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The most common incuse lettering around the edge of a British Pound coin is "DECUS ET TUTAMEN", meaning "An ornament and a safeguard".
It refers to safeguarding the coin from having "precious" metal shaved from the edge.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoBack in the old days when higher value coins were most commonly made from precious metals, it was the practice of many people to shave the precious metal off the edge of the coin and accumulate a little stock of silver or gold.
To combat this, many mints commenced minting coins with reeding on the edge to make it more difficult to shave off the metal.
Further to the reeding, many coins were also produced with incuse (sunken) lettering around the edge to make it more difficult again to shave the coins. The incuse lettering also served as an indicator if any metal had been shaved off.
The most common incuse lettering around the British One Pound coin is "DECUS ET TUTAMEN" meaning, "an ornament and a safeguard".
These days it is mostly ornamental since there are no circulating British Coins made from precious metals.
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What are the pound coins?
The One Pound coin replaced the One Pound note in the British currency in 1983. Pound coins include the One Pound and Two Pound coins, and the Five Pound coin which is issued as a commemorative but is still legal tender.
What are pound coins?
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How many dollars in 1 pound of pre 1964 coins?
A pound of silver coins is about $500.00
How many pound coins equal 1 pound weight?
1 pound coin = 9.5g 1lb = 453.59g 453.59/9.5 = 47.78 coins, you'll need 48 coins to make the pound weight.
What is heavier one or two pound coin?
Two Pound coins are heavier. One Pound coins weigh 9.5 grams. 1997 to present bimetal Two Pound coins weigh 12 grams. 1986 to 1996 nickel-brass Two Pound coins weigh 15.98 grams.
How many 1p coins make 1 pound?
100x1p coins make a pound..
What British Two Pound coins are thicker than other Two Pound coins?
The unimetallic commemorative British Two Pound coins issued from 1986-1996 are heavier and thicker than the later bimetallic Two Pound coins issued from 1997-present. Unimetallic Two Pound coins 28.4mm in diameter 15.98 grams in weight 3.1mm thick Bimetallic Two Pound coins 28.4mm in diameter 12 grams in weight 2.5mm thick
What are 2 pound coins made from?
two pound coins are made out of copper/zinc/brass/and nickel not gold
Can you still use five pound coins?
yes 5 pound coins are legal tender
How many one pound coins are in 1 300 pounds?
1,300 divided by 1 = 1,300 One Pound coins
Which would be worth more a pound of 10 pure gold coins or half a pound of 20 pure gold coins?
A pound of gold is worth more than half a pound of gold.
Why are 1 Pound and 2 Pound coins thicker?
If you mean, "why are they thicker than other coins?" it is so that the difference between coins of similar size can be seen and felt.
