Obverse. Photo © Britannia Coin Company
  • 1 Pound 2005, KM# 1051a, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Regional Bridges, Menai Suspension Bridge in Wales
  • 1 Pound 2005, KM# 1051a, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Regional Bridges, Menai Suspension Bridge in Wales
Description

In 2004, The Royal Mint launched a new series of £1s depicting the nations using bridges. From the Forth Railway Bridge for Scotland in 2004 to the Millennium Bridge of England in 2007, this four-part series celebrated Great Britain's engineering and architectural heritage. This silver-proof coin, representing Wales, features the Menai Straits Bridge.

Obverse

Fourth 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.

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

Engraver: Ian Rank-Broadley

ELIZABETH·II·D·G REG·F·D·2005
IRB

Reverse

Depicts Menai Suspension Bridge surrounded by railing and stanchions.

The Menai Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge to carry road traffic between the island of Anglesey and the mainland of Wales. The bridge was designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1826 and is a Grade I listed building.

Engraver: Edwina Ellis

ONE POUND

Edge

Reeded with a decorative pattern (two overlapping lines, one curved and one angular) symbolising bridges and pathways.

1 Pound

4th portrait, Silver Proof Coin

Regional Bridges
Menai Suspension Bridge in Wales

Subscribe series
KM# 1051a Sp# J19
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 9.5 g
Diameter 22.5 mm
Thickness 3.15 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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