500 Pounds - Elizabeth II 5th portrait, 5 oz Fine Gold

The 5th portrait of Elizabeth II — sculpted by Jody Clark and adopted by the Royal Mint in 2015 — was the first effigy of the Queen produced by an in-house Royal Mint artist since the reign of Mary II in the 17th century. All previous modern portraits had been commissioned from external sculptors. Clark, then a relatively junior engraver, submitted his design through an internal competition that bypassed the traditional selection process entirely.

This 2016 issue was among the first bullion and premium collector pieces to carry that new effigy at the five-ounce weight.