Coin | Twenty Pounds 2014 WW1 - Outbreak |
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The Twenty Pounds (£20) is a non-circulating legal tender (NCLT) coin issued by the Royal Mint since 2013.
The denomination is used to mark special occasions, usually royal in theme, and is not intended for general circulation - which is served by a banknote of the same value instead. The coins are legal tender, but contrary to popular belief this does not mean that banks and retailers automatically have to accept them (in practice, they do not accept them).
This is the second £20 coin issued by the Royal Mint. It marks the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One.
The coin has no varieties - it was issued in Silver only - carded, in Brilliant Uncirculated grade, with an issue price of £20.00 - i.e. sold at face value, product code UK1420FW. |
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Obverse | |
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 TWENTY POUNDS. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, followed by the value and denomination in English.
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Reverse | |
The reverse shows a depiction of the standing figure of Britannia (the female personification of the United Kingdom) holding a shield and a trident, watching over departing battle ships from a cliff top, a lion behind her.
Around right along the rim of the coin, the inscription THE FIRST WORLD WAR; to the right of the figure in two lines, the dates of the beginning and the end of the war, 1914 1918. At the base of the coin, the date of issue: 2014.
The designer's initials JB (for John Bergdahl) are in relief in the right field, in the sea under the letter R of WAR. |
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Reverse Inscription |
THE FIRST WORLD WAR 1914 1918 2014 |
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Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | The coin was initially listed in Spink under the £20 section, but was later moved to a special section on World War One commemoratives. |
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