- Coins of the Manx pound
-
The Government of the Isle of Man issues its own Pound sterling coins. (See Manx pound for details of the island's currency.) The coins are minted by Pobjoy Mint Limited.[1] Although intended for use on the Isle of Man, these coins often appear in circulation within the United Kingdom as the coins match the dimensions of the UK counterparts.
As well as producing non-circulating commemorative designs, the Isle of Man regularly changes the designs on the circulating coins. One reason for this is to increase sales to collectors, which can be an important source of income in small countries.
The Manx pound matches the Pound sterling and went decimal in 1971, with the UK, however since this date the Isle of Man has been at the front of coin introduction[2]: The £1 coin was introduced on the Isle of Man in 1978, 5 years before the UK equivalent,[3] and there is currently a circulating £5 coin.[1]
Below are descriptions of some of the different designs in circulation from the Isle of Man.
Contents
One penny
1971-1975: Celtic cross - Reverse design: A central celtic cross, made from winding strands, with circles in the four corners between the arms of the cross.
- Reverse inscription: ISLE OF MAN above the design, ONE NEW PENNY below the design.
1976-1979: Manx Loaghtan sheep - Reverse design: A standing native Manx Loaghtan sheep climbing a slight incline to left, with outline of the Isle of Man in background.[3]
- Reverse inscription: ISLE OF MAN above the design, ONE PENNY below the design.
[No Image] 1980-1983: Manx cat - Reverse design: A standing Manx cat facing left, with head turned to look out from the coin, surrounded with various swirling patterns underneath and across the belly of the cat.[3]
- Reverse inscription: 1 below the design, partially obscured by a decorative swirl.
[No Image] 1984-1987: European Shag - Reverse design: A standing Shag bird, facing left, on a stylised crest with tassles and other patterns surrounding.[3]
- Reverse inscription: 1 below the design.
1988-1995: Industry - Reverse design: A long industrial machine, possibly a lathe of some sort, across the centre of the design with a large industrial cog in the background - rather a difficult design to identify if you don't know what it is meant to be.[3]
- Reverse inscription: ellan vannin (the Manx name for the Isle of Man) above the design, 1 below the design.
[No Image] 1996-1999: Rugby - Reverse design: Large rugby ball between goalposts.[3]
- Reverse inscription: 1 below the design, with laurel wreath extending up along coin edge to either side.
[No Image] 2000-2003: Keeill (native Manx chapel) - Reverse design: Ruined chapel with small sanctus bell turret.[4]
- Reverse inscription: ANCIENT KEEILLS OF MANN above the design, 1 below.
[No Image] 2004-2009: Santon war memorial Two pence
1971-1975: Pair of hawking birds - Reverse design: A paid of Peregrine Falcons, wearing dutch hoods and bells, together on a perch. Whilst the bodies of the birds face inwards the head of each bird is turned to look away from each other towards the edges of the coin.[3]
- Reverse inscription: ISLE OF MAN above the design, TWO NEW PENCE below the design.
1976-1979: Manx Shearwater (bird) - Reverse design: A native Manx Shearwater bird in flight, heading upwards right, with outline of the Isle of Man in background - giving a sense of the bird flying high above the island.[3]
- Reverse inscription: ISLE OF MAN above the design, TWO PENCE below the design.
1980-1983: Red-billed Chough (bird) - Reverse design: A Red Billed Chough in flight, facing diagonally downards left, with decorative flourishes behind.[3]
- Reverse inscription: 2 below the bird, entwined within the flourishes.
[No Image] 1984-1987: Peregrine falcon - Reverse design: A standing Peregrine Falcon facing left upon a stylised heraldic shield, with decorative flourishes behind.[3]
- Reverse inscription: 2 below the falcon but within bottom point of the shield.
1988-1995: Celtic cross - Reverse design: A cross, superimposed upon a patterned disc, with: a jug in the centre of the cross, knitting in the top arm, a goblet in the right arm, two corn cobs in the left arm and a disc in the bottom arm.[3]
- Reverse inscription: ellan vannin above the design, 2 below.
[No Image] 1996-1999: Cycling - Reverse design: Two cyclists riding downhill to right.[3]
- Reverse inscription: 2 below the design, with laurel wreath extending up along coin edge to either side.
[No Image] 2000-2003: Manx Lugger fishing boat - Reverse design: Manx sailboat upon choppy waters. The inscription is taken from the first line of the Manx Fisherman's Evening Hymn and translates as "Hear us, O Lord".[4]
- Reverse inscription: CLASHT ROOIN, O HIARN above the design, 2 below.
[No Image] 2004-2009: Albert Tower, Ramsey Five pence
Large size
1971-1975: Castle by the sea - Reverse design: A turreted castle with sea in foreground.[3]
- Reverse inscription: ISLE OF MAN above the design, FIVE NEW PENCE below the design.
1976-1979: Laxey Wheel - Reverse design: The Laxey Wheel, a waterwheel in the village of Laxey, with outline of the Isle of Man in background.[3]
- Reverse inscription: ISLE OF MAN above the design, FIVE PENCE below the design.
1980-1983: Manx Loaghtan sheep - Reverse design: A native Manx Loaghtan sheep, seemingly striped, walking to left with head turned back to face right, with decorative flourishes all around.[3]
- Reverse inscription: 5 below the sheep, entwined within the flourishes.
1984-1987: Cushag (flower) - Reverse design: A Cushag flower inside a jug shaped sheild with floral flourishes outside the shield.[3]
- Reverse inscription: 5 below the flower but within the shield.
1988-1989: Windsurfing - Reverse design: Windsurfer travelling diagonally down the coin face to the right with stylised waves in background.[3]
- Reverse inscription: ellan vannin above the design, 5 below the design.
Small size
1990-1993: Windsurfing - Reverse design: Windsurfer travelling diagonally down the coin face to the right with stylised waves in background.[3]
- Reverse inscription: ellan vannin above the design, 5 below the design.
[No Image] 1996-1999: Golf - Reverse design: Golf ball falling into hole with golfer in background.[3]
- Reverse inscription: 5 below the design, with laurel wreath extending up along coin edge to either side.
2000-2003: Gaut's cross - Reverse design: Highly stylised and intricate Manx style celtic cross carved by Scandinavian sculptor Gaut.[4]
- Reverse inscription: GAUT'S CROSS CARVING above the design, 5 below.
[No Image] 2004-2009: Tower of Refuge Ten pence
Small size
1992-1995: Triskeles - Reverse design: The Triskeles emblem of the Isle of Man. The inscription is the latin motto of the Isle of Man and translates as "Whichever way you throw it, it will stand".[3]
- Reverse inscription: 20 to left of design, QUOCONQUE above the design, JECERIS STABIT below.
[No Image] 2000-2003: St. German's Cathedral - Reverse design: Ruins of the original 13th Century cathedral on St Patrick's Isle.[4]
- Reverse inscription: ST. GERMAN'S CATHEDRAL above the design, 10 below.
[No Image] 2004-2009: Chicken Rock lighthouse Twenty pence
[No Image] 1996-1999: Rally - Reverse design: Subaru Imprezza leading a Ford Escort Cosworth round a downhill right hand bend.
- Reverse inscription: TWENTY PENCE above the design, 20 below the design, with laurel wreath extending up along coin edge to either side.
[No Image] 2000-2003: Rushen Abbey - Reverse design: Monk sitting at desk at work creating manuscript. Rays of light fall from an arched window in the background.[4]
- Reverse inscription: RUSHEN ABBEY above the design, 20 below.
[No Image] 2004-2009: Rushen Castle clock Fifty pence
[No Image] 1997–1999: TT races - Reverse design: Motor cycle and side car commemorating the island's famous TT races.[5]
- Reverse inscription: TT 100 YEARS above the design, 50 below the design, with laurel wreath extending up along coin edge to either side.
[No Image] 2000-2003: Pre-Norse carved cross - Reverse design: Upright carved cross with rays emanating from centre - taken from a pre-Norse carved altar frontal now held in the Manx Museum.[4]
- Reverse inscription: CHRISTIANITY IN MANN above the design, 50 below.
[No Image] 2004-2009: Milner's Tower One pound
[No Image] 2000-2003: Millennium bells [No Image] 2004-2009: Tynwald Hill and St. John's chapel, - Reverse design: The stepped embankments of Tynwald Hill are half shown to the left with the chapel in the background to the right.[1]
- Reverse inscription: TYNWALD HILL · ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL above the design, 1 POUND below.
Two pound
[No Image] 2000-2003: Thorwald's cross-slab [No Image] 2004-2009: Peel Castle Five pound
[No Image] 2000-2003: St. Patrick's hymn - Reverse design: Very stylised St Patrick's cross.[4]
- Reverse inscription: ST. PATRICK'S HYMN above the design, 5 POUNDS below.
[No Image] 2004-2009: Laxey Wheel, - Reverse design: Image of the large 72-foot-diameter (22 m) Laxey water wheel.[1]
- Reverse inscription: LAXEY WHEEL above the design, 5 POUNDS below.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Isle of Man circulating decimal coins, Pobjoy Mint Limited
- ^ Governments served by Pobjoy Mint Limited, Pobjoy Mint Limited
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Isle of Man coins, World Coin Gallery
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Circulating coins, Isle of Man Government - Treasury Department
- ^ TT fifty pence, Pobjoy Mint Limited
External links
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