1987 Pound Coins

Third Portrait Used From 1985 to 1997

Oak Tree Design on Reverse of 1987 & 1990 Pound Coins

The English Oak
The English Oak is steeped in history and legend. Forests of oak are a reminder of folk heroes such as Robin Hood, while "Hearts of Oak" conveys a sense of the centuries-old debt to the English Navy which protected an island Kingdom from invasion.

Oak and its Uses
Renowned for its solidity, strength and durability, the oak has proved to be one of the most valuable timbers both today and in ancient times. As a maritime nation, England used oak for shipbuilding for centuries, providing the timbers of the ships which protected its shores in the days of Drake, and later, Nelson.
The oak also has a connection with Royalty. In 1651, after the Battle of Worcester, King Charles II successfully escaped from Cromwell's troops by hiding in an oak tree.
After the restoration of the monarchy on 29th May 1660, the day was celebrated as "Oak Apple Day".

Obverse
The obverse bears the new, third portrait of The Queen introduced in 1985.

Reverse
The English one pound coin features for the first time on the United Kingdom coinage, an oak tree in its entirety.
The oak, however, is no stranger to our coinage. From the nineteenth century a wreath of oak, or oak combined with olive or laurel appeared on certain silver coins, while sixpences and threepences issued form 1927 to 1936 show acorns growing from interlaced oak twigs or branches.
Maundy Money continues to show a wreath of oak.
The design is the work of distinguished silversmith Leslie Durbin.

Leslie Durbin
The eminent silversmith, Leslie Durbin, whose commissions include the special hallmark for Her Majesty's Silver Jubilee, prepared four designs to appear on the reverse of the one pound coin from 1984 to 1987. The designs represent the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. He has chosen to unify the series by showing each of the floral emblems encircled by the Royal Diadem, the crown worn by Her Majesty to and from the State Opening of Parliament.
The same Diadem also appears as part of the new portrait of The Queen. This portrait, modelled by Raphael Maklouf, appeared on United Kingdom coinage for the first time in 1985.

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. This is the first United Kingdom coin to be struck with this distinctive feature. The shape of the cross alluding to Llantrisant, which translated from the Welsh means "Church or Parish of the Three Saints".

Technical Specifications

Version	Diameter	Weight	Metal	Alloy	AMW
Ordinary Circulation	22.50	9.50	Nickel-brass
Uncirculated in Folder	22.50	9.50	Nickel-brass
Silver Proof	22.50	9.50	Silver	0.925 Silver	0.2825
Piedfort Silver Proof	22.50	19	Silver	0.925 Silver	0.5650

Notes
Diameter = Diameter in millimetres
Weight = Weight in grams
Alloy = Proportion of precious metal
AMW = Actual weight in relevant precious metal content in troy ounces.

Version	Issue Limit	Issue Price £
Ordinary Circulation
Uncirculated in Folder	72,607
Silver Proof, Box & Certificate	50,000
Silver Piedfort Proof, Box & Certificate	15,000

For Sale

Ordinary Circulation

Quantity	Rate	Buy
1	£6.00

Uncirculated in Folder

Quantity	Rate	Buy
1	£8.95

Silver Proof

Piedfort Silver Proof

Quantity	Rate	Buy
1	£55.00

Postage & Packing:
UK: At buyer's Risk £3.50 or
Fully Insured £9 (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.

Order Form - UK
Order Form - USA
Order Form - EU
Order Form - Rest of World

1987 Coin Sets

Silver Proof Pounds & Silver Piedfort Pounds
1984 - 1987 Silver Proof Four Coin Set
1984 - 1987 Silver Proof Piedfort Four Coin Set
If you want to find the value of a coin you own, please take a look at our page I've Found An Old Coin, What's It Worth?

Questions They Ask Us