UK, Manx, Jersey and Gibraltar Pound Coins

Circulating through the UK economy is the British pound coin. Even though being handled every day little thought or attention is paid to this humble coin until an unusual design crops up or a new design has been issued by the Royal Mint.

With the recent influx of fake coins going round, questions often arise is this a official pound coin. Additionally to confuse the matter, sometimes in your change you get the isle of Man, isle of Jersey or Isle of Guernsey or Gibraltar pound coins.

Over this page, I will present several image slide shows of the different pound coins and some information for both the UK and the various Isles from my pound coin collection.

The current British pound coins (£1) circulating as legal tender was first introduce in 1983 to replace the British pound note. These coins are minted from a nickel-brass alloy and over the years have come to have many designs stamped on them. These designs on the British one pound coins range from bridges of Scotland, England, Wale and Northern Ireland, from leeks, thistles, oak trees and flax to Royal coats of arms.

The edge of the pound coins have a few inscribed edges to protect against coin clipping. There are several distinct inscriptions.

DECUS ET TUTAMEN : An ornament and a safeguard

NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT: No-one provokes me with impunity

PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD: True am I to my country

The isle of Man is  a self-governing British Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland.

The Government of the Isle of Man issues its own Pound sterling coins, therefore they contain their own designs. Although these coins are only intended to be used on the Isle of Man, due to the dimensions and likeness to the UK pound coin designs the end up in circulation within the United Kingdom.

Manx pound coin designs from 2000 to 2003 feature the Triskeles with three church bells alternating between the legs.

Manx pound coins designs from 2004 to 2009 feature Tynwald Hill and St. John's chapel.

The British Crown dependency of Jersey has its own currency, the Jersey pound. Therefore, again the government of Jersey mints its own coins. All coins feature the Queen's head on the obverse, with their own custom designs on the reverse.

As with the UK pound coins a different design is issued each year. Initially, each new coin featured one of the crests of the 12 parishes of Jersey. These were followed by a series of coins featuring sailing ships built in the island. The motto round the milled edge of Jersey pound coins is: Insula Caesarea ("island of Jersey" in Latin).

The coin on the right is the only Isle of Jersey pound coin in my collection so far, as I come across them I will upload.

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula and Europe at the entrance of the Mediterranean overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar.

Again the Isle of Gibraltar issue its own currency which is tied to pound sterling. As with many small countries the issue of commemorative coins can be a lucrative income. The only one in my collection so far is the pound coin commemorating the Discovery of Neanderthal skull in Gibraltar.