One Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

One Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem, Coin from United Kingdom (demonetised 2017)
CoinOne Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem

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. 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. Since its launch the £1 has always represented the United Kingdom and its constituent parts; England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The £1 coin in base metal (as opposed to the gold sovereign, which has a nominal face value of one pound too), nickel-brass was introduced in 1983, as a replacement for the £1 banknote. The reverse design of the first £1 coin showed a depiction of the Royal Coat of Arms, representing the United Kingdom as a whole. It was issued until 2015 in rotation with other designs representing Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, alternating each year in that order.

According to the Royal Mint, "The Northern Ireland £1 coin, the third in the series of four, was introduced into circulation on 21 April 1986. Appropriately, Northern Ireland was represented by the flax plant, whose fibres have - for centuries - been woven into world famous linens." The design from 1986 was issued again only once, in 1991. Northern Ireland was later represented by the Celtic Cross type of one pound, the 2006 Egyptian Arch Bridge One Pound Coin, the 2010 Belfast One Pound and the 2014 One Pound with the floral emblem of Northern Ireland.

The coin’s edge inscription is in Latin: DECUS ET TUTAMEN, which may be translated as "an ornament to safeguard".

Coins issued in 1991 circulated for 26 years until they were demonetised in 2017 and replaced with the current bimetallic one pound coin.

MintRoyal Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 38,573,694 (38.6 million) , Rarity: C (Common)
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Obverse
United Kingdom / One Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin shows the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II, facing right (her effigy known as the "Third Portrait"). The Queen is wearing the royal diadem which she wears on her way to and from the State Opening of Parliament, a pearl necklace and earrings.

Incuse in tiny letters on the neck truncation, the designer's initials RDM (for Raphael David Maklouf).

Around, the monarch's legend and the date of issue: ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1991. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith 1991.

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1991
Reverse
United Kingdom / One Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem - reverse photo

At centre, a flax plant and royal diadem representing Northern Ireland. Around below, the value and denomination ONE POUND.

Reverse Inscription ONE POUND
EdgeMilled and inscribed (incuse lettering)Edge InscriptionDECUS ET TUTAMEN
Notes

Mintage figure comprised of:
38,443,575 coins released into circulation
74,975 brilliant uncirculated in sets
55,144 proofs

The edge inscription DECUS ET TUTAMEN means "An ornament and a safeguard", a quote from Virgil's Aeneid.

The design was re-issued in 2008 as a collector coin (in silver and gold) as part of a 14-coin commemorative set marking the 25th Anniversary of the £1 coin.

One Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem: Known varieties
Variety In mint sets
Mintage Issued: 74,975 (included in total)
In Set 1991 United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Collection, mintage 74,975
7 coins: £1 Northern Ireland, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p
- variety: 1991 United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Collection - Baby, mintage unknown (included in the above set)
Variety Proof FDC
Mintage Issued: 55,144 (included in total)
In Set 1991 United Kingdom Proof Coin Collection, mintage 55,144
7 coins: £1 Northern Ireland, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p
- variety: 1991 United Kingdom Proof Coin Collection (deluxe), mintage unknown, limited to 100,000 (included in the above set)
Variety Silver Proof FDC
Mintage Issued: 22,922
Material0.925 Silver
Details

9.50 g sterling silver (0.2825 ASW), 22.50 mm.

One Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Royal Mint 2016 Coin description link
Royal Mint 28th March 2019 Mint link
Royal Mint 28th March 2019 Mintage link Circulation mintage
All (55) coins of type: One Pound
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
One Pound 1983 Royal Arms 444,283,310 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II D · G · REG · F · D · 1983
One Pound 1984 Thistle and Diadem 146,549,801 Queen Elizabeth II - Second Portrait ELIZABETH · II D · G · REG · F · D · 1984
One Pound 1985 Leek and Diadem 228,735,989 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1985
One Pound 1986 Flax and Diadem 10,701,230 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1986
One Pound 1987 Oak Tree and Diadem 39,632,193 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1987
One Pound 1988 Shield 7,361,756 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1988
One Pound 1989 Thistle and Diadem 70,743,774 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1989
One Pound 1990 Leek and Diadem 97,450,960 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1990
One Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem 38,573,694 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1991
One Pound 1992 Oak Tree and Diadem 36,461,234 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1992
One Pound 1993 Royal Arms 114,867,525 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1993
One Pound 1994 Lion Rampant 29,997,217 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1994
One Pound 1995 Dragon 34,669,787 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1995
One Pound 1996 Celtic Cross 90,040,082 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1996
One Pound 1997 Three Lions 57,364,751 Queen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait ELIZABETH II D · G · REG · F · D · 1997
One Pound 1998 Royal Arms 159,862 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 1998
One Pound 1999 Lion Rampant 216,840 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 1999
One Pound 2000 Dragon 109,686,719 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2000
One Pound 2001 Celtic Cross 64,075,178 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2001
One Pound 2002 Three Lions 77,939,309 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2002
One Pound 2003 Royal Arms 61,776,772 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2003
One Pound 2004 Forth Railway Bridge 39,320,042 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2004
One Pound 2005 Menai Bridge 99,576,565 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2005
One Pound 2006 Egyptian Arch Bridge 39,099,654 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2006
One Pound 2007 Millennium Bridge 26,315,579 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2007
One Pound 2008 Royal Arms 4,100,913 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2008
One Pound 2008 Shield 43,947,300 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2008
One Pound 2009 Shield 27,897,014 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2009
One Pound 2010 Shield 57,220,033 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2010
One Pound 2010 London 2,732,157 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2010
One Pound 2010 Belfast 6,303,899 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2010
One Pound 2011 Shield 25,499,981 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
One Pound 2011 Cardiff 1,691,907 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
One Pound 2011 Edinburgh 935,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
One Pound 2012 Shield 35,803,832 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2012
One Pound 2013 Shield 13,137,437 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2013
One Pound 2013 England 5,308,194 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2013
One Pound 2013 Wales 5,308,194 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2013
One Pound 2014 Shield 79,347,794 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2014
One Pound 2014 Northern Ireland 5,811,821 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2014
One Pound 2014 Scotland 5,216,821 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2014
One Pound 2015 Shield (Fourth Portrait) 29,625,762 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2015
One Pound 2015 Shield (Fifth Portrait) 25,285 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2015 ·
One Pound 2015 Royal Arms 129,616,985 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2015
One Pound 2016 Shield (mint sets only) 48,830 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2016 ·
One Pound 2016 Last Round Pound 250,182 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2016 ·
One Pound 2016 Bimetallic 648,946,386 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait 2016 · ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D
One Pound 2017 749,761,142 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait 2017 · ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D
One Pound 2018 130,593,086 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait 2018 · ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D
One Pound 2019 138,679,158 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait 2019 · ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D
One Pound 2020 55,896,637 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait 2020 · ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D
One Pound 2021 21,813,174 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait 2021 · ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D
One Pound 2022 7,836,120 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait 2022 · ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D
One Pound 2023 Bees (10,030,000) King Charles III - First Portrait 2023 · CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · F · D
One Pound 2024 unknown King Charles III - First Portrait 2024 · CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · F · D
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One Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling
Coin TypeOne Pound (Flax and Diadem)
Issued1991
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - Third Portrait, by Raphael Maklouf
Face Value1 (x Pound)
Circulation Mintage38,443,575 (38.4 million)
Total Mintage38,573,694 (38.6 million), Rarity: C (Common)
CurrentNo; demonetised 2017
MaterialNickel Brass
DesignerLeslie Durbin
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size22.5000 mm
Thickness3.1500 mm
Mass9.5000 g
OCC IDGRNA-ZEGW-CBYZ-EXJL
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One Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem: Photos
ImageDetails
One Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem: Photo Coin, Great Britain, Elizabeth II, Pound, 1991 / thumbnail Coin, Great Britain, Elizabeth II, Pound, 1991
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source
One Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem: Photo Coin, Great Britain, Elizabeth II, Pound, 1991 / thumbnail Coin, Great Britain, Elizabeth II, Pound, 1991
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source
One Pound 1991 Flax and Diadem: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Spink, Coins of England and the United KingdomJ4 (was 4332)
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsGreat Britain KM# 946, KM# 946a (Silver)