In 2008, for the first time ever, the Royal Mint released a special Limited Issue Deluxe Proof 7 Coin Collection of the new designs for the Coinage of the United Kingdom, giving collectors the opportunity to own a piece of numismatic history.
Familiar designs that have served us well for almost 40 years will be replaced by a new set of designs by Matthew Dent, contemporary in treatment, yet grounded in the traditions of the coinage.
Now, in a new age, the time has come to rejuvenate the coinage by seeking designs that treat traditional symbols in an innovative and modern way. The series that has been chosen brings new life to the coinage and, like the decimal designs 40 years ago, draws inspiration from the very fabric of British history. The obverse design is a portrait of Her Majesty, The Queen by Ian Rank Broadley. These legal tender coins have been struck to proof quality using specially prepared dies and highly polished blanks.
