Obverse. Photo © Royal Mint
  • 1 Pound 2004, KM# 1048a, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Regional Bridges, Forth Bridge in Scotland
  • 1 Pound 2004, KM# 1048a, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Regional Bridges, Forth Bridge in Scotland
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.

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·2004
IRB

Reverse

Depicts Forth Railway Bridge surrounded by railway tracks.

The Forth Bridge is a cantilever railway bridge over the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland, 9 miles (14 km) west of Edinburgh City Centre. It is considered an iconic structure and a symbol of Scotland, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was designed by the English engineers Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker.

Construction of the bridge began in 1882 and it was opened on 4 March 1890 by the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII.

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
Forth Bridge in Scotland

Subscribe series
KM# 1048a Sp# J18
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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