Obverse. Photo © Royal Mint
  • 1 Pound 2016, KM#  1377, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Last Round Pound
  • 1 Pound 2016, KM#  1377, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Last Round Pound
  • 1 Pound 2016, KM#  1377, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Last Round Pound, Fold-out wallet
  • 1 Pound 2016, KM#  1377, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Last Round Pound, Fold-out wallet
  • 1 Pound 2016, KM#  1377, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Last Round Pound, Round Pounds
Description

When the £1 coin was introduced in 1983 its thickness, golden colour and Latin inscription DECUS ET TUTAMEN or ‘An ornament and a safeguard’ on the coin’s edge instantly set it apart. The coin was a modern and efficient replaced for the one pound banknote, and now the round £1 coin will make way for a new state-of-the-art, 12-sided successor in 2016. The Royal Mint have struck a final commemorative edition of the last ‘round pound’ to bid farewell to the coin in its current form. The coin is housed in a fold-out presentation pack to protect and display this final release of the last ‘round pound’.

Obverse

The fifth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the George IV State Diadem and drop earrings.

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.

Engraver: Jody Clark

·ELIZABETH II·DEI·GRA·REG·FID·DEF·2016
J.C

Reverse

Depicts a modern reworking of the Royal Arms gives each country of the United Kingdom equal billing – all four royal beasts leaping to the defence of British sovereignty with a crown at the centre.

Four royal beasts:
- Lion of England with the St Edwards crown on it, the Royal Beast of England since Richard Lion Heart.
- Unicorn of Scotland, the Royal Beast of Scotland since James III.
- Stag of Northern Ireland.
- Red Dragon of Wales.

The tail of the English Lion goes into the space of the Scottish Unicorn and the tail of the Unicorn goes in to the space of the Stag and the antlors of the Stag go into the space of the Dragon of Wales which makes it actually a much more dynamic design.

Engraver: Gregory Cameron (a Bishop of the Anglican Church in North East Wales, a keen amateur artist and coin collector)

ONE
GKC
POUND

Edge

DECUS ET TUTAMEN — Latin for "An ornament and a safeguard", a phrase taken from Virgil's Aeneid, and here referring to the fact that the inscription serves both as a decorative feature and as a safeguard against the clipping of the coin's edges (this is not a modern concern, but harks back to the days when circulating coins were made of precious metals). This appears on coins with English-themed, Northern Irish-themed or general UK-themed designs.

DECUS ET TUTAMEN

Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Nickel Brass
Weight 9.5 g
Diameter 22.5 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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