Obverse. Larger head. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 20 Pence 1985-1997, KM# 939, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Larger head
  • 20 Pence 1985-1997, KM# 939, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II
  • 20 Pence 1985-1997, KM# 939, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Small head
Description

A slight enlargement was made to the Queen’s head during 1992 leading to two slightly different coins being made that year. The variety only exists for 1992. All of the 1993-1997 coins use the larger head and all of the 1985-1991 coins bear the smaller head. The easiest way to tell the difference is that the small head bust has a much sharper point where the neck ends at the bottom right.

Obverse

Third crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the George IV State Diadem.

The George IV State Diadem, officially the Diamond Diadem, is a type of crown that was made in 1820 for King George IV. The diadem is worn by queens and queens consort in procession to coronations and State Openings of Parliament. The piece of jewellery has been featured in paintings and on stamps and currency. It can be seen in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATRIX means Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen and Defender of the Faith.

From 1985 to 1991 the head of Queen Elizabeth II was a slightly smaller size. From 1993 to 1997 the head was a slightly larger size. The change over was made part way through 1992 so there are two versions in this year. 1997 has small varieties in design of the portrait.

Engraver: Raphael David Maklouf

ELIZABETH II
RDM
D·G·REG·F·D·

Reverse

A crowned Tudor rose, with the numeral "20" below the rose, and the value above the rose.

The Tudor rose (sometimes called the Union rose) is the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England and takes its name and origins from the Tudor dynasty.

When Henry VII took the crown of England from Richard III in battle (1485), he brought the end of the retrospectively dubbed "Wars of the Roses" between the House of Lancaster (one monarch of which had sometimes used the badge of a red or gold rose) and the House of York (which had lately used a white-rose badge). Henry's father was Edmund Tudor from the House of Richmond (maternally), and his mother was Margaret Beaufort from the House of Lancaster; in January 1486 he married Elizabeth of York to bring all factions together. (In battle, Richard III fought under the banner of the boar, and Henry under the banner of the dragon of his native Wales.) The white rose versus red rose juxtaposition was Henry's invention.

Engraver: William Gardner

TWENTY PENCE
19 93
W G
20

Edge

20 Pence

3rd portrait
KM# 939 Sp# G2
Characteristics
Material Cupronickel
Weight 5 g
Diameter 21 mm
Thickness 1.7 mm
Shape polygon
Sides 7
Alignment Medal

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