Coins of England and Great Britain
('Coins of the UK')
by Tony Clayton
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Coins of England and Great Britain('Coins of the UK')by Tony Clayton |
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Decimal Crown-sized Coins <<-- : -->> Proof and Other Mint Sets
Values of Post-1971 Gold Coins
Pictures of Post-1971 Gold and Silver Bullion Coins on www.ukcoinpics.co.uk
Weight: 2.0g; Diameter: 13.5mm
This tiny proof quality gold coin was issued for the first time in 2009.
Weight: 4.0g; Diameter: 19mm
Prior to 1971 the only half sovereign struck during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II was the unreleased coin of 1953. It was not until 1980 that a proof half sovereign was struck for issue to collectors.
These have also been struck from 1982 to date, with the 1989 issue being of a special design to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the issue of the first sovereign.
Non-proof coins were only struck in 1982, 2000 and 2005. In 1985 and 1998 the obverse changed in line with the remainder of the decimal coinage. The 2005 version has the new design by Timothy Noad.
Weight: 8.0g; Diameter: 22mm
After 1971 no sovereigns were struck until 1974. In that year, and also in 1976, from 1978 to 1982, 2000, and 2005 regular 'circulation' quality sovereigns were struck.
From 1979 to date proof sovereigns have been struck for issue in cased sets.
As for the half-sovereign, the obverse changed in 1985 and 1998, and the 1989 issue was of a special design to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the issue of the first sovereign. The reverse of all other sovereigns depicts the familiar St George & Dragon design.
In 2002 a special Golden Jubilee design was used.
In 2005 (only) a special design using a modern representation of St.George and the Dragon by Timothy Noad was used.
The reverse design was modified slightly in 2007.
Weight: 16.0g; Diameter: 28.4mm
The issue of double sovereigns closely follows that of half sovereigns, except that:
The two pound coin of 1989 was part of a series commemorating the 500th anniversary of the sovereign.
The two pound coin of 2005 was with the design by Timothy Noad.
An interesting error took place in 1994 when some of the coins had the normal double sovereign obverse rather than the two pound coin obverse. The mint will exchange them for the correct coin, but this is inadvisable as the error coins are about 100 UK pounds more valuable.
Both versions of 1995 coin occur in gold.
Weight: 40g; Diameter: 36mm
Proof five pound coins were issued in the following years:
1980-82, 1984-85, 1989 to date
'Circulation' issues of the same design, but with an added U in a circle to distinguish them from the proofs, have been issued since 1984. This was necessary as the quality of a 'normal' coin is so high.
Except for the 1989 and 2005 issues they have the normal Pistrucci St George and the Dragon reverse - that for 1989 was part of a series commemorating the 500th anniversary of the sovereign, and the 2005 version has the new design by Timothy Noad.
In addition gold proof versions of the cupro-nickel five pound commemorative coins are known.
These are known as Britannias, and like the Krugerrand are issued in 22 carat gold with fine gold contents of 1, 1/2, 1/4 and 1/10th ounces.
They have a notional circulation value of 100, 50, 25 and 10 UK pounds respectively.
They have been issued in both proof and normal quality each year since 1987. A new design was issued in 1997 and another will be in 2002.
£100: Weight: 33.9g; Diameter: 32mm
£50: Weight: 17.0g; Diameter: 26mm
£25: Weight: 8.51g; Diameter: 22mm
£10: Weight: 3.41g; Diameter: 16.5mm
Since 1997 a 'Britannia silver' two pound bullion coin has been issued, containing 1 ounce of fine silver, along with three smaller denominations. The silver content is 95.8%.
£2: Weight: 32.45g; Diameter: 40.0mm
£1: Weight: 16.22g; Diameter: 27.0mm
50p: Weight: 8.11g; Diameter: 22.0mm
20p: Weight: 3.24g; Diameter: 16.5mm
See my Main Index page for acknowledgements
Values Index
Values of decimal gold coins.
Main Index
Previous page - Decimal Crowns
Next Page - Decimal Proof and Other Mint Sets
Pre-Decimal Half Sovereigns
Pre-Decimal Sovereigns
Pre-Decimal Double Sovereigns
Pre-Decimal Five Pounds
Pictures of Pre-1971 Gold and Silver Bullion Coins
Pictures Index
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