Coin and banknote portraits commemorated on Queen's Diamond Jubilee stamps

by Simon Ward on 06 February 2012  |  3 comments
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The Royal Mail has issued a series of stamps featuring the coin and banknote portraits of Queen Elizabeth throughout her reign.

To mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne, Royal Mail has issued a series of stamps featuring her image as it’s been depicted on banknotes and coins during her reign.

The new ‘definitive’ stamps, which can be used on everyday post, went on sale today.

Here are the four stamps featuring portraits from old coins and banknotes:

The £1 note marked the first appearance of a monarch on British banknotes. It was based on an engraving by Robert Austin from a pencil sketch taken from a photographic portrait. The first £1 note came into circulation in 1960.

This portrait by Harry Eccleston OBE shows the Queen wearing the robes of the Order of the Garter and first appeared on £5 notes in 1970. It also appeared on £1 notes from 1978.

This portrait by Mary Gillick featured on British coins from 1953 and is still used for the  'Maundy money' given to elderly men and women on Maundy Thursday in recognition of the service they have given to the Church and community.

In 1968, Arnold Machin's portrait was used on the first decimal 5p and 10p coins, although they were the same value as the one shilling and two shilling coins. It was used on all British coins until 1984.

You can buy gift sets of these Diamond Jubilee Definitives from the Royal Mail website.

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