1996 One Pound

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One £1 coin was issued in 1996, the theme was Northern Ireland.

Obverse Type 2 (bust design by Raphael Maklouf):

1pound1986obv

Reverse Type 9 (design by Norman Sillman):

1pound1996celticcross

Edge: DECUS ET TUTAMEN.

Mintage for Circulation: 89,886,000.

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 the Celtic cross, part of the heraldic series by Norman Sillman. The edge inscription ‘DECUS ET TUTAMEN’ is Latin for ‘An ornament and safeguard’ and was originally used on coins so that the public could tell that the edge was complete, and therefore that the coin was of good weight (without clipped edges).

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