New coin portrait of the Queen unveiled
A new portrait of the Queen that will appear on coins has been revealed.
The new coin, unveiled by the Royal Mint at the National Portrait Gallery today, is only the fifth to have been created during her Majesty's 63-year reign.
ITV News correspondent Richard Pallot reports:
However, the British public have been told it may take some time for the coins to filter through into their pockets as they have to be delivered to cash centres and banks.
Current coins will stay in general circulation until they are naturally recycled due to wear and tear, the Royal Mint said.
Jody Clark, 34, designed the new portrait, after he beat off competition from other entries in a competition commissioned by the Royal Mint.
He is the first Royal Mint engraver to be chosen to create a definitive royal coinage portrait in more than 100 years.
"It's going to be hard to top this - it's going to take a while to sink in," he said.
"I'm really happy with how it's turned out. I can only hope everyone appreciates it."
Chief engraver at the Royal Mint Gordon Summers described the task as "probably one of the most difficult things for any artist or sculptor to do".
"This change of royal portrait will make 2015 a vintage year for UK coins, and it will be hugely exciting for us all to see how the new design appears on the coins we use every day," Adam Lawrence, chief executive of the Royal Mint, added.