The United Kingdom £1 Coin

Issue Date 21 April 1983
Specifications  
Diameter 22.5mm
Weight 9.5 g
Thickness 3.15mm
Composition Nickel-Brass
(70% copper, 5.5%
nickel, 24.5% zinc)
Obverse Designers Portrait of Her Majesty the Queen
1983-1984 Arnold Machin
1985- 1997 Raphael Maklouf
1998 to date Ian Rank-Broadley
Reverse
Designers		 See table below
Edge Milled

Background

The United Kingdom coinage is kept under constant review. By 1980 it had become apparent that with the general decline in purchasing power, the £1 unit of currency was more appropriate to a coin than a banknote. The note was in constant use on average lasting only nine months, whereas a coin can last as long as forty years or more and with the growth in the vending industry it was felt that a coin would be more useful.

After consultation with many groups including retailers and special interest groups, the Government announced on 31 July 1981 that a new £1 coin that was to be issued on 21 April 1983.

To make it easy to identify, the £1 coin is thicker than other coins while the 'yellow' colour allowed it to stand out from the cupro-nickel 'silver' coins already in circulation. The weight of the coin was decided largely on the grounds of cost and the need to allow for higher denomination coins in due course.

The reverse designs represent the United Kingdom and its four constituent parts - Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. The first series of designs took floral emblems as its theme, while the second series was heraldic in approach

The £1 coin is legal tender for any amount.

Coin Image Year of Issue Design/Designer Information
 1983 One Pound Coin 1983
1993
1998
2003
2008

Royal Arms representing the United Kingdom

Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN

Designed by:
Eric Sewell
 1984 One Pound Coin 1984
1989

Thistle and royal diadem representing Scotland.

Edge Inscription:
NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT

Designed by:
Leslie Durbin
 1985 One Pound Coin 1985
1990

Leek and royal diadem representing Wales.

Edge Inscription:
PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD

Designed by:
Leslie Durbin
 1986 One Pound Coin 1986
1991

Flax Plant and royal diadem representing Northern Ireland.

Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN

Designed by:
Leslie Durbin
 1987 One Pound Coin 1987
1992

Oak Tree and royal diadem representing England.

Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN

Designed by:
Leslie Durbin
 1988 One Pound Coin 1988

Shield of the Royal Arms representing the United Kingdom.

Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN

Designed by:
Derek Gorringe
 1994 One Pound Coin 1994
1999

Lion Rampant representing Scotland.

Edge Inscription:
NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT

Designed by:
Norman Sillman
 1995 One Pound Coin 1995
2000

Dragon passant representing Wales designed by Norman Sillman

Edge Inscription:
PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD

Designed by:
Norman Sillman
 1996 One Pound Coin 1996
2001

A Celtic Cross with a Pimpernel Flower in the centre surrounded by an ancient Torc representing Northern Ireland.

Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN

Designed by:
Norman Sillman
 1997 One Pound Coin 1997
2002

Three Lions passant guardant representing England.

Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN

Designed by:
Norman Sillman
 2004 One Pound Coin 2004

A representation of the Forth Railway Bridge inside a border of railway tracks.

Edge Detail:
Decorative pattern symbolising bridges and pathways

Designed by:
Edwina Ellis
 2005 One Pound Coin 2005

A representation of the Menai Bridge inside a border of railings and stanchions.

Edge Detail:
Decorative pattern symbolising bridges and pathways

Designed by:
Edwina Ellis
 2006 One Pound Coin 2006

A representation of the Egyptian Arch Railway Bridge inside a border of railway station canopy dags.

Edge Detail:
Decorative pattern symbolising bridges and pathways

Designed by:
Edwina Ellis
 2007 One Pound Coin 2007

A representation of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge with a border of struts.

Edge Detail:
Decorative pattern symbolising bridges and pathways

Designed by:
Edwina Ellis
 2008 One Pound Coin

2008-12

Shield of the Royal Arms representing the United Kingdom.

Edge Inscription:
DECUS ET TUTAMEN

Designed by:
Matthew Dent
 2010 One Pound Coin

2010

A depiction of the official badges of the capital cities of the United Kingdom, with the badge of Belfast being the principal focus.

Edge Inscription:
PRO TANTO QUID RETRIBUAMUS

Designed by:
Stuart Devlin
 2010 One Pound Coin 2010

A depiction of the official badges of the capital cities of the United Kingdom, with the badge of London being the principal focus.

Edge Inscription:
DOMINE DIRIGE NOS

Designed by:
Stuart Devlin
 2011 One Pound Coin 2011

A depiction of the official badges of the capital cities of the United Kingdom, with the badge of Cardiff being the principal focus.

Edge Inscription:
Y DDRAIG GOCH DDYRY CYCHWYN

Designed by:
Stuart Devlin
 2011 One Pound Coin 2011

A depiction of the official badges of the capital cities of the United Kingdom, with the badge of Edinburgh being the principal focus.

Edge Inscription:
NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA

Designed by:
Stuart Devlin

Coin Edge Inscriptions

Edge Inscription Translation
DECUS ET TUTAMEN 'An ornament and a safeguard' from Virgil's Aeneid
NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT 'No one provokes me with impunity'. The Motto of the Order of the Thistle

PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD

'True am I to my country' from the Welsh National Anthem
PRO TANTO QUID RETRIBUAMUS 'What shall we give in return for so much.' The Motto of Belfast
DOMINE DIRIGE NOS 'Lord direct us.' The Motto of London
Y DDRAIG GOCH DDYRY CYCHWYN ‘The Red Dragon shall lead’ The Motto of Cardiff
NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA ‘It is vain without the Lord’ The Motto of Edinburgh