Coins of the Manx pound

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

IoM 1p 1975.JPG 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.
IoM 1p 1976.JPG 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.
IoM 1p 1988.JPG 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
Reverse design: Central tapering war memorial topped by cross.[1]
Reverse inscription: SANTON WAR MEMORIAL above the design, 1 to left of design, shield bearing the Triskeles to right of design.

Two pence

IoM 2p 1975.JPG 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.
IoM 2p 1976.JPG 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.
IoM 2p 1980.JPG 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.
Add caption here 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
Reverse design: Central square tower with sea in background and sailing ship on horizon to right.[1]
Reverse inscription: ALBERT TOWER above the design with small Triskeles immediately before and after, 2 to right of design.

Five pence

Large size

IoM 5p 1975.JPG 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.
IoM 5p 1976.JPG 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.
IoM 5p 1980.JPG 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.
IoM 5p 1985.JPG 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.
IoM 5p 1989.JPG 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

IoM 5p 1989.JPG 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.
IoM 5p 2002.JPG 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
Reverse design: Small castle, resembling the traditional sandcastle image, surrounded by sea.[1]
Reverse inscription: TOWER OF REFUGE above the design with small Triskeles immediately before and after, 5 below.

Ten pence

Small size

IoM 10p 1992.JPG 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
Reverse design: Central tapering lighthouse on rock base with sea behind and cliffs on horizon to right.[1]
Reverse inscription: LIGHTHOUSE CHICKEN ROCK above the design with small Triskeles immediately before and after, 10 to left of design.

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
Reverse design: Clock face at 12 o'clock inside a square diamond.[1]
Reverse inscription: CASTLE RUSHEN CLOCK above the design with small Triskeles immediately before and after, 20 below.

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
Reverse design: Square tower with round side turret.[1]
Reverse inscription: MILNER'S TOWER above the design with small Triskeles immediately before and after, 50 below.

One pound

[No Image] 2000-2003: Millennium bells
Reverse design: The Triskeles with three church bells alternating between the legs.[4]
Reverse inscription: MILLENIUM BELLS above the design, ONE POUND below.
[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
Reverse design: Taken from a tenth century cross design depicting the battle of Ragnarök.[4]
Reverse inscription: THORWALD'S CROSS-SLAB above the design, TWO POUNDS below.
[No Image] 2004-2009: Peel Castle
Reverse design: Large central round tower with hut-like buildings to right and see inlet to left.[1]
Reverse inscription: ROUND TOWER PEEL CASTLE above the design with small Triskeles immediately before and after, TWO POUNDS below.

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

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Isle of Man circulating decimal coins, Pobjoy Mint Limited
  2. ^ Governments served by Pobjoy Mint Limited, Pobjoy Mint Limited
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Circulating coins, Isle of Man Government - Treasury Department
  4. ^ TT fifty pence, Pobjoy Mint Limited

External links