UK Decimals: Legend Variations on the 1p to 20p Coins

[<k>]

Look at the image above and notice how the obverse legends are differently arranged on the three different portrait types of the Queen's reign. On the Machin (left) and Maklouf (centre) portraits, there is a distinct gap on the legends between the left and right hand halves of the legend, whereas that gap is much less marked on the Rank Broadley portrait. However, within their own series, the legends are uniform across the lower denominations. That is to say, the legends on the Machin obverses appear in the same place on the obverse of the halfpenny, penny, two pence, five pence and ten pence. The legends on the Maklouf obverses also appear in the same place on the obverse of the penny, two pence, five pence and ten pence of that series. And the same is true for the Rank Broadley portrait within its own series, for the obverse of the penny, two pence, five pence and ten pence.



Below you see how the abbreviations were expanded slightly, from D.G. REG. F.D. to DEI GRA REG FID DEF, when the Jody Clark portrait was released.

 

[<k>]

What happens, however, when we get to the legend on the obverse of the twenty pence? Above, you can see that the legend is in the same place on both the Machin and the Maklouf obverse.





Now look at the obverse of this 2001 twenty pence coin of the Rank Broadley portrait type.

The legend is identical to that on the previous two coins, EXCEPT that the letters are in a larger font and are much more widely spread out.





Now watch what happens when the Dent series of 2008 is released. The same legend is rearranged, in order to allow for the switching of the date from the reverse to the obverse.



Below you see how the abbreviations were expanded slightly, from D.G. REG. F.D. to DEI GRA REG FID DEF, when the Jody Clark portrait was released.

[<k>]

See also: UK Decimals: Overview of Circulation Coinage to Date.