Milestones in the decimal coinage of the Falkland Islands

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Here you see both sides of the 50 pence coin.

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20 pence.  Falkland sheep.

In 1982 the UK issued a new circulating denomination, the 20 pence coin, and the Falkland Islands issued their own version in the same year. The reverse design of the Falkland coin was created by Royal Mint engraver Robert Elderton. It depicts a Falkland sheep.

Unlike the UK 20 pence coin, which had a very wide rim that gave the coin the appearance of being countersunk, the Falkland 20p coin had a normal narrow rim.

 

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Here you see both sides of the 20 pence coin.

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In 1983 the UK issued its last halfpenny coin. The Falkland Islands did likewise.

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Obverse of the 1 pound coin.

In 1983 the UK added a pound coin to the circulation coinage. The Falkland Islands did not issue their own version until 1987.

The UK had adopted Raphael Maklouf's new effigy of Elizabeth II for its circulation coinage in 1985.

The Falklands now used the Maklouf effigy on the obverse of its new pound coin from 1987 onward.


Interestingly, all the other denominations of the Falkland coinage continued to use the Arnold Machin effigy of the Queen until the end of 2003.

The 50 pence coin adopted the Rank-Broadley portrait in 2003, a year earlier than the lower denominations.

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Reverse of the 1 pound coin.

The reverse of the pound coin depicts the Falkland coat of arms.

The edge inscription reads: "+ DESIRE THE RIGHT", which is the Falklands' motto.

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In the 1990s, the UK reduced the size and weight of some of it coins. The 5p coin was replaced with a smaller one in 1990; the 10p coin was replaced in 1992, and the 50p coin in 1997.

However, the Falkland Islands waited until 1998, then it reduced the size and weight of the Falkland version of the three coins at the same time. The designs did not change.


In the meantime, the small and large versions of the UK 5, 10 and 50 pence coins continued to circulate on the islands.

Equally, the small and large versions of the Falkland 5, 10 and 50 pence coins continued to circulate on the islands.


The Falkland Islands' commissioner of currency believes that the larger demonetised UK coins were called in and shipped back to the UK some time around the year 2001.

The larger Falkland coins (the old 5, 10 and 50 pence coins) ceased to be legal tender on 1 October 2001.

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The larger 5 pence coin of 1998.


If you look at the larger 5 pence coin, the designer's initials appear under the wing.

The smaller 5 pence coin of 1998.


Since 1998, the designer's initials no longer appear on the 5 pence coin.

The smaller 10 and 50 pence coins retained the designer's initials.

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CHANGE OF METAL.

From 1998, the 1 penny and 2 pence coins were no longer minted in bronze.

They were now minted in copper-plated steel in order to reduce costs.

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The 50 pence coin of 2003, featuring Ian Rank-Broadley's effigy of the Queen.

The UK had introduced Raphael Maklouf's effigy of the Queen onto its coinage in 1985. The Falkland Islands, however, retained the old Machin portrait on its coins, with one exception: from 1987 onward the Falkland pound coin alone used the Maklouf's effigy.

Meanwhile, the UK had adopted Ian Rank-Broadley's effigy for the coinage in 1998. Only in 2003 did the Falkland Islands adopt the Rank-Broadley portrait for the 1 penny and 50 pence coins.

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The penny, with Rank-Broadley's effigy.

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The 10 pence coin with Rank-Broadley's effigy.

The remaining denominations (2, 5, 10, 20 pence and 1 pound coins) did not adopt the new effigy until 2004.

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The 1 pound coin with Rank-Broadley's effigy.

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Obverse of the circulation 2 pound coin.

The Falkland Islands issued a crown-sized (38.6mm) collector 2 pound coin in 1999.

It commemorated the coming of the new millennium. It had a reeded edge, without any inscription.


The Falkland Islands did not issue a standard 2 pound circulation coins until 2004.

Like the UK version, the coin was 28.4mm in diameter. It commemorated 30 years of Falkland coinage.

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The reverse of the 2 pound coin of 2004.

Englishman Matthew Bonaccorsi designed the reverse of the 2 pound coin.

It shows sunlight breaking over the islands. The outer ring depicts the wildlife of the islands.


The edge inscription reads:· 30 YEARS OF FALKLAND ISLANDS COINAGE

The circulation 2 pound coin that was issued in 2014, had a reeded edge without any inscription.