201)
The Isle of Man (A British Crown Dependency) Coinage: An Uncirculated Decimal
Coin Collection Set received from Pobjoy Mint, UK issued in 2015:
For interesting posts on Isle of Man Coinage, please visit the following links:
For interesting posts on Isle of Man Coinage, please visit the following links:
Mythological
& Historical Background of the Isle
of Man:
The Isle of Man or Mann
has a population of about 85000-90000, who live on the Island measuring about
227 sq. miles. The Manx name of the Island is “Ellan Vannin” (“Ellan”
being a Manx word meaning “Island”, while “Vannin”
is a mutation of the word “Mannin”
which refers to “Manannan mac Lir” (a
figure in Celtic Mythology) or “Manawydan”
(in Welsh Mythology).
In Manx mythology, the
Island was ruled by “Manannan mac Lir”
who was a Celtic Sea-God, who would draw his misty cloak around the Island to
protect it from invaders.
There is also an Irish
legend which tells how “Lough Neagh”
(the Isle of Man”) was formed when Ireland’s legendary giant “Fionn mac Cumhail” ripped up a portion
of the land and tossed it at a Scottish rival. The legend has it that he missed
and and the chunk of land fell in the Irish Sea, thus creating the Island.
It is a self-governing
British Crown Dependency located in the Irish Sea, between the islands of Great
Britain and Ireland. The Head of the State is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the
title of “Lord of Mann”. The Isle is governed by a Lieutenant Governor, but its
foreign relations and defence are managed by the British government.
The Island was first inhabited
by humans from some 6500 BC or so.
Around 5th
century AD, Gaelic cultural influence permeated the Island together with a
profusion of the Manx language, which has its origins in the Gaelic languages.
In 627 AD, Edwin of
Nothumbria conquered the Isle of Man along with most of Mercia.
In the 9th
century AD, the Norse people from Scotland began to settle here and later
established the Kingdom of the Isles.
From 1099 to 1103 AD,
the King’s title also carried the suffix, “and
the Isles”. For example, Magnus III, the King of Norway was also known as
“King of Mann and the Isles”, as part of the Hebrides civilisation.
By 1266, the Island
became part of Scotland, through the Treaty of Perth. A Norse-Gaelic culture
was seen in the Island around this time.
In 1399, after a
period of alternating rule by the Kings of Scotland and Emgland, the Island
came under the feudal lordship of the English Crown.
In 1765, the lordship
revested in the British Crown, but the
island never became a part of the Kingdom of Great Britain or its successor,
the United Kingdom and retained its status as an internally self-governing
Crown Dependency.
The
Isle of Man – A mix of various cultures:
Tradition runs deep in the
life of the Island.
During the Neolithic Period, knowledge of
farming, better stone tools and pottery developed and Megalithic Monuments
dotted the Island.
During the Bronze Age, large communal tombs
of the Megalithic builders were replaced with smaller burial mounds, with
stone-lined graves alongwith ornamental containers, which created long-lasting
markers around the countryside.
During the Iron Age, the beginning of the
Celtic cultural influence pervaded the Island. Large Hill forts appeared on
hill summits and smaller promontory forts along the coastal cliffs, while large
timber-framed roundhouses were built.
Viking
settlement of the Island established Tynwald (the country’s
Parliament) and introduced many land divisions which still exist.
Everywhere, there are
monuments, buildings and sites that date back through the various periods of
Manx history.
Stone
circles point to the presence of the mysterious
“Henge” people, while the influence of the Celt, Viking, Saxon and Norman eras
can be seen everywhere.
Manx
graveyards still contain beautifully carved crosses
that readily reveal Celtic and Norse artistic influences and have withstood the
vagaries of the elements for more than 1000 years.
Historical
development of Isle of Man coinage:
From 1025 to 1035,
silver pennies patterned on the Hiberno-Norse coins of Ireland, but with
blundered inscriptions and a roughly inscribed portrait were struck for the
Isle of Man. Around the same time, English, Irish and Scottish coins and tokens
circulated in the Island.
Since
the 14th Century, the Isle of Man has had its own coinage.
In 1673, local
tokens were made legal tender.
From 1709,
distinctive pennies and half-pennies were issued under the authority of the
Earls of Derby and later under the authority of the Dukes of Atholl as the
Lords of the Isle of Man together with their emblems.
In 1765, the Island
was transferred to the British Crown and in 1786, Regal Coinage
was issued for the Island, depicting the portrait of George III, shown as
wearing a laurel wreath and the emblem of the Isle of Man on the other face.
From 1813 to 1839,
no coins were issued and the earlier coins issued for the Isle of Man
circulated together with British coinage.
In 1839, copper
coins with Queen Victoria’s uncrowned portrait were circulated.
From 1840 to 1971
British coins circulated as currency in the Island.
Meanwhile, in 1965,
a Gold coin Series was issued to commemorate the bicentenary of the Revestment
Act. Also, in 1970, a crown was issued whih featured the tailless Manx
Cat.
Present
Day:
Since 1972, the
Island has issued a full range of coins for general circulation.
The
Isle of Man has led the way in pioneering the World’s first circulating decimalised
pound coin (1979) i.e., five years before the pound was introduced in the
United Kingdom , 2 and 5 pound coins (1981) in virenium, a special base-metal
alloy and most recently, the World’s first Bi-metallic gold and titanium coin
(2000). The Island’s coinage has received praise several times for its
inventive and original designs.
Pobjoy
Mint in Surrey, England, mints the coins on behalf of the
Isle of Man. Pobjoy Mint is Europe’s
oldest and largest private Mint and has been striking coins for the
Isle of Man since 1972, after the Manx
pound adopted the Decimal system in 1971.
Due
to similar appearances and value of pound sterling coins, Manx coinsoften
appear in circulation within the United Kingdom. However, they are not legal
tender in the UK. On the other hand, the Isle of Man recognises Pound sterling
coins for circulation within the Island.
The
Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set received from Pobjoy Mint, UK issued
in 2015:
The Isle of Man has passed
through different hands over the years and the influence of its various rulers
and inhabitants has been literally preserved in stone.
A large variety of
historic buildings stand witness to the various stages in the Island’s social
development.
The earliest attempts construction
can be seen in the many fine stone circles and monuments found throughout the
Island.
The
themes of the Reverse designs capture much of the charm and character of the
Isle of Man.
The front of the jacket containing
the Uncirculated Isle of Man Decimal Coin Collection set.
The back of the above jacket.
The Reverse designs of the
entire coin set as the coins appear on the coin album.
The Reverse of the One
Pence Coin depicts the Santon
War Memorial.
The
Santon War Memorial: It was the first War Memorial to be
built using public subscription in 1920 in the memory of six men of the
parish of Santon who lost their lives in the Great War/First World War – 1914-1918.
The memorial was built by their fellow parishioners. The Memorial is in rectangular
form and diminishes towards the top and is surmounted by a Celtic Cross. It is
made of red sandstone.
The specifications of this coin are:
Metal
Composition: Copper-plated Steel; Weight: 3.56 gms; Diameter:
20.32 mm.
The Reverse of the Two
Pence Coin depicts the Albert
Tower.
The
Albert Tower: This Tower, in the town of Ramsey was
built to commemorate the visit of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria in 1847.
Ramsey is the second largest town on the Island after Douglas and has one of
the biggest harbours on the Island. Ramsey has been a route for several
invasions by Vikings and Scots.
Albert was rowed ashore at
Ballure where he made his way up the glen, then into Lhergy Frissell where he
climbed to the top of the hill. There he viewed the surrounding town of Ramsay
and the northern Plain.
The hill was renamed Albert Mount and a year later in
1848, the foundation of the tower was laid. The Tower is made of granite
and rises 45 feet high. It stands as a landmark in Ramsey.
The specifications of this coin are:
Metal
Composition: Copper-plated Steel; Weight: 7.12 gms; Diameter:
25.90 mm.
The Reverse of the Five
Pence Coin depicts the Tower
of Refuge.
The
Tower of Refuge: St.
Mary’s Isle or Conister Rock
or the Tower of Refuge is a
partially submerged reef within Douglas Bay on the Isle of Man.
The rugged Manx coast-line
which has weathered countless storms and seen many a ship founder along its
shores prompted a life-boat service manned by trained crew, to be started by
William Hillary, which later developed into the Royal National Lifeboat
Institution in 1824.
On one occasion, Hillary
was washed overboard when his team was attempting a sea-rescue. Realising that
the coast was too far to swim to and a place was needed for sailors to climb
upon while waiting for their rescue, the Tower of Refuge was conceived and
completed by 1832. The designer of the Tower was John Welch.
The Tower is situated upon
Consiter Rock in Douglas Bay and is a haven in the form of a small castle which
was kept well-stocked with fresh water and bread and offered several amenities
to ship-wrecked sea-farers, as well as, shelter from the weather and the Sea.
The specifications of this coin are:
Metal
Composition: Cupro-nickel; Weight: 3.25 gms; Diameter:
18.00 mm.
The Reverse of the Ten
Pence Coin depicts the Chicken
Rock Lighthouse.
Chicken Rock Lighthouse
The
Chicken Rock Lighthouse: It was built between 1869 to 1874
based on a design by David and Thomas Stevenson. This Lighthouse is built on a
submerged reef. The granite for the tower was shipped from Scotland and cut in
a mason’s yard in Port St. Mary. The Tower was built during four summer seasons
using the winter months to cut the stone. The 44 metres lighthouse has a range
of 13 miles and after one of the keepers was injured in a fire in 1960,
the light was automated in the following year in 1961.
The specifications of this coin are:
Metal
Composition: Cupro-nickel; Weight: 6.50 gms; Diameter:
24.50 mm.
The Reverse of the Twenty
Pence Coin depicts the Castle
Rushen Clock.
Castle Rushen
Castle
Rushen Clock: Castle Rushen is the best example in the
British Isles of a medieval castle and is still used as a court-house, museum
and educational centre. It was built around 1200 AD, and it served as
the residence of the last Norse King of Man, who died in 1266. It is
located in the Isle of Man’s historic capital – Castletown, in the south of the
Island.
Part of the Castle was
destroyed in a siege by Robert the Bruce in 1313, but was rebuilt by
William de Montacute around 1344.
In the clock room which
was formerly used as the castle chapel, lies a clock presented by Queen
Elizabeth I in 1597, while she held the Island in trust pending a
dispute. The clock is of simple
construction with only one hand, but still keeps very good time.
The specifications of this coin are:
Metal
Composition: Cupro-nickel; Weight: 5.00 gms; Diameter:
21.40 mm.
The Reverse of the Fifty
Pence Coin depicts Milner’s
Tower.
View of Port Erin
Milner’s Tower on Bradda
Head
Milner’s
Tower: It was built in 1871 by the residents of Port
Erin in honour of William Milner, a Liverpool safe-maker, of the then famous
Milner’s safe Co. Ltd., makers of fire-resistant safes.
The Tower was built in the
shape of a lock and key in honour of Milner who was a great benefactor of the
town. The Tower was meant to be built in secret as a surprise, but once Milner
found out, he donated much of the building cost.
Bradda
Head is a rugged headland in the Isle of Man rising to a
height of about 382 feet, which shelters Port Erin from the north. There is a
cliff-top walk, the Coronation Footpath, up to the head and around the head via
Milner’s Tower.
The specifications of this coin are:
Metal
Composition: Cupro-nickel; Weight: 8.00 gms; Diameter:
27.30 mm.
The Reverse of the One
Pound Coin depicts Tynwald
Hill, opposite St. John’s Chapel.
Tynwald Hill
Tynwald
Hill, Opp. St. John’s Chapel: The greatest man-made
construction in the Isle of Man is also one of the oldest and simplest is
situated in St. John, a small village on the Douglas to Peel road in the
Central valley of the Isle of Man.
The four-tiered mound of earth known as Tynwald Hill, opposite St.
John’s Chapel, originally started off as a burial mound but was adopted by the
Vikings over a thousand years ago for the business of open-air law making and
other matters of government. As such, Tynwald Hill was the original
assembly place for the Isle of Man Parliament, Tynwald.
Its location, linked by a
processional pathway to a place of worship and court house (within the chapel)
and surrounded by a green, follows the
Norse tradition for the site of a Government Assembly.
Tynwald
Day is the National
Day of the Isle of Man, observed on 5th July or of it is a Sunday on
the following Monday. On this day, the Island’s legislature, Tynwald meets
at St. John’s, instead of its usual meeting place in Douglas. The session is
held partly in the Royal Chapel of St. John and partly in the open air on the
adjacent Tynwald Hill ever since 1417. This session is known as the
“Midsummer Court”.
In this annual ceremony the
laws of the Isle of Man are proclaimed in English and Manx.
Tynwald Day attracts
thousands of spectators to watch the ceremony and participate in the Tynwald
Fair.
House of Keys
Interestingly,
the Island’s Parliament, Tynwald, has been in continuous existence since 979
AD or so, making it the oldest continuously Governing body in the World. Tynwald is a bicameral or tricameral
legislature, comprising the House of Keys and the Legislative Council, which
meet together in joint sessions as Tynwald. The Executive Branch of Government
is the Council of Ministers, which is composed of members of Tynwald, headed by
a Chief Minister. The vice regal functions are performed by the Lt. Governor.
The specifications of this coin are:
Metal
Composition: Nickel-Brass; Weight: 9.50 gms; Diameter:
22.50 mm.
The Reverse of the Two
Pound Coin depicts the Round
Tower, Peel Castle.
Peel Castle, Celtic
Monastery & later day Chapel with the Round Tower
Peel Sunset
Round
Tower, Peel Castle: This is one of the Isle of Man’s
principle historic monuments and occupies the important site of St. Patrick’s
Isle at Peel.
The Peel Castle was built
in the 11th century by the Vikings under the rule of King
Magnus Barefoot. While there were older stone Celtic buildings on the Island,
the first Viking fortifications were built of wood. In the early 14th
century, the majority of the walls and towers were built from local red
sandstone which is found abundantly in the area.
The Castle’s Curtain Wall
encircles the ruins of many buildings which are a testimony to the site’s
religious and secular importance in Manx history. Among these monuments is the Round Tower which dates back to
the 11th Century. The prominent Round tower was originally
part of a Celtic monastery, but had battlements added at a later date.
Peel
Castle is also a possible location of the Arthurian legend of Avalon or as the
location of the Grail Castle which is also the site of Sir Lancelot’s encounter
with the sword bridge of King Melegaunt.
The specifications of this coin are:
Metal
Composition: Bimetallic: Inner: Cupro-Nickel; Outer
Ring: Nickel-Brass; Weight:
12.00 gms; Diameter: 28.40
mm.
The Reverse of the Five
Pound Coin depicts the Laxey
Wheel.
Laxey
Wheel: This is the largest surviving water wheel in the
World.
This feat of engineering, (with
a circumference of 228 ft., a diameter of 72 feet, 6 inches and is 6 feet wide,
with a speed of 3 revolutions per minute) was designed by a Manx engineer
Robert Casement and was first powered up in 1854 to pump water from the
neighbouring mine. The Wheel is capable of delivering 250 gallons of water a
minute. The Wheel is water-powered as the Isle of Man does not have a supply of
coal but has an abundance of water.
It was christened Lady
Isabella in honour of the wife of the Island’s Governor, Charles Hope.
The Wheel was used to pump
water from the Glen Mooar part of the “Great Laxey Mines” industrial complex.
Presently, the Wheel still operates, but does not pump water and is one of the
Island’s main tourist attractions.
The Wheel also features on
the Back of the 20 Pound Banknote issued by the Isle of Man.
The Obverse faces of the above coins depicts Queen Elizabeth
II’s portrait designed by Ian-Rank Broadly. These are the last few issues with
this portrait, as later issues in 2015 are now being minted with a new
design by Jody Clark. Notice that the triskelion of the Emblem is placed at
three places on each one of these coins symbolic of the original meaning of the
motto of the Isle of Man “however it is tested, it will pass” (as
a standard coin).
The
Manx Pound Banknotes:
In 1865, the Isle of Man Banking Company was
founded which issued 1 Pound Banknotes.
In 1894, 5 Pound Banknotes
were issued by the Company.
In 1926, the name
of the Isle of Man Banking Company was changed to Isle of Man Bank.
On 31.07.1961, The
Isle of Man Government Notes Act made revoked the licences of all other
Commercial Banks, including Barclays Bank, Lloyds Bank, Manx Bank, Merchantile
Bank of Lancashire, Lancashire & Yorkshire Bank, Martins Bank, Parr’s Bank,
London Country Westminster Bank and Parr’s Bank and Westminster Bank and the
Isle of Man Government became the sole authority to issue Banknotes.
On 03.07.1961, the
Government under this authority issued 10 shillings and 1 and 3 Pound Banknotes.
In 1969, the 10
shillings Banknote was replaced by a 50 Pence Banknote as a precursor to
decimalisation, which was subsequently withdrawn in 1989.
In 1979, a 20 Pound
Banknote denomination was introduced.
In 1983, a polymer
1 Pound Banknote was issued but discontinued from 1988 onwards.
Also, in 1983, a 50
Pound Banknote was circulated.
Presently, the Isle of Man Government issues
Banknotes in the denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Pounds.
On the Front,
all Manx Banknote denominations depict images of the Triskelion (three legged emblem of the Isle of Man) in centre
and Lord of Mann Queen Elizabeth II (not
wearing a crown).
Each denomination features a different scene
of the Island on the Back – 1
Pound (Tyndwald Hill), 5 Pounds (Castle Rushen), 10 Pounds (Peel Castle), 20
Pounds (the Laxey Wheel) and 50 Pounds (Douglas Bay).
The Front of the One
Pound Banknote shows the Triskelion
symbol and Queen Elizabeth II,
not wearing a crown.
The Back of the One
Pound Banknote shows Tyndwald
Hill.
The
Coat of Arms or Emblem of the Isle of Man:
Origins:
The origins of the Three
Legs represented on the Emblem of the Isle of Man, as an ancient Sun symbol,
run deeper than its position relative to Britain and Ireland.
Nature has afforded the
Isle a certain degree of isolation which has permitted it to evolve in its own
way.
For centuries, the
Island’s symbol has been the “three legs of Mann” (Manx: “Tree Cassyn Vannin”), a Triskelion
of three legs conjoined at the thigh.
The Manx Triskelion, which dates to around the late 13th
century is of uncertain origin.
One tradition places its
origin to Sicily which has been associated with Triskelions since ancient
times.
The
present Coat of Arms: It was adopted on 12.07.1996. As the
Isle of Man is a British Crown Dependency, the arms are described as “The arms
of Her Majesty in Right of the Isle of Man”.
Crest:
An Imperial Crown proper.
Escutcheon
is emblazoned. Gules (red) a triskele argent (silver) garnished and spurred Or.
Supporters:
Dexter a Perigrine Falcon and sinister a Raven, both proper.
The Manx motto “Quocunque
jeceris stabit” (meaning “Whichever way you throw it/me, it/I shall
stand”) reflects this independence of spirit.
The
motto dates back to the late 17th century when it is known to have
appeared on the country’s coinage.
Interestingly,
the original meaning of the motto relates to the poor quality of coinage which
was common at that time, meaning “however it is tested, it will pass” (as a
standard coin).
The symbol appears in the
Island’s official flag and the official Coat of Arms as well as its currency
& coinage.
National Flower:
National Flower:
The
ragwort or cushag is the Manx National flower.
Manx
animals:
Two domestic animals are specifically
connected to the Isle of Man – the Manx
Cat and the Manx Loaghtan
sheep.
The Manx Cat is a breed of cat noted for having a genetic
mutation that causes it to have a shortened tail. The length of the tail can
range from a few inches, known as stumpy” to being completely non-existent or
“rumpy”.
The Manx Cats come in a
range of colours and usually have somewhat longer hind legs compared to most
other cats.
The
cats are used as a symbol of the Isle of Man on coins and stamps.
The Manx Loaghtan sheep is a breed which is native to the
Island. It has dark brown wool and four, sometimes six horns. The meat is
considered to be a delicacy.
Commemorative
Coins:
The Isle of Man has since
been one of the most prolific issuers of Commemorative
and Special issues, often as long
thematic sets. Special Manx Commemorative issues are
also extremely popular with Numismatists.
Presently, the Manx
Treasury issues precious metal bullion coins, including the “Gold Angel”, which is the best
selling Cat coin and the first Platinum bullion coin, the “Noble”, which are internationally recognised and traded in
the markets.
The above image is that of
a gold-on-silver bimetallic coin which reproduces an entire Series of Cat
Crowns issued over the previous ten years.
One of the most popular
coins of recent times was a Crown minted by the Isle of Man in 1987, to
commemorate the Bicentenary of the American Constitution. The Reverse
shows the Statue of Liberty surrounded
by portraits of 11 US Statesmen starting from George Washington & ending
with Ronald Reagan.
The Obverse face of
the coin shows a crowned portrait of Elizabeth II.
( This Coin set (issued in 2015) has come to my Collection through the resources of Jayant Biswas. This post has been researched & written and coins scanned by Rajeev Prasad)
Links:
British Crown Dependencies:
1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey
2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey
3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey
4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain
5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015
7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend
8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie
9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda
10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence
11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003
12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint
Famous Battles:
1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK)
2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK
3) Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by issuing a 50 Pence coin by the Royal Mint UK
Gold Coins:
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013 & 2014 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark
2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark
Silver Coins:
1) A 20 Pound Silver coin minted for the first timr by the royal Mint UK: reverse design carries the famous St. George slaying the dragon design found on Gold Sovereigns
British India Coinage:
1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835
2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress
3) Edward VII: King & Emperor Coinage
4) George V King Emperor Coinage
5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage
Other British Royalty:
1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK
2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown
3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK
4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013
5) The British Empire: A Case of Numismatic "segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)
6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark
British Coinage:
1) The contribution of the Great British One-Pound coins in keeping alive the historical legends/emblems/heritage of the UK (1983 onwards)
2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin
3) Transformation of the Two Shilling Coin (Florin) Coin into the UK Ten Pence
4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone
Commemorative British Coinage:
1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era
2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK
3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)
4) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel
5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his" Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK
6) 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta - the Universal Guidepost to Liberty and Freedom
Inspirations from Scottish History:
1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes
Banknotes from Scotland:
1) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote
Posted
on 09.01.2016:
The Government and
Treasury of the Isle of Man has released the latest “Cat Crown” in their
popular and long-running series depicting cat breeds worldwide.
An image of the Havana Brown Cat
The newest in the Series
is the “Havana Brown” breed, a Siamese shaped short-haired cat.
The phrase “chocolate delights” is often used to describe Havana Browns, which
are named after the resemblance the colour of their coats bears to that of
Havana cigars. These charming chocolate brown cats have mesmerizing green eyes
and are alert, intelligent, and occasionally exhibit a mischievous personality.
A breed for the true cat
connoisseur, the Havana Brown is an extremely rare breed with less than 1000
known individuals around the World. They are usually of medium size and
structure, firm and muscular, exhibiting a sense of power, elegance and
gracefulness. The two most distinctive features of the breed are its colour and
head shape. Its distinctive muzzle, coat colour, large forward tilted ears and
green eyes set it apart from other breeds.
The Havana Brown breed is
often described as being naturally inquisitive and they often reach out with a
paw to investigate, touch and feel curiosities in their environment. They are mostly outgoing, playful and talkative
in a charming and attentive way.
The
coins have been struck by Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of the Treasury of the Isle
of Man, depicting a Havana Brown cat with two kittens, highlighting their
peculiar fur. The Obverse of each coin has a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and
the Year of issue “2016”.
The specifications of the coins are:
Base
Metal coins:
Denomination: One
Crown; Metal: Cupro-nickel; Weight: 28.00 gms; Diameter: 38.60 mm; Coin Quality: Brilliant
Uncirculated (BU); Mintage:
Unlimited.
Silver
coins:
Denomination: One
Crown; Metal: .999 silver; Weight: 31.10 gms; Diameter: 38.60 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Mintage: 10,000 pieces.
Posted on 21.02.2017:
Posted on 21.02.2017:
The Treasury of the Government
of the Isle of Man has plans to introduce seven new circulation coins during
2017.
The proposed changes in the designs of the seven new circulation Manx coins
Substantial changes have
been proposed to be carried out both the Obverses and Reverses of these coins.
While no design changes are proposed as of now in the two smallest
denominations i.e. one and two penny coins, the rest of the coins of 5, 10, 20,
50 Pence and 1, 2 and 5 (new) Pounds are likely to undergo the proposed changes
once the Isle of Man Parliament, the “Tynwald” considers and approves the
changes later in February 2017.
Interestingly, the
specifications of the Manx coins such as metal compositions, diameters, weights
etc are proposed to remain the same. Also, the new 12-sided 1 GBP coin which is
being introduced in Great British coinage will not be introduced in Manx
coinage, as the counterfeiting of Manx coins is not much, necessitating a
changeover for this denomination.
If these new coin designs
meet with the Tynwald’s approval, they are likely to be introduced into general
circulation in April 2017. If approved, Manx coins will be minted by the Tower
Mint, with offices in London, after the agreement between the Isle of Man
treasury and the Pobjoy Mint, London has been terminated after more than 40
years.
( This Coin set (issued in 2015) has come to my Collection through the resources of Jayant Biswas. This post has been researched & written and coins scanned by Rajeev Prasad)
Links:
British Crown Dependencies:
1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey
2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey
3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey
4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain
5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015
7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend
8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie
9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda
10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence
11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003
12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint
Famous Battles:
1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK)
2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK
3) Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by issuing a 50 Pence coin by the Royal Mint UK
Gold Coins:
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013 & 2014 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark
2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark
Silver Coins:
1) A 20 Pound Silver coin minted for the first timr by the royal Mint UK: reverse design carries the famous St. George slaying the dragon design found on Gold Sovereigns
British India Coinage:
1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835
2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress
3) Edward VII: King & Emperor Coinage
4) George V King Emperor Coinage
5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage
Other British Royalty:
1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK
2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown
3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK
4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013
5) The British Empire: A Case of Numismatic "segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)
6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark
British Coinage:
1) The contribution of the Great British One-Pound coins in keeping alive the historical legends/emblems/heritage of the UK (1983 onwards)
2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin
3) Transformation of the Two Shilling Coin (Florin) Coin into the UK Ten Pence
4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone
Commemorative British Coinage:
1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era
2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK
3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)
4) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel
5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his" Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK
6) 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta - the Universal Guidepost to Liberty and Freedom
Inspirations from Scottish History:
1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes
Banknotes from Scotland:
1) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote
Nice post. Really liked this thematic set
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rahul. Much appreciate.
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