One Pound 2004 Unicorn (Pattern), Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

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. A variety of designs were issued into circulation between 1983 and 2016; they were all demonetised in 2017 and replaced by the current 12-sided bimetallic one pound coin.

Various reverse designs represented first the United Kingdom as a whole, then in rotation Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, alternating each year in that order. Five artists were asked to provide designs for the third series in this rotation; each of them chose a different approach to represent the parts of the United Kingdom. The winning set was designed by Edwina Ellis and featured famous bridges in each of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom; it was released as a pattern set in 2003, then as circulation coins between 2004 and 2007.

While not ultimately selected for issue into circulation, Timothy Noad's designs - featuring representative heraldic beasts of Scotland - the Unicorn, Wales, Northern Ireland and England - were apparently considered beautiful examples of numismatic art and worthy of a being issued as a collector's set. Similarly to the Bridges series, the Royal Mint released the Heraldic Beasts series as patterns in precious metals - all of them dated 2004 and having the word PATTERN instead of the value and denomination ONE POUND on the reverse. By long-standing tradition, they are also further distinguished from regular coins by having a plain edge; as with the earlier series, they also have a hallmark on the edge.

Coins of this type are not and never have been legal tender.