One fully realised effigy – sculpted by Raphael Maklouf to the same level as the final chosen design – was never revealed to the public
Many of us know Queen Elizabeth II’s profile better than the back of our own hands. After all, her image has stared back at us from the hundreds of coins jangling around our pockets for decades.
But in the year marking what would have been her 100th birthday, a royal revelation is emerging. Or rather, an old one that never got its moment in the spotlight.
A portrait of the late Queen, sculpted almost forty years ago and then quietly tucked away, is finally being released to the public for the very first time from The London Mint Office, which has secured the rights to unveil this long-hidden likeness in an exclusive collector’s coin.
Even better, the coin featuring this never before seen effigy is being offered as a free gift to the nation, with only £2.50 postage to pay. For collectors and royal watchers, it is undoubtedly the most unexpected royal resurfacing in the recent past – a kind of numismatic archaeology.
The portrait that never made it on to Britain’s coins
The London Mint Office is offering the coin featuring the unseen effigy as a free gift, with recipients covering only £2.50 postage
When sculptor Raphael Maklouf created his now famous 1985 effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, he didn’t just produce the one design that graced coins from 1985 – 1997.
Several versions of the effigy were prepared, studied and refined in the long, meticulous process of creating a monarch’s official image. Some of these effigies were presented to officials, and some sketches have been referenced in numismatic circles over the years.
But one fully realised effigy – sculpted to the same level as the final chosen design – was never revealed to the public.
Instead, it remained sealed away in Maklouf’s archive. Not rejected. Not forgotten. Just quietly concealed for all this time. Until now.
The coin that could have been
Maklouf is well known for his gentle modelling, soft lines and that serene, almost meditative calm he captured in the Queen’s face.
The newly unveiled effigy carries the same elegance but with a slightly different sculptural character. It is the Queen as she might have appeared on every pound and penny for a generation, had history taken a different turn.
Why collectors are calling it 'the effigy that shouldn’t exist'
- Created in 1985 but never used
- Hidden in Maklouf’s personal archive for nearly 40 years
- Not revealed publicly until now
- Dated 2026 for the Queen’s centenary year
- Combines royal history and artistic brilliance
Why release it now?
2026 would have been the year that Queen Elizabeth II turned 100, making it a perfect moment for reflection, particularly on aspects of her legacy that remained unseen. The London Mint Office’s release of this never-seen-before effigy taps directly into that sense of discovery.
There is something quietly moving about seeing a portrait sculpted during the Queen’s middle years finally meeting the public eye in the year she would have turned 100. It almost feels like opening a time capsule that was never meant to stay closed this long.
Sculptor Raphael Maklouf holding the design that has been tucked away in his studio for decades
More than that, it hints at the inner workings of royal portraiture. While we all know the versions that eventually circulated, far fewer people even realise that alternative effigies exist behind the scenes, each representing a different artistic possibility. For collectors, this kind of insight is gold dust.
A rare peek inside the artist’s studio
There is something almost sacred about an artist’s workspace, from the fingerprints left in clay, to discarded sketches that suggest quiet moments of hesitation captured in material form.
By releasing a portrait that never left Maklouf’s studio, The London Mint Office is essentially allowing the public to step into his world.
For seasoned collectors, that intimacy is irresistible. For new collectors, it is a surprisingly accessible way into the world of numismatic art. And for royal enthusiasts, it is the chance to see a version of Elizabeth II that only a handful of people ever saw at the time.
Raphael Maklouf in 60 seconds
- British sculptor born in Jerusalem in 1937
- Known for refined, dignified royal portraiture
- Revered in modern numismatics for elevating the art form
- His official 1985 Queen Elizabeth II effigy appeared on UK coinage for over a decade
- Awarded the Royal Mint contract after a fiercely competitive national selection
A free gift with a historical twist
In keeping with the commemorative spirit, The London Mint Office is offering the coin featuring the unseen effigy as a free gift, with recipients covering only £2.50 postage. Strictly limited and exclusive, it is available to the public but with all the hallmarks of a collectors’ edition.
It is not often that a piece of royal history emerges decades after it was created. It is even less common for the public to be invited to own a piece of it. Yet here we are, holding a portrait that almost reshaped the nation’s coinage, now inching towards its long delayed debut.
For anyone who followed the Queen’s reign or simply loves an unexpected historical twist, this is one to watch. After years in the dark, Maklouf’s forgotten portrait is finally stepping into the light. And this time, it won’t be hidden away again.
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