1983 Pound Coins

Obverse of 1983 One Pound Silver Proof Coin

Royal Arms on Reverse of 1983 Silver Proof One Pound Coin

Decus Et Tutamen on Edge of 1983 English Pound Coins

Obverse
The obverse of the coin shows the Arnold Machin portrait of The Queen which was adopted for decimalisation, and has been used on nearly all UK coinage since 1968. It continued in use until 1984.

Reverse
The reverse of the coin shows the Royal Arms, and it is appropriate that it should feature on one of the nation's premier coins.
Queen Elizabeth II is a direct descendant of the Sovereigns of England, of Ireland and of Scotland. Accordingly Her Majesty is head of the oldest continuing Royal Lines in Christendom. As the embodiment of the Sovereignty of those countries, Her Majesty quarters their historic Arms.
The Royal Arms achieved their present form upon the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837 and have remained essentially the same ever since.

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".

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".

Design Competition
The design process for the pound coin began with a competition for the reverse design of the new coin. The entries were judged by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee, whose President is the Duke of Edinburgh, and the selected design by Eric Sewell, formerly Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint, was then submitted for the approval of Her Majesty The Queen.

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 $
Ordinary	Brilliant Uncirculated		Yes	£4	$Ask
Specimen in Folder	Brilliant Uncirculated	484,900	Yes	£6	$10
Silver Proof	FDC	50,000	Yes	£25	$41
Silver Piedfort Proof	FDC	10,000	Ask	£Ask	$Ask

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.

Order Form

Order Form USA

Order Form - Rest of World

1983 Coin Sets

Silver Proof Pounds & Silver Piedfort Pounds

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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