1996 Pound Coins

Third Portrait Used From 1985 to 1997

Celtic Cross Design on Reverse of 1996 & 2001

Northern Ireland Celtic Cross Design
According to the information published by the Royal Mint which accompanies the 1996 proof coin sets:-

• "Britain's premier circulating coin for 1996 honours Northern Ireland and is the third in a new series representing the four constituent parts of the united Kingdom.
  The intricate reverse design has been created by Norman Sillman who, in featuring an ornate Celtic-style cross, has reached deep into the history of Northern Ireland. The richly decorated cross provides the background to a representation of the famous Celtic collar found in 1896 by a ploughman at Broighter, County Londonderry. This beautiful Broighter collar, one of seven gold objects deposited by Irish Iron Age people about the first century BC, was probably an offering to the Irish sea-god Manannán mac Lir.
  At the centre of the design lies a pimpernel, the lovely yellow flower which flourishes around Lough Neagh, the great inland freshwater lake to which are linked five of Northern Ireland's six counties."

More About the Broighter Collar
We are grateful for information we found at "http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/tudor/english/gold.html" a website entitled "Welcome to Limavday and the Roe Valley", by Jochen Lueg, a surprisingly un-Irish name!:-

• "After the Celtic invasion Ireland became known for the quality of its metal work. One of the most important examples of that art was ploughed up in 1896 by a Thomas Nicholl, a farm worker employed by Joseph Gibson, in the townland of Broighter near Limavady junction a mile outside the town. The Broighter Gold consists of a beautiful model boat with mast, yard, seats and fifteen oars. Even a small boathook and rudder are included. There was also a small bowl of beaten gold, two torcs and a magnificent collar embossed with early Celtic decorations.
  The 3000 year old ornaments were traded for quite small sums and luckily ended up in the British Museum. Later they became the subject of the famous "Gold Ornament Trial", during which it was demonstrated that these objects had been deliberately buried and were therefore treasure trove.
  The British Museum had asserted that Broighter had been below sea level at the time of the crime, and that the treasure had been thrown overboard from a ship as an offering to the gods. Mr. Justice Farwell - who seems to have had a wicked sense of humour - stated in his judgement:
  "The court has been asked to assume the existence of a votive offering of a sort hitherto unknown, in a land where such offerings were unknown, in a sea not known to have existed, to a seagod by a chieftain both equally unknown."
  So the hoard had to be handed over to what is now the National Museum in Dublin. It is displayed in the museum as part of the former Royal Irish Academy's collection. A pity that they can't be kept in Limavady.
  (Thanks to T.H. Mullin and his excellent book "Limavady and the Roe Valley" for some of these facts)"
  

Obverse
The obverse bears the third portrait of The Queen, used from 1985 to 1997, by Raphael David Maklouf.

Reverse
A representation of the Broighter collar over a Celtic cross with a pimpernel at its centre.
The design is the work of engraver Norman Sillman.

Edge
The edge is not only milled but also inscribed. The inscription in Latin reads:-
DECUS ET TUTAMEN
Which may be translated as "an ornament and a safeguard". This inscription dates back to the first machine-struck coins minted in 1662 and was a device to prevent "clipping", and was used on the first pound coin in 1983.

Llantrisant Mint Mark
On the milled edge of the coin is the Llantrisant mint mark - a cross crosslet. The shape of the cross alluding to Llantrisant, which translated from the Welsh means "Church or Parish of the Three Saints".

Technical Specifications

Alloy	Nickel-Brass
Copper	70%
Zinc	24.5%
Nickel	5.5%
Diameter	22.5 mm
Weight	9.5 grams

Version	Grade	Qty Issued	Available	Price £	Price $
Specimen in Folder	Brilliant Uncirculated	Not Known	Ask
Silver Proof	FDC	25,000	Yes	£35	$55
Silver Piedfort Proof	FDC	10,000	Ask	£50	$80

Postage & Packing:
UK: At buyer's Risk £2.50 or
Fully Insured £6 (Usually by Royal Mail Special Delivery)
USA: Airmail at buyer's risk $10 or
Fully Insured $20
For further details, please see our Postage & Packing page.

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Silver Proof Pounds & Silver Piedfort Pounds
1996 Coin Sets
1996 Coins Index
The Broighter Boat features on the design of the Irish Millennium pound coin

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