Which of Guernsey's circulation pound coins do you prefer?

[<k>]

The Channel Islanders actually prefer their one pound notes, which are still issued, so you won't find too many of their pound coins in circulation. In both Jersey and Guernsey, I found many more UK pound coins in circulation than the local ones. They are placed in circulation by UK tourists.

The first Guernsey pound coin was issued in 1981, two years before Britain's, and depicted Guernsey lilies. It was 22 mm in diameter and 2.5 mm thick. The 1983 version was 3.15 mm thick, in order to make it even more clearly distinguishable from the large 5 pence coin, and its diameter was changed to 22.5 mm, to allow a 1 mm difference between it and the 20p coin, which was required by vending machines. It featured HMS Crescent, a Guernsey frigate. The 1985 pound coin showed a detail from the Guernsey pound note. All three designs were the work of Robert Elderton.

The Guernsey pound coin of 1981.

The Guernsey pound coin of 1983.

The pound coin since 1985 shows a detail from the Guernsey pound note.

A Guernsey pound note, showing the pound sign, as seen on the coin.

[Alan71]

That's an easy one for me, HMS Crescent.  The 1981 lilies design is fine but at the time the lily was also featured on the 5p, and the 1985 series placed it on the 50p.  The 1985 £1 design is quite boring.  Yes, so it appears on the note but so what?  They could have come up with something better than that.  Therefore I go for the ship, which beat Jersey's ship designs by eight years.

As with Jersey's, Guernsey £1 coins cease to be legal tender next month.  In reality, I doubt there are that many circulating.  I still hold out hope that we might see the new £1 issued for both Guernsey and Jersey, but at present it seems less likely than it would have been in the days when both Bailiwicks commissioned BU sets from the Royal Mint (and in Guernsey's case, proof sets as well).  It hasn't happened since 1997 (Guernsey did stick 2003 circulation quality coins into a copy of the 1997 folder though).

[<k>]

It was a difficult choice between HMS Crescent and the lilies, but I went for the lilies in the end, because the design is more realistic and natural than the other lily designs. The HMS Crescent is a superb design too - all credit to Robert Elderton.

I too find the current design boring, but people are voting for it. There is no accounting for taste.

I do imagine that Guernsey and Jersey will issue 12-sided pound coins, though it may take them a year or two yet, since there is no great demand for them there.

[<k>]

See also:

1] Guernsey, pound coin 1981: preliminary designs
2] Guernsey: preliminary designs for the 1983 pound coin
3] Guernsey: 1985 coinage - adopted and unadopted pound designs

[eurocoin]

Both the lilies and the HMS Crescent are good themes but I do not like the designs, therefore I chose the other coin which only features the denomination in an artistic way.

[<k>]

Both the lilies and the HMS Crescent are good themes but I do not like the designs

They are excellent designs. What are you looking for: a stick man, such as has appeared on many euro coins, or maybe a two-dimensional outline of a queen's face, such as has appeared on Dutch coins?

[<k>]

The poll has ended with another dead heat. Who to blame? The Equalizer or the fishfinger navy?