THE Lake District designer of The Queen’s fifth coin portrait has kicked off production of the new 2015 circulating coins.

Jody Clark, of Bowness, was offered the chance to start up the presses which will strike his own depiction of The Queen on all newly issued UK coins for general circulation from now on.

Just 33 when his design was selected from a number of anonymous submissions to a design competition, the University of Central Lancashire graduate is the youngest of the five designers to have created the portraits of The Queen that have appeared on UK circulating coin during her 63 year reign.

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He is the first Royal Mint engraver to be chosen to create a definitive royal coinage portrait in over 100 years.

His is only the fifth definitive portrait of The Queen to appear on our circulating coins since her accession to the throne in 1952.

Jody said: “There is going to be a competition with my colleagues to see who can be the first to find one in general circulation.

“That will be the best bit for me, seeing my design on a circulating coin which is a bit battered and knowing that it’s been on a journey.”