On a stamp or medal why why does the queens head face right . english?

Question

On a stamp or medal why why does the queens head face right . english?

Answer 1

Old know all is right, but the never-issued Edward VIII coins would have shown him facing the same side as his father, as he was vain and wanted to show his 'good side'.

Answer 2

I think on a postage stamp, she faces to her right (our left) so that when the postage stamp is always affixed onto the top left hand corner of the envelope, the queen would face in towards the centre of the envelope and not outwards to oblivion.

Answer 3

For many centuries, successive monarchs have faced in the opposite direction to the previous one.  So George VI faced left, Edward VIII faced right (on postage stamps at least, he never made it to the coinage), George V faced left etc.  I understand that this dates back to when the art of engraving the monarch's head was less exact and you needed a bit of help to know which was which.

Answer 4

i suppose it shows her looking "forward" to the future rather than behind her into what has been and gone

Answer 5

She's just trying to show her "good side."

Answer 6

...whereas on stamps she faces left?

Not sure what the reason is but its an interesting point!

Answer 7

Each monarch faces in the opposite direction from the previous one. It has developed as a tradition from days when people were less familiar with the appearance of the sovereign, as there was no such thing as photography, and this distinguished them one from another.  The Queen's father, George VI, faced left.  His brother, during his very brief reign as Edward VIII, faced right.  Their father, George V, faced left.  The next monarch will face left.

Answer 8

She had a shaving rash on the other side during the photography!!