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1-я или 3-я четверть гербового щита герба Великобритании - 3 леопарда пассанта, изначально герб Англии.
Three Lions passant guardant representing England designed by Norman Sillman.
Year of Issue: 1997, 2002.
History:
The United Kingdom coinage is kept under constant review. By 1980 it had become apparent that with the general decline in purchasing power, the £1 unit of currency was more appropriate to a coin than a banknote. The note was in constant use on average lasting only nine months, whereas a coin can last as long as forty years or more and with the growth in the vending industry it was felt that a coin would be more useful.
After consultation with many groups including retailers and special interest groups, the Government announced on 31 July 1981 that a new £1 coin that was to be issued on 21 April 1983.
To make it easy to identify, the £1 coin is thicker than other coins while the 'yellow' colour allowed it to stand out from the cupro-nickel 'silver' coins already in circulation. The weight of the coin was decided largely on the grounds of cost and the need to allow for higher denomination coins in due course.
The reverse designs represent the United Kingdom and its four constituent parts - Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. The first series of designs took floral emblems as its theme, while the second series was heraldic in approach.