtly allude to the poignancy of the occasion. He came up with countless designs, but nothing quite captured the moment in the way he wanted.
Some of Chris’s ideas for the 2014 Poppy coin.
I asked Chris what gave him the inspiration to produce such a memorable coin after struggling for so long:
“It was only when I thought back to that moving part of the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance, when hundreds of poppies fall from the ceiling, that inspiration struck. I decided that the best way to represent the centenary anniversary would be with 100 poppies, one for each year. I even counted them by hand, marking each one, to make sure the right number are there!”
The only text on the obverse of the coin – ‘Lest we forget’ – taken from Laurence Binyon’s For the Fallen – serves as a starkly poignant reminder.
Chris Lloyd designing the new ‘100 Poppies’ £5 Proof Coin
A coin for everyone, proof, silver and gold
The new coins are being made available in a range of metals, to suit any collection. From a Proof condition £5 coin, right up an impressive 22 Carat Gold edition, all of the limited edition coins are available now.
A donation is made from the sale of each coin to the Royal British Legion. So those who secure their coins will know they own an important piece of history, and they’re helping the Legion provide financial, social and emotional support to all who have served and are currently serving in the British Armed Forces and their families.
Get your coin in time for Remembrance Day
The 2014 ‘100 Poppies’ £5 Proof Coin is available to order now.
Proud supporters of The Royal British Legion.
NOW SOLD OUT – Click here for the full range of British Legion commemoratives available.
Coin Collecting – a fascinating and rewarding hobby PART III – Collecting Made Easy
Look at the change in your purse or pocket and you’ll see some coins are bright and new looking, while others look worn and battered. For collectors, the condition of a coin is very important – the difference in price between a “Fine” condition coin and an “Uncirculated” condition coin can be huge. The grading system used in the UK is:
- Poor – considerably worn, of little value to the collector unless of very rare type or date
- Fair – Worn but with dates and legends still visible
- Fine (F) – Considerably worn on raised surfaces, caused by circulation or faulty striking in older coins
- Very Fine (VF) – some limited circulation wear
- Extremely Fine (EF) – very little circulation or wear, only visible on close examination
- Uncirculated (UNC) – in new condition fresh from the mint, probably not absolutely perfect because of mass production and handling methods
- Brilliant Uncirculated (FDC) – absolutely flawless, produced and handled apart from the main coin production line – sometimes known as “Fleur-de-Coin”
- “Proof” coins are produced in limited quantities – called an “Edition Limit” in a separate process from that used to produce circulation coins. They are struck several times with special highly polished dies and usually have a mirror lustre back ground, with frosted relief.
These aren’t hard and fast rules and even experts might disagree on differences but as you build your knowledge and examine more coins, you’ll learn to recognise and assess coin quality. It’s a good idea to get a good magnifying glass to examine your coins for signs of wear and damage and assess their condition.
Displaying and protecting your coin collection
As you add to your coin collection, it’s likely to grow in value so you will want to protect it. Normally your collection should be covered by your household insurance, but if you have high value coins, especially gold coins, these will have soared in value so you should notify your insurers. They might advise you to keep them in a bank but you may want to protect your coins at home where you can enjoy them. Avoid keeping coins jumbled together, as they will become scratched. The Westminster Collection usually supplies coins in some form of protective capsule, sleeve or presentation case, depending on their value.
Albums with protective transparent sleeves, including individual coin envelopes, are a low-cost starting point, protecting your coins while allowing you to examine them. You can later progress to plastic or wooden display cases. When storing copper or bronze coins it’s important to keep them in a dry atmosphere, since damp may turn them green. In fact, avoid cleaning if possible, since even minute abrasion can affect values. Dirty gold and silver can be gently washed in soap and water. Avoid handling coins, but if you need to, handle them by the edges.
Useful coin collecting terms
- Obverse – the side of the coin with the monarch’s head – hence “Heads”
- Reverse – the other side, “Tails”, usually bearing an emblem or other design
- Type – the main design on a coin
- Field – the part of a coin between the Type and Legend or edge
- Legend – the words around the edge of a coin, often the monarch’s name and a motto or title
- Exergue – the section of a coin containing the date, usually on the reverse below the main design
- Die – the block of hardened metal with a design or effigy engraved on it, used to impress the design onto a coin blank
- Hammered Coin – the earliest method of striking a coin, by placing a coin blank between two dies and hammering the top die. Used in Britain up to 1662
- Milled Coin – a machine made coin struck in a coining press. First used in 1560, hand powered, steam powered from c.1800, electrically powered from 1895
- Mint – an organisation authorised to strike coins and medals. The British Royal Mint is one of the oldest and most respected in the world dating back to the 7th century
- Condition – the state of wear on a coin, graded inBritain from “Poor” or very worn, to “Uncirculated”, or fresh from the mint
- Proof – not a coin grade or condition but a type of coin, struck using polished dies in a separate minting process, to produce an immaculate coin