Enlighten an American, what is this marking called?

Question

Postage stamps of the Commonwealth (and I presume lots of other official paper) usually include a marking that looks like EIIR (with the II smaller than the E R) surmounted by a crown.  The meaning of this is entirely clear, but what is it correctly called?  Is this the Queen's "insignia", her "emblem", "device", "monogram", what?

a bibliophibian · Accepted Answer

There are philately (stamp collecting) sites referring to it as a "crest" or a "logo," and a numismatist (coin collecting) site that referred to "her crowned initials," but a google image search of ["queen elizabeth" insignia] is the one that gives the results most closely resembling the mark you're referring to.  

Here's one: 
http://www.photographersdirect.com/buyers/stockphoto.asp?imageid=2235201

I suspect that the name of the mark might differ depending on who's referring to it, and what it happens to be adorning, but "insignia" is probably going to be most correct, and most universally understood. 

I think I might love you a little bit, though, for knowing that such a marking can be called a "device."  *swoon*

VodkaChick · Answer

Its The Queen's Insignia.

Duncan Henderson · Answer

Elizabeth Regina 2.

Queen Elizabeth the second (our Queen).

Regina is the feminine version of Rex

I'm not sure what it means other than it's a royal mark. We used to get it on postboxes, back when it was called the Royal Mail.
You see old postboxes marked GIIR or even VIIR (for Victoria).

Anonymous · Answer

Elizabeth 2nd Regina. Queen Elizabeth the Second.

Doug · Answer

It is properly referred to as Her insignia.

.::Reine::. · Answer

it's the queens profile. Profile is a side picture of her. The Royal mail postage stamp is what your on about I assume.

Enlighten an American, what is this marking called?

6 Answers