Ian Rank-Broadley, coin designer

[<k>]

Ian Rank-Broadley is a British sculptor.

He was born in Surrey in 1952 and attended Epsom School of Art and Slade School of Fine Art.

[<k>]

In 1990 he designed the reverse of this Jersey 5 pounds coin.

It commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain..

[<k>]

At some point in the first half of the 1990s, Mr Rank-Broadley visited the Royal Mint. Here is one version of the result of that visit:

Anthony Garratt, deputy master of our Royal Mint, recoiled from Ian Rank- Broadley, the British sculptor, and summoned a guard to escort him from the building. Mr Rank-Broadley had said much of the Mint's output of coins and medals was 'rubbish aesthetically'.

Source: Medals that break the mould

As is so often the case, the young radical and haughty iconoclast went on to become a respected member of the establishment that he sought to change, creating many numismatic designs portraying the Queen and the Royal family.

[<k>]

Mr Rank-Broadley must eventually have repaired his relations with the Royal Mint, because in 1997 he won a competition to design a new portrait of the monarch. From 1998 it appeared on the obverse of the coins of the UK, as well as on coins of various countries of the Commonwealth.

At once regal and realistic, the portrait is a modern classic, and a distinct change from the worthy but rather anodyne Maklouf portrait that preceded it. Mr Rank-Broadley said that he was in part influenced by the full face portrait of George III, as shown on his old coins, and also by the need to make the portrait fill as much of the coin as possible, now that circulation coins in general were getting smaller.

Above is his famous portrait, as seen on the obverse of a New Zealand coin.

[<k>]

British Antarctic Territory.

This more formal portrait of the Queen was created by Ian Rank-Broadley for use on collector coins.

It is known as the uncouped version of the effigy.

[<k>]

This variation appears on a Cook Islands collector coin.

I am not sure whether Mr Rank-Broadley would approve of this version.

[<k>]

In the year 2000 the UK issued a 5 pound coin to mark the 100th birthday of the Queen Mother.

Mr Rank-Broadley designed the portrait that appeared on the reverse of the coin.

[<k>]

In 2002 the Royal Mint issued a 5 pound coin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Ian Rank-Broadley designed the obverse and the reverse of the coin.

[<k>]

Above you see the reverse of the 5 pound coin of 2002.


See also: Design Development of the UK 5 Pound Coin of 2002.

[<k>]

Mr Rank-Broadley also designed the obverse portrait for the UK 5 pound coin of 2007.

It commemorated  the 60th wedding anniversary of the Queen and Prince Philip.

[<k>]

In 2008 his portrait of the Prince of Wales at 60 appeared on the UK 5 pound coin that was issued to mark the occasion.

The Prince's motto of "Ich dien" (German for "I serve") forms parts of the legend.

[<k>]

In 2012 Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Mr Rank-Broadley once again created various numismatic designs to mark the occasion. His official portrait of the Queen that appears on the obverse of all the UK's official Diamond Jubilee coins is shown below.

The Queen is depicted in the robes of the order of the Garter and wearing the tiara that Queen Mary, the wife of King George V, gave to her for her wedding.

[<k>]

Inspired by the Royal Great seal of the Queen, the reverse of the official 10 pound coin of 2012, also designed By Ian Rank-Broadley, shows the Queen on a classically-designed throne, with wreaths of olive branches positioned above her head. An inscription in Latin reads: DILECTA REGNO MCMLII - MMXII, meaning "I reign beloved 1952-2012".

[<k>]

Gold and silver kilo coins, with a face value of one thousand pounds, were also issued in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee.

The reverse design, once more by Mr Rank-Broadley, uses the Royal crest with heraldic image, complete with lion and unicorn supporters and surrounded with branches of laurel. Underneath, a detailed representation of St. George slaying the dragon hangs between two numerals on either side, denoting the year of issue: 2012.

[<k>]

Perhaps Mr Rank-Broadley can be seen as a modern-day Percy Metcalfe: a modernist who became accepted into the Establishment and, in so doing, changed the face of numismatics with his bold and complex designs.