Milestones in the decimal coinage of the Isle of Man

Started by <k>, October 14, 2011, 07:26:54 PM

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<k>

#30


In 1978 the Pobjoy Mint produced the world's first modern pound coin for the Isle of Man, which it proudly called the round pound. The UK did not issue its own pound coins until 1983. The Manx government did intend that this coin should circulate. However, when I visited the Isle of Man in 1981, I did not find any in circulation. The Manx population did not like the coin, and to this day they prefer their pound notes, which are still produced.

This first Manx pound coin was light and thin - not thick, like the current ones. It was confusingly close in size to the circulation five pence. Its diameter was 22.5mm, compared to 23.6 mm for the 5 pence coin at that time. The edge of the first Manx pound alternated between smooth and milled. It was made of virenium, an alloy which had a silvery colour but with a golden tint.
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See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#31
1980: NEW DESIGN SERIES.

The first series of the Manx decimal circulation coin designs lasted from 1971 to 1975, and the second lasted from 1976 to 1979. In 1980, yet another new series was issued. These rapid changes of designs were all intended to appeal to the collector market and were to become a regular feature of the Manx coinage. The new designs were created by Leslie Lindsay of the Pobjoy Mint. He had also designed the Tynwald commemorative fifty pence reverse of 1979.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#32


The half penny once more depicted a herring, interwined with a motif from Celtic art.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#33


The penny portrayed a Manx cat.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#34


A red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) appeared on the two pence.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#35


A Loghtan ram graced the five pence.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#36


A falcon appeared on the ten pence.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#37


Yet another version of a Viking ship appeared on the reverse of the fifty pence.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#38


In 1982, the UK introduced a 20 pence coin, a new circulating denomination, and in the same year the Isle of Man followed suit. The Manx reverse design shows a Viking helmet and a variety of medieval weapons. This design was issued in 1982 and 1983. Unlike the UK 20 pence coin, which has a very wide rim, the Manx coin had a normal narrow rim.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#39

Manx pound coin of 1983.


In 1983 the UK introduced a new denomination, its first modern circulation pound coin. The Isle of Man introduced its own version in the same year. The coin was in the same format as the UK coin: it was thick and chunky, with an edge thickness of 3.15mm, unlike the thin and light pound coin that the Isle of Man had issued from 1978 to 1982.

The UK chose to vary the reverse design of its pound coin each year, in order to honour its four constituent countries. The Isle of Man decided to honour its own towns, and the reverse of its 1983 pound coin shows the coat of arms of Peel, the island's third largest town. The three remaining pound coins in the Manx town series (not illustrated) were released in 1984, 1985 and 1986 and featured Castletown, Ramsey and Douglas respectively.

The Manx population does not like pound coins and prefers its pound notes, which are still produced and still circulate.

Note that ALL Manx pound coins have an edge that alternates between plain and reeded sections. The coins do NOT have an edge inscription.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#40
1984: NEW DESIGN SERIES.

In 1984 the Isle of Man introduced yet another new series of reverse designs for its circulation coins. This new series was issued to commemorate the Quincentenary of the College of Arms. Most commemorative sets are issued for one year only, but this one ran from 1984 to 1987. The series depicted some typical Manx themes against a shield of arms.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#41


The halfpenny portrays a fuchsia blossom.

1985 was the final year that this denomination was issued as a circulation coin. Its UK counterpart was demonetised at the end of 1984.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#42


Here you see the only decimal halfpenny, dated 1985, of the whole of the sterling area, that carried Raphael Maklouf's effigy of the Queen.

It is possible, though, that it was only issued in sets. There were collector versions in other metals too, such as silver.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#43


The penny depicts a cormorant.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#44


A falcon appears on the reverse of the two pence coin.


Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.