The 1988 Shield of Royal Arms silver proof one pound coin was designed by Derek Gorringe, deputy chief engraver at The Royal Mint. This proof coin is struck in 0.925 silver fineness and comes in a Royal Mint presentation box.
The first Royal Arms of England were attributed to King Richard I whose great seal depicted three gold lions on a red background. These arms were used by succeeding monarchs until about 1340.
When Edward III laid claim to the French throne he quartered the arms of France with the English arms.
The number of fleurs-de-lys in the French quarters was reduced to three by Henry IV
Wales has not been represented in the Royal Arms as it is a Principality, and has never been a separate kingdom ruled by an English King.
When James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne, the Tudor dragon supporter was replaced by one of the unicorns from the Scottish Royal Arms. The shield was also amended, as the French and English quartered arms were repositioned to the first and fourth quarters, to allow for the inclusion of the red Scottish Lion and the harp of Ireland.
With the introduction of the harp the elements of the present Royal Coat of Arms were united.
The arms of France were omitted in 1801. With the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837 the arms of Hanover were removed from the coat, leaving the Royal Arms as borne today by Queen Elizabeth II.
The edge is not only milled but also inscribed. The inscription in Latin reads:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN
Which may be translated as "an ornament and a safeguard". This inscription dates back to the first machine-struck coins minted in 1662 and was a device to prevent "clipping", and was used on the first pound coin in 1983.
On 28 March 2017, the circulated round pound was replaced by the 12 sided £1 coin. On the 15 October the round £1 coin will cease to be legal tender.
One Pound Coin Designs, The Complete Collection 1983 - 2017
Introducing the New 12 Sided One Pound Coin
The obverse bears the new third portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Raphael David Maklouf which was introduced in 1985.
The reverse of the quartered Royal Shield of Arms, surmounted by the Imperial Crown was designed by Derek Gorringe, deputy chief engraver at the Royal Mint.
Version | Diameter (mm) | Weight (grams) | Metal | Alloy | Actual Metal Weight (troy ounces) | Issue Limit |
Ordinary Circulation | 22.50 | 9.50 | Nickel-brass | 7,118,825 | ||
Uncirculated in Folder | 22.50 | 9.50 | Nickel-brass | 29,550 | ||
Silver Proof | 22.50 | 9.50 | Silver | 0.925 Silver | 0.2825 | 50,000 |
Piedfort Silver Proof | 22.50 | 19 | Silver | 0.925 Silver | 0.5650 | 10,000 |
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Bullion coins are provided as is and on occasion may have some minor scratches or edge knocks. These are not regarded as faulty or damaged goods as their precious metal content and value as a bullion coin is not affected. Any coin sold for a value less than a 180% intrinsic is considered a bullion coin.
Gold investment products are VAT free. Silver investment products are inclusive of VAT at the current rate unless otherwise stated.
All investment products are based on the live precious metal price. Prices will be fixed once the item has been added to the basket and recalculates just before checking out.
If your product is not a graded coin and is considered a bullion item, it should be noted that these are bought and sold on low premiums over their precious metal content and not solely for aesthetic purposes; therefore, some products may have edge knocks and/or marks. These edge knocks and marks do not alter the specifications of the coins.
Please note that all investment products are exempt from the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 and therefore customers do not have the right to cancel their order once the order has been accepted. If customers no longer wish to go ahead with their investment purchase, there is an option to sell the products back to Chard (1964) Ltd instead. View our current buy back prices.
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