Ironside produced TWO sets of designs for the UK's decimals

<k> · February 18, 2011, 04:49:37 AM

Mr. Ironside with Queen Elizabeth II.

On 15th February 2011, the UK celebrated the 40th anniversary of the introduction of the decimal system. Many of you will know that Christopher Ironside was responsible for the original reverse designs. What isn't generally known is that he had to produce TWO sets of designs. In 1962 he won a closed competition to create new decimal designs for the Royal Mint. In 1966, the government announced that there would be an OPEN competition for the new designs. Poor Mr Ironside had to start all over again!

You can see him with Queen Elizabeth in the image above , viewing his eventual winning designs of the SECOND competition.

The images below show some of his sketches, dating from around 1963, for his original design ideas, after winning the FIRST design competition.

<k> · February 18, 2011, 05:11:19 AM

Though Mr Ironside is probably best known for his UK decimal designs, he privately expressed disappointment at the way his eventual set turned out. He felt that he had been required to make so many amendments that his original artistic vision had been considerably diluted. His widow hints at this in a recent article she wrote: "One recurring problem was Garter, King of Arms, [Sir Anthony Wagner], who had to be satisfied with the accuracy of the heraldry. Christopher used to call on him for clearance from time to time which led to the saying in our house, 'If only Garter could be more elastic.' ".

You can read his widow's article in its entirety on the Royal Mint's web site:

Christopher Ironside's designs

RELATED TOPICS

Wikipedia webpage on Mr Ironside: Christopher Ironside

Christopher Ironside designed coins for many countries

Medals by Christopher Ironside

Figleaf · February 18, 2011, 06:28:59 PM

Excellent link. Enjoyed the story of the little one hacking into her father's creation. It was an act of admiration.

I think you need to see the 1968/71 series as a product of its time. Britain had one foot in class struggle, the other poised somewhere between 1815 and 1945. In that climate, a head-and-heraldry design was probably unavoidable. I was surprised to read that Ironside actually wasted time on an avant-garde series of designs, even as an afterthought. The design of the decimal series that eventually came out was a giant leap forward compared with the previous series and, considering some of the alternatives you show us in another thread, not half bad.

The story of winning twice in a blind test shows how Ironside was in toch with the public's tastes and preferences. I think he was right thinking that coins are public property. In the final analysis, the artist proposes, but the representative of the public disposes and if the public mind is mired in the past, so will its coins.

Peter