1989 One Pound

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One £1 coin was issued in 1989, the theme was Scotland.

Obverse Type 2 (bust design by Raphael Maklouf):

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Reverse Type 2 (design by Leslie Durbin):

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Edge: NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT.

Note that 2 slightly different font types are known for the edge lettering, so 2 different coins to find for the completist!

Mintage for Circulation: 70,580,501.

Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

The obverse portrait of the Queen by Raphael Maklouf was used on all UK circulated coinage from 1985 to 1997 and was the third portrait of the Queen used on coinage.

The reverse design shows a Scottish thistle in a coronet, by Leslie Durbin. The edge inscription ‘NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT’ is Latin for ‘no one provokes me with impunity (or ‘no one can harm me unpunished’). It was the Latin motto of the Stuart dynasty and also appeared on some Scottish coins of the 16th century.

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