In 1952 Gillick's effigy design was selected from a field of seventeen to be used on general-circulation coinage. When Gillick sculpted the die master, however, the relief was slightly too high; the pressure of the dies therefore caused the dress folds in the shoulder to disappear. Since this made the Queen's shoulder appear uncovered, the dies were considered unacceptable; the problem was solved by a re-master later in 1953.
The design was notable for portraying the Queen uncrowned (the only one in Elizabeth II's reign to do so), and was the last to be used on the pre-decimal coinage. It it is still used for Maundy money and various commemorative issues.
Gillick was married (1905) to another noteworthy sculptor, Ernest Gillick[?], who is believed to have influenced her work.
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