| Coin | Platinum Half Ounce 2016 Noble |
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The Isle of Man has its own circulating coinage, which is used in parallel with the British Pound Sterling; it also issues an extensive range of commemorative coins for collectors, as well as bullion coins in a variety of formats and designs for investors in precious metals.
One of the formats used is the one half of a troy ounce (1/2oz) of platinum. The first design issued in this format was the Noble, depicting a Viking ship. The original Noble denomination was a coin introduced by King Edward III in 1344, which was one of the first widely-used gold coins struck in England. It was believed at the time that the coin was a lucky charm as a protection against thieves. It was discontinued after the reign of King Edward IV, until the Isle of Man revived the denomination in 1983. The strong Viking theme of its design relates to the history of the island, having once been the Kingdom of Man and conquered by Norse leaders, with the King of Dublin and the Earls of Orkney ruling the isle.
It is usually said that modern Nobles are legal tender but without a fixed face value, like the Krugerrand or Mexico’s Libertad which are legal tender to the value of their precious metal content. However, according to the various Currency Determinations by The Treasury of the Isle of Man authorising each issue, the "Noble" denomination has a fixed value - for example, the 2010 Determination sets it as £10, while the 2017 and later acts make it equal to 5 pounds in face value, with fractions or multiples divided or multiplied as required by the fraction or multiplier shown on the reverse of the coin. Hence, the half ounce has a nominal face value of £2.50 (two and a half pounds).
This coin was issued in 2016 to celebrate the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait", by Ian Rank-Broadley). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
The portrait is in its "uncouped" version which extends below the neck and shows the Queen's shoulders. The designer's initials IRB are on the shoulder truncation.
Around above, the monarch's legend and the date: * ELIZABETH II * ISLE OF MAN * 2016.
The dividers in the inscription are triskele symbols. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin shows a Viking longboat under sail, with a horned dragon figurehead on the bow and a pennant on top of the mast, with warrior shields hanging from the side. In the background, seagulls flying above the waves.
In the exergue, the metal content: 1/2 OZ PLATINUM FINE.
Around below, the name of the denomination, HALF NOBLE.
The rim is framed by an elaborate Celtic motif border design ("Viking Knit"), interrupted at the top by a small Triskele symbol, which is the Coat of Arms of the Isle of Man.
The PM mint mark of the Pobjoy Mint is above the waterline below right.
In the upper right field, a privy mark in the form of the numeral 90, crowned with Saint Edward's Crown. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
1/2 OZ PLATINUM FINE HALF NOBLE |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Platinum content (troy ounces): 0.500.
Finish: Proof FDC. |
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| See also |
Coins in the Angel and Noble series issued in 2016 include:
- 1 oz Platinum, Noble, 2016
- 1/2 oz Platinum, Noble, 2016
- 1/4 oz Platinum, Noble, 2016
- 1/10 oz Platinum, Noble, 2016
- 1 oz Gold, Angel, 2016
- 1 oz Gold, Noble, 2016
- 1/4 oz Gold, Angel, 2016
- 1/10 oz Gold, Angel, 2016
- 1/20 oz Gold, Angel, 2016
- 1 oz Silver, Angel, 2016
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