or King’s picture or portrait, subs. phr. (old).—1. Money: generic: see RHINO. Also (2—spec.) = a sovereign; 20/-: hence TO DRAW THE QUEEN’S (or KING’S) PICTURE (or PORTRAIT) = to coin money.—B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785).
1632. R. BROME, The Court Beggar [Works (1873), i. 258], v. 2. This picture drawer drew it, and has drawn more of THE KING’S PICTURES than all the limners in the town.
1706. WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, I. vii. 26. In short, QUEEN’S PICTURES, by their features, Charm all degrees of human creatures.
1845. B. DISRAELI, Sybil; or, The Two Nations, III. i. I have been making a pound a-week these two months past, but, as I’m a sinner saved, I have never seen THE young QUEEN’S PICTURE yet.
1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, III. iii. 265. ‘I’ve brought a couple of bene coves, with lots of THE QUEEN’S PICTURES in their sacks.’
1887. Judy, 27 April, 202. While we had the QUEEN’S PORTRAIT in our pockets we were well received everywhere.
