Early Machin Stamp Designs

Arnold Machin, was not only responsible for the profile portrait of The Queen’s head which is still used on British postage stamps today.

His actual diadem design was based on the image of The Queen’s head he had produced for coinage introduced first in 1968.

For this he created many preparatory designs for the stamps, two of which are displayed here.

These pictures are now in the Royal Collection having been donated to H.M.Queen elizabeth II.

It is written that "they appear to be painted over photographs of the mould made for the Royal Mint coins."

These designs were presented to Her Majesty as part of a gift of drawings by members of the Royal Academy on her Silver Jubilee in 1977"

The first portrait of Her Majesty on Australian decimal coinage was designed by Arnold Machin OBE RA for the British Royal Mint and approved in 1964.

This portrait was adopted for the obverse design of Australia's new coinage to be released on C-Day, 14 February 1966 and preceded its first use on British coins in 1968.