A CUMBRIAN-BORN Royal Mint engraver has been announced as the designer for both sides of the UK’s first ever £50 coin.

Jody Clark, from Windermere, created a “fifth portrait” of Her Majesty earlier this year for an anonymous competition. He subsequently won the competition and his portrait now appears on all newly-minted coins.

This portrait has now been paired with Mr Clark’s design for “Britannia” to make up the brand new £50 piece.


The former University of Central Lancashire student has been part of The Royal Mint’s in-house team of engravers since 2012.

Talking about the £50 coin, Mr Clark said: “Having my portrait of The Queen selected for Britain’s coinage was an incredible experience, but now, seeing the portrait combined with my Britannia design on the UK’s new £50 coin is a double honour.”

This year, our Queen has become the nation’s longest reigning monarch and the image of Britannia has been returned to our £2 coin.

Mr Clark’s combination of these two icons represent beautifully the history of Britain’s coinage.

The image of our Queen has been imprinted upon our currency for over six decades and that of Britannia has been around even longer.

Britannia was removed from our coinage in 2008 and has returned this year. Mr Clark’s depiction of the goddess was described as more contemporary, yet still strong and elegant.

When it came to his inspiration for his tribute to Her Majesty Mr Clark said: “The Queen hasn’t aged that much since Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS created the last effigy, so I made some key changes that would make the new portrait stand out in its own right.

“The regalia I chose was key, I included the crown that Her Majesty wore at her coronation, I thought that was quite fitting.”

Mr Clark has also become a father for the first time this year and admitted that 2015 has been one of the most momentous years of his life.

He said: “It’s an overwhelming feeling to know that something I created will be reproduced millions of times on the United Kingdom’s coins, and to think that The Queen herself has approved my design.”