Many British know Queen Elizabeth II’s profile better than the back of their 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, according to London’s Metro newspaper.
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.
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 realized 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.
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.
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.
