Depicts King Charles III’s effigy, surrounded by the Latin inscription. Engraver's initials on the neck.

CHARLES III DEI GRATIA REX FIDEI DEFENSOR means King Charles III, by the Grace of God King, Defender of the Faith.

Engraver: Martin Jennings (MJ)

Depicts the Wilkins Building of the National Gallery at the center, with the anniversary itself framing the building in a semi-circle.

The first proposal for a National Gallery on Trafalgar Square came from John Nash, envisioning it at the King's Mews site, along with a Parthenon-like structure for the Royal Academy in the square's center. Economic challenges prevented Nash's plan, leading to a competition in 1831, won by William Wilkins. Facing limitations on depth due to adjacent buildings, public right-of-way issues, and financial constraints, the resulting building was criticized for being excessively low and lacking the desired focal point. Recycled columns from Carlton House and sculptures intended for Nash's Marble Arch contributed to its unfavorable reception.

Engraver: Edwina Ellis (3E)

‘The glory of our ancestors is a light to our descendants’ is inscribed on the ceiling above the main staircase in the Wilkins Building of the Gallery. The phrase conveys the notion that the great artists of the past inspire those of the future – a founding principle of the National Gallery.