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| Machin stamps in my collection. |
Do you notice how all the stamps have just their denomination printed in them and are of different colours? This series of stamps is known as the Machin (pronounced MAY-chin) series. The series is named after Arnold Machin, the sculptor of the plaster bas-relief portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that appears on the stamps.
It is instantly recognisable and has become an icon of the British monarchy. Great Britain is the only country in the world where the name of the country doesn't feature on the stamp.
The stamps you see above, make up for only 2.6% of the total stamps(more than 500) issued as part of this series (including varieties). Though it might seem impossible to collect all the stamps in the series, one can easily come across these stamps in almost every philatelic store or a fair.
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| A colourful sheet of Machin stamps. |
In 1965 Arnold Machin along with 4 other artists was asked to submit designs for a new definitive stamp. Machin was asked to contribute because of his earlier work on coinage. He initially took his portrait for the coin and flipped the design so the Queen faced left. He then went on to produce this design in a plaster cast.
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| Coinage Head by Arnold Machin March 1966. |
The monarch’s head on coins flips from facing right to left as you change monarch, whereas on definitive stamps they always face left.
The first Machin stamps were issued in 1967. The stamps, with some modification to design and production techniques, are still in use today.
The first stamps were issued in sterling currency (usually referred to today as predecimal currency) in values from ½ penny to £1. The ½d to 1s9d stamps were small definitive stamps. The 2s6d to £1 stamps were larger.
Under this currency system, there are 12 pence to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound.
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| Pre-decimal Machin stamps in my collection. |
In 1970, the world lost some of its charms when Great Britain introduced a currency reform under which the shilling went the way of the dodo and the pound was decimalized to contain 100 pence.
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| Decimal Machin stamps in my collection. |
A quick way to identify penny-denominated pre-decimal Machins is the abbreviation for penny printed on the stamp. The abbreviation for a pre-decimal penny is "d" while that for a decimal penny is "p."
What I like about this series is the massive variety of colours used. As for my Machin series, I have a long way to go. What about you?