Reverse / Tails (Image 1) — a winning design featuring the English rose, the Welsh leek, the Scottish thistle and the Northern Irish shamrock, all emerging from one stem within a royal coronet. Currencyaffairs The initials “DP” visible on the coin stand for David Pearce, the designer. The inscription “ONE POUND” runs along the bottom of the outer gold ring.
Obverse / Heads (Image 2) — the fifth definitive UK coin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Jody Clark — his initials “JC” sit under the truncated neck. The outer gold-coloured band contains the inscription “2017 · ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D”. The Latin abbreviation stands for Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensatrix — “By the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.”
A historic redesign
After more than 30 years in the nation’s pockets, the familiar round £1 coin was replaced with an all-new 12-sided £1 coin in 2017, released on 28 March 2017. The Royal Mint
The round £1 coin was replaced because approximately one in thirty round £1 coins in circulation was a counterfeit. The new coin was introduced to reduce the costs of counterfeits to businesses and the taxpayer.
The young designer
The competition to design the reverse was opened in September 2014 and won in March 2015 by 15-year-old David Pearce from Walsall. His winning design was unveiled by the Chancellor of the Exchequer during his Budget announcement.
Security features
Multiple security features work together: the 12-sided shape (instantly recognisable even by touch), bimetallic construction (two metals of different colours), a latent image like a hologram that changes from “£” to “1” when seen from different angles, micro-lettering on the lower inside rim, milled edges on alternate sides, and a hidden high security feature built in to protect it from future counterfeiting.
Specifications:
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Denomination: | 1 Pound |
| Mint: | Royal Mint |
| Diameter: | 23.43 mm |
| Weight: | 8.75 g |