The Belfast £1 Coin
The new series of £1 coins representing the four constituent parts of the UK has begun this year. England and Northern Ireland coins make their debut in 2010 and the coins for Scotland and Wales will be released in 2011.
The series focuses on the four capital cities of the UK incorporating their individual heraldic identities. The second coin celebrates Belfast, the capital and largest city in Northern Ireland.
The new £1 coin reverse features the coat of arms belonging to Belfast and described heraldically as: 'Per fess argent and azure in chief a pile vair and on a canton gules a bell argent in base on waves of the sea proper a ship sails set argent'.
This means that the field is divided horizontally, the upper half white and the lower half blue. In the upper part an interlocking pattern of blue and white with a silver bell in a red corner-piece or 'canton.' A sea going vessel dominates in the lower half and alludes to Belfast's nautical heritage.
The blue-and-white pattern comes from the arms of the Chichester family, while the bell is a simple reference to the city's name and appeared on tokens used by Belfast tradesmen in the seventeenth century.
The motto of the City's arms (PRO TANTO QUID RETRIBUAMUS) provides a pleasing edge inscription for the precious metal coins and can be translated as 'What shall we give in return for so much'.
