Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 25 Pence 1975, KM# 31, Isle of Man, Elizabeth II, Cats, Manx Cat
  • 25 Pence 1975, KM# 31, Isle of Man, Elizabeth II, Cats, Manx Cat
Obverse

Second crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara was a wedding present in 1947 from her grandmother, Queen Mary, who received it as a gift from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland in 1893 on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of York, later George V. Made by E. Wolfe & Co., it was purchased from Garrard & Co. by a committee organised by Lady Eve Greville. In 1914, Mary adapted the tiara to take 13 diamonds in place of the large oriental pearls surmounting the tiara. At first, Elizabeth wore the tiara without its base and pearls but the base was reattached in 1969. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara is one of Elizabeth's most recognisable pieces of jewellery due to its widespread use on British banknotes and coinage.

Engraver: Arnold Machin

ISLE OF MAN ELIZABETH II
PM

Reverse

Tailless Manx cat, facing left, date below.

The Manx cat is a breed of domestic cat originating on the Isle of Man, with a naturally occurring mutation that shortens the tail. Many Manx have a small stub of a tail, but Manx cats are best known as being entirely tailless; this is the most distinguishing characteristic of the breed, along with elongated hind legs and a rounded head. Manx cats come in all coat colours and patterns, though all-white specimens are rare, and the coat range of the original stock was more limited. Manx have been exhibited in cat shows since the 1800s, with the first known breed standard published in 1903.

Engraver: Christopher Ironside

TWENTY FIVE PENCE
1975

Edge

25 Pence

2nd portrait
KM# 31
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Cupronickel
Weight 28.4 g
Diameter 38.61 mm
Thickness 3.17 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Pobjoy Mint (PM)

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