A 22 carat gold coin is the choice when looking for an extra special gift and the £1 coin, almost three times the weight of a gold sovereign and struck to flawless Proof quality, is ideal. This £1 coin is set to enjoy phenomenal popularity celebrating, as it does, the UK’s greatest city - London.
The London £1 coin begins an entirely new series of four £1 coins with the focus on the four capital cities of the UK. Brilliantly designed by Royal Warrant Holder, Stuart Devlin, each of the coins will display the heraldic identity of the four cities while highlighting one in particular. The Coat of Arms of the City of London therefore dominates on the London £1 coin, the heraldic shield featuring the Cross of St George with, in the top left quarter, the upright sword of St Paul as London’s patron saint.
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London
London is one of the world’s truly great cities. Home to nearly eight million people, it is at the forefront of all human endeavour, from politics, business and science to technology, architecture and the arts. It is the most visited city in the world, attracting over fifteen million tourists every year, who come to see famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the London Eye, Beefeaters, black cabs and red telephone boxes. London’s rich history spans more than two millennia, its strategic position on the Thames ensuring its importance long before the Roman settlement of 47AD, and it is set to play a leading role in world affairs long into the future.
The London £1 Coin
There is currently no single heraldic emblem for London in the normal sense so the coat of arms chosen form the coin’s reverse design belongs to the Corporation of the City of London - the ‘Square Mile’ presided over by the Lord Mayor of London. The red cross and upright red sword in the top left quarter, is usually explained as combining the symbol of the City’s patron saint, St Paul, with that of England’s, the red cross of St George. The motto of the arms DOMINE DIRIGE NOS can be translated as ‘Lord, direct us’ and provides the edge inscription for the London £1 coin.