The Very Highest Quality Coins... |
British Pound Coins - Silver Proofs |
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Nickel Brass
The new One Pound coin in base metal, nickel-brass was introduced in 1983, as a replacement for the £1 banknote. Banknotes, being made of paper suffer from wear and tear more readily than metal coins. By 1983, the life expectancy
of the £1 note was about 6 months, and that of a coin is about 100 years. The £1 note had become too popular, and was too expensive to produce and replace. Notes are more suitable for higher value denominations where they are handled less, and therefore last longer.
The Gold Sovereign
A £1 coin denomination is not, of course, new. The gold sovereign has been struck from 1489 until 1932, although it started to be replaced during the first world war. It has again been issued intermittently from 1957, although as a bullion and collectors piece rather than for circulation.
An Ugly Duckling?
The £1 coin was not very popular when it first appeared, but this is often the case. It promises to be quite an interesting series, as in its first 16 years it has had 13 different designs, only repeating a previous design in the three
years 1990, 1991, and 1992. In my personal opinion, the ordinary nickel brass version is not particularly attractive, but the silver proof versions transform it into an attractive and beautiful collectors piece.
Silver Proof Issues in Original
Royal Mint Leatherette Cases
Date | Obverse | Reverse | Stock | Price £ | Price $ |
1983 | Decimal | Royal Arms | Yes | £25 | $41 |
1984 | Decimal | Scottish Thistle | Yes | £25 | $41 |
1985 | Third Portrait | Welsh Leek | Yes | £22 | $36 |
1986 | Third Portrait | Northern Ireland Flax | Yes | £22 | $41 |
1987 | Third Portrait | English Oak | Yes | £22 | $41 |
1988 | Third Portrait | Royal Shield | Yes | £25 | $41 |
1989 | Third Portrait | Scottish Thistle | Yes | £25 | $41 |
1990 | Third Portrait | Welsh Leek | Yes | £25 | $41 |
1991 | Third Portrait | Northern Ireland Flax | Yes | £23 | $38 |
1992 | Third Portrait | English Oak | Yes | £29 | $47 |
1993 | Third Portrait | Royal Arms | Yes | £30 | $50 |
1994 | Third Portrait | Scottish Lion | Yes | £45 | $70 |
1995 | Third Portrait | Welsh Dragon | Ask | £28 | $45 |
1996 | Third Portrait | Northern Ireland Celtic Cross | Ask | £35 | $55 |
1997 | Third Portrait | English 3 Lions | Ask | £35 | $55 |
1998 | Fourth Portrait | Royal Arms | Yes | £28 | $45 |
1999 | Fourth Portrait | Scottish Lion | Yes | £29 | $47 |
2000 | Fourth Portrait | Welsh Dragon | Yes | £26.50 | $40 |
2001 | Fourth Portrait | Northern Ireland Celtic Cross | Yes | £26.50 | $40 |
2002 | Fourth Portrait | Three Lions - England | Yes | £24.95 | $36 |
2003 | Fourth Portrait | Forth Bridge - Scotland | Yes | £24.95 | $36 |
2004 | Fourth Portrait | Forth Railway Bridge - Scotland | Yes | £24.95 | $36 |
2005 | Fourth Portrait | Menai Straits Bridge - Wales | 2005 | £24.95 | $36 |
2006 | Fourth Portrait | Egyptian Arch - Northern Ireland | 2005 | £24.95 | $36 |
2007 | Fourth Portrait | Gateshead Millennium Bridge - England | 2005 | £24.95 | $36 |
Silver Proof Piedfort Issues
Date | Obverse | Reverse | Stock | Price £ | Price $ |
1983 | Decimal | Royal Arms | Yes | £95 | $155 |
1984 | Decimal | Scottish Thistle | Yes | £45 | $74 |
1985 | Third Portrait | Welsh Leek | Yes | £45 | $74 |
1986 | Third Portrait | Northern Ireland Flax | Yes | £45 | $74 |
1987 | Third Portrait | English Oak | Yes | £45 | $74 |
1988 | Third Portrait | Royal Shield | Yes | £45 | $74 |
1989 | Third Portrait | Scottish Thistle | Yes | £50 | $82 |
1993 | Third Portrait | Royal Arms | Yes | £50 | $82 |
1994 | Third Portrait | Scottish Lion | Yes | £55 | $90 |
1995 | Third Portrait | Welsh Dragon | Yes | £50 | $82 |
1996 | Third Portrait | Northern Ireland Celtic Cross | Yes | £50 | $82 |
1997 | Third Portrait | English 3 Lions | Yes | £45 | $74 |
1998 | Fourth Portrait | Royal Arms | Yes | £45 | $74 |
1999 | Fourth Portrait | Scottish Lion | Ask | £45 | $70 |
2000 | Fourth Portrait | Welsh Dragon | Yes | £46.50 | $69.95 |
2001 | Fourth Portrait | Northern Ireland Celtic Cross | Yes | £45 | $70 |
2001 | Fourth Portrait | Northern Ireland Celtic Cross - Special Offer | Yes | £35 | $55 |
2002 | Fourth Portrait | Three Lions - England | Yes | £45 | $65 |
2003 | Fourth Portrait | Royal Arms | Yes | £45 | $65 |
2004 | Fourth Portrait | Forth Railway Bridge - Scotland | Yes | £45 | $65 |
2005 | Fourth Portrait | Menai Straits Bridge - Wales | 2005 | £45 | $65 |
2006 | Fourth Portrait | Egyptian Arch - Northern Ireland | 2005 | £45 | $65 |
2007 | Fourth Portrait | Gateshead Millennium Bridge - England | 2005 | £45 | $65 |
Silver Proof Collections & Piedfort Collections
With each new series of designs, the Royal Mint have issued sets or collections consisting of one of each of the four different national types, but excluding the "normal" design, which uses the Royal Arms.
The first set was from 1984 to 1987 inclusive, and features the four designs of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.
The second set was from 1994 to 1997, and retains the same rotation of countries, but with a new and different reverse design for each.
Each of the two collections is available in silver proof and also in piedfort editions.
Each set is housed in a four-coin case, and comes complete with certificates.
We often have the complete four coin series collections available for sale.
Pound Collections For Sale
Dates | Type | Mintage | Available | Price £ | Price $ |
1984 - 1987 | Silver Proof | 50,000 | Yes | £90 | $150 |
1984 - 1987 | Piedfort | 10,000 | Yes | £175 | $280 |
1994 - 1997 | Silver Proof | 25,000 | Ask | £100 | $165 |
1994 - 1997 | Piedfort | 10,000 | Yes | £195 | $315 |
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.
Type Chart of Every Pound Coin Design
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?
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