One Pound 2003 Royal Arms, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

One Pound 2003 Royal Arms, Coin from United Kingdom (demonetised 2017)
CoinOne Pound 2003 Royal Arms

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 detailed and intricate depiction of the Royal Coat of Arms. Designed by Eric Sewell, Chief Engraver at The Royal Mint, it has become one of the most famous images on British coinage. The coin’s edge inscription is in Latin: DECUS ET TUTAMEN, which may be translated as an "ornament to safeguard".

This design, representing the United Kingdom as a whole, was issued until 2015 in rotation with other designs representing England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, alternating each year. This is the fourth of six issues (the others being in 1983, 1993, 1998, 2008 and 2015). The United Kingdom was also represented by the Shield Pound of 1988, the Shield Pound of 2008, the Shield Pound of 2009, the Shield Pound of 2010, the Shield Pound of 2012, the Shield Pound of 2013 and the Shield Pound of 2015, as well as the limited editions (not for regular circulation) of the Shield Pound of 2015 carrying the Queen's Fifth Portrait, the Shield Pound of 2016 and the Last Round Pound (2016).

Coins issued in 2003 circulated for 14 years until they were demonetised in 2017 and replaced with the current bimetallic one pound coin.

MintRoyal Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 61,776,772 (61.8 million) , Rarity: C (Common)
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Obverse
United Kingdom / One Pound 2003 Royal Arms - obverse photo

The obverse shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). 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.

In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).

Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the date: ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2003. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith 2003.

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2003
Reverse
United Kingdom / One Pound 2003 Royal Arms - reverse photo

The reverse of the coin depicts the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom. In its standard variant used outside of Scotland, the shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three passant guardant lions of England; in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure flory-counterflory of Scotland; and in the third, a harp for Ireland. The crest is a statant guardant lion wearing St Edward's Crown, himself on another representation of that crown standing on a knight's helmet.

The dexter (right) supporter is a likewise crowned English lion; the sinister (left), a Scottish unicorn. In the ground below, a thistle, Tudor rose and shamrock are depicted, representing Scotland, England and Ireland respectively.

The motto of English monarchs, DIEU ET MON DROIT (God and my Right), which has descended to the present royal family, is in a ribbon below, while a Garter circlet which surrounds the shield is inscribed with the Order of the Garter's motto, HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE (from old French: Shame on he who thinks evil).

Around below is the denomination, ONE POUND.

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

Mintage figure comprised of:
61,596,500 coins released into circulation
23,760 specimen grade issued in presentation folder
112,999 brilliant uncirculated in sets
43,513 proofs

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

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One Pound 2003 Royal Arms: Known varieties
Variety Specimen in presentation folder
Mintage Issued: 23,760 (included in total)
Variety In mint sets
Images United Kingdom / One Pound 2003 Royal Arms / In mint sets - reverse photo
Mintage Issued: 112,999 (included in total)
In Set 2003 United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Collection, mintage 62,741
10 coins: £2 Technology, £2 DNA, £1 Royal Arms, 50p Britannia, 50p Suffragettes, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p
- variety: 2003 United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Collection - Baby Gift Set, mintage 43,128 (not included in the above set)
- variety: 2003 United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Wedding Coin Collection, mintage 7,130 (not included in the above set)
Variety Proof FDC
Mintage Issued: 43,513 (included in total)
In Set 2003 United Kingdom Proof Set, mintage 23,650
11 coins: £5 Coronation Jubilee, £2 Technology, £2 DNA, £1 Royal Arms, 50p Britannia, 50p Suffragettes, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p
- variety: 2003 United Kingdom Proof Set (Deluxe), mintage 14,863 (not included in the above set)
- variety: 2003 United Kingdom Executive Proof Set, mintage 5,000 (not included in the above set)
Variety Silver Proof FDC
Images United Kingdom / One Pound 2003 Royal Arms / Silver Proof FDC - obverse photo United Kingdom / One Pound 2003 Royal Arms / Silver Proof FDC - reverse photo
Mintage Issued: 15,830
Material0.925 Silver
Details

9.50 g., 0.925 Silver 0.2825 oz. ASW, 22.5 mm.

Variety Silver Proof Piedfort
Images United Kingdom / One Pound 2003 Royal Arms / Silver Proof Piedfort - obverse photo United Kingdom / One Pound 2003 Royal Arms / Silver Proof Piedfort - reverse photo
Mintage Issued: 9,871. Mintage limit: 10,000
Material0.925 Silver
Details

19.00 g., 0.925 Silver 0.5650 oz. ASW, 22.5 mm.

In Set 2003 Silver Proof Piedfort Three-Coin Collection, mintage unknown
3 coins: £2 Discovery of DNA, £1 Royal Arms, 50p Suffragettes
One Pound 2003 Royal Arms: 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
Royal Mint Mintage link Proofs and sets mintage
Royal Mint Varieties link Proofs, mint sets
All (56) 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
One Pound 2025 unknown King Charles III - First Portrait 2025 · CHARLES III · DEI · GRA · REX · F · D
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One Pound 2003 Royal Arms: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling
Coin TypeOne Pound (Royal Arms)
Issued2003
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait, by Ian Rank-Broadley
ReverseRoyal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom
Face Value1 (x Pound)
Circulation Mintage61,596,500 (61.6 million)
Total Mintage61,776,772 (61.8 million), Rarity: C (Common)
CurrentNo; demonetised 2017
MaterialNickel Brass
DesignerEric Sewell
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size22.5000 mm
Thickness3.1500 mm
Mass9.5000 g
OCC IDKLBR-PERR-CRPL-EMNY
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One Pound 2003 Royal Arms: Photos
ImageDetails
One Pound 2003 Royal Arms: Photo 2003 UK Coin £1 Silver Proof Royal Coat of Arms / thumbnail 2003 UK Coin £1 Silver Proof Royal Coat of Arms
Copyright: Chards
Notes: Silver Proof.
Source
One Pound 2003 Royal Arms: Photo 2003 UK Coin £1 Silver Proof Royal Coat of Arms / thumbnail 2003 UK Coin £1 Silver Proof Royal Coat of Arms
Copyright: Chards
Notes: Silver Proof.
Source
One Pound 2003 Royal Arms: Photo 1983 Royal Arms One Pound Coin | The Royal Mint / thumbnail 1983 Royal Arms One Pound Coin | The Royal Mint
Copyright: Royal Mint
Source
One Pound 2003 Royal Arms: Photo Coin, Great Britain, 1 Pound 2003 / thumbnail Coin, Great Britain, 1 Pound 2003
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source
One Pound 2003 Royal Arms: Photo Coin, Great Britain, 1 Pound 2003 / thumbnail Coin, Great Britain, 1 Pound 2003
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source
One Pound 2003 Royal Arms: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Spink, Coins of England and the United KingdomJ13 (was 4590)
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsGreat Britain KM# 993, 993a (Silver)
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsGreat Britain KM# P41 (Piedfort)