- British twenty-five pence coin
Infobox Coin
Denomination = Twenty-five pence
Country = United Kingdom
Value = 25.0
Unit =pence sterling
Mass = 28.28
Diameter = 38.61
Thickness = 2.5
Edge = milled
Composition = 75% Cu, 25%Ni
Years of Minting = 1971–1981
Catalog Number = -
Obverse = British coin 25p (1981) obverse.jpg
Obverse Design = Queen Elizabeth II
Obverse Designer =Arnold Machin
Obverse Design Date =1963
Reverse = British coin 25p (1981) reverse.jpg
Reverse Design = Lady Diana Spencer andCharles, Prince of Wales
Reverse Designer = Philip Nathan
Reverse Design Date =1981
The commemorative British decimal twenty-five pence (25p)coin was issued in four designs between1972 and1981 . These coins were a post-decimalisation continuation of the traditional crown, with the same value of a quarter of apound sterling . Uniquely in British decimal coinage, the coins do not have their value stated on them. This is because previous crowns rarely did so.The coins were issued for commemorative purposes and were not intended for circulation, although they remain
legal tender and must be accepted at Post Offices. The coins weigh 28.28 g (0.9092 oz troy) and have a diameter of 38.61 mm.Twenty-five pence coin issues were discontinued after 1981 due to the prohibitive cost to the
Royal Mint of producing such large coins with such small value. From1990 the "crown" was revived as the commemorative five pound coin, having the same dimensions and weight but a value twenty times as great. This has reportedly caused problems with people trying to pass off older twenty-five pence coins (which do not state their value) as five pound coins Fact|date=February 2008.Designs
The following 25p coins were produced:
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"1980 issue"
1980: To celebrate the eightieth birthday of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.Obverse: The standard portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by
Arnold Machin with the inscription D·G·REG·F·D· ELIZABETH II.Reverse: A portrait of the Queen Mother surrounded by a radiating pattern of bows and lions, a pun on her maiden name Bowes-Lyon. The inscription reads:QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHERAUGUST 4th 1980. The reverse was designed by Professor Richard Guyatt.
Both faces are encircled by dots. The edge of the coin is milled. There were 9,478,000
cupronickel coins and 83,672silver coins issued.
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"1981 issue"
1981: To celebrate the wedding of HRH The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.Obverse: The standard portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by
Arnold Machin with the inscription D·G·REG·F·D· ELIZABETH II.Reverse: A profile portrait of Lady Diana Spencer partially covered by a profile portrait of HRH The Prince of Wales, both facing to the left, with the inscription H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND LADY DIANA SPENCER 1981. This face was designed by
Philip Nathan .Both faces are encircled by dots. The edge of the coin is milled. There were 27,360,000
cupronickel coins and 218,000silver coins issued.
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