Farewell to The Last Round Pound

Author: Juliana Chard - Chief Numismatist

Published: 27 Dec 2016

Last Updated: 2 Feb 2023

Contents: We Say Goodbye to The Last Round Pound

Contents: Sound as a Pound?

Contents: Pound Facts

Contents: How to Spot a Fake £1 Coin

Synopsis

The Last Round Pound was issued in 2016. We say goodbye to this popular coin and welcome the new design set for circulation in 2017.

This is our blog. If you are interested in buying One Pound Coins cllick this link.

We Say Goodbye to The Last Round Pound

Earlier in 2016, the last round one pound coins were struck. The 2016 coin was the last time round designs were released for these popular £1 coins; The Last Round Pound and the Royal Shield. The 2016 Last Round Pound coin was not released into circulation which was disappointing news for the many coin collectors who look out for new designs in their change.

2016 Last Round Pound - Cupro-Nickel coin

The Last Round Pound!

Gregory Cameron’s design brought together elements of the pageantry of the United Kingdom. Unfortunately this coin was only available as part of the 2016 coin sets or in individual presentation packs, it wasn't released into circulation.

The gold sovereign was the original ‘pound coin’. It was first issued in Henry VII's reign in 1489 as a hammered gold coin with a value of one pound sterling. The gold sovereign made a come-back in 1817 as a result of the Coinage Act of 1816 when the British government agreed for a modern sovereign to be issued with a face value of twenty shillings/one pound. The sovereign was used as a pound coin until the First World War after which it was largely replaced by the one pound banknote. The sovereign was withdrawn from circulation in 1932 when Britain left the Gold Standardbut was re-introduced in 1957 as an investment gold coin. It has a nominal value of one pound and is classed as British legal tender - but whatever you do, don't use it to pay you bill, it is currently worth £451.74

The Introduction of The Modern Pound Coin

The new pound coin was launched on Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday, 21 April in 1983 and was created to replace the £1 banknote which was prone to becoming tatty within weeks of circulation.

1983 One Pound Coin

This new pound coin was more durable and cost effective although many commented that it was rather thick and not particularly attractive. Due to the shiny gold coloured finish of the coin, this is often mistaken for a gold coin.

Sound as a Pound?

Unfortunately, the round pound coin proved to be particularly vulnerable to forgery. The British government takes the integrity of British currency seriously and saw that extreme measures to ensure higher security features in British coinage were needed. Other countries such as the Royal Canadian Mint have invested heavily in advanced security minting technology to guarantee confidence in their coinage.

George Osborne stated in his 2014 Budget statement that:

“One in 30 pound coins is counterfeit, and that costs businesses and the taxpayer millions each year”.

New Coin on the Block

In 2017, we will see the introduction of the first ever 12 sided £1 coin; this coin will replace the round £1 coins which will be demonetised in 2017. The twelve sided one pound coin will bring back memories of the old brass threepence coin (threepenny bit), the first coin that featured Elizabeth II’s portrait and which was withdrawn in 1970.

New 2017 12-Sided One Pound Coin Due for Release into Circulation in March 2017

David Pearce Wins The Design Competition

Over 6,000 designs were submitted in a competition to create a design for the reverse of the one pound coin which embodied Great Britain. The winning design, by David Pearce, a 15 year old schoolboy from Queen Mary’s Grammar School in Walsall, encompasses the four national flora symbols of the United Kingdom; a rose, a leek, a thistle and a shamrock sitting within a crown which has similarities to St Edward’s crown. Pearce was notified that his design had won by a personal call from George Osborne,Chancellor at the time.

The Royal Mint is responsible for ensuring that the public remain confident that the British coinage that it issues is genuine. It uses a "trusted aRMour® full-plate technology" called iSIS (Integrated Secure Identification Systems), which promises to embed security features within the coin.

When The Royal Mint revealed the design in 2015 for a new 12 sided one pound coin they said it was the “most secure coin in the world”. It is due to be released into circulation in March 2017. The coins will be bi-metallic in structure and appearance and will be authenticated using high speed automated detection. It has not yet been confirmed exactly what procedures will be included but we anticipate various metals being plated over a steel core together with laser micro-engraving and complex design features which will prove difficult to replicate.

The edges of the new coin will alternate milled edges and a plain edge with an inscription of the date in Roman numerals.

Pound Facts

Over 2,314,785,739* one pound coins have been struck for circulation since 1983
The designs on the reverse have represented the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and aspects of the individual countries England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These designs have included floral emblems, heraldic and bridge designs.
Four definitive UK coin portraits of Elizabeth II have been used on the obverse
In most years, these pound coins are also produced in gold proof, silver proof and brilliant uncirculated finishes, individually as well as in coin sets.
Millions of circulation pound coins have been issued each year but there are a few which are more rare than the others. These include the 2011 ‘Cities’ pound coins; only 935,000 were issued for Edinburgh and 1,615,000 for Cardiff.

** This figure will be updated when the 2016 mintage figures are released.

How to Spot a Fake £1 Coin

The following features can be an indicator of a fake £1 coin:

The colour is often different from the genuine coin
The surface may be pitted with tiny marks which resemble orange peel
The engraving may be soft and the design lacking definition
If you rub the coin along a piece of paper, a fake may leave a grey mark
The 'brass' colour starts to come off - sometimes the coin can look too shiny and golden but lacks definition
The edge may be very sharp
The milled edge may be irregular
The date and design or inscription around the edge of the coin do not correspond with the correct specified design for that year
The alignment of the coin may be off

It is believed there are currently over 50,000,000 fake one pound coins in circulation. A great deal of investment has been made in the future production of these coins, we look forward to hearing their plans for ensuring that their higher value products such as sovereigns, gold and silver bullion coins and commemorative coins and medallions are not subject to forgers. Particularly in light of their much publicised move into the bullion market.