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Twenty pounds (British coin)

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Twenty pounds
United Kingdom
Value£20
Mass15.71 g
Diameterapprox 27 mm
EdgeMilled
Composition.999 fine silver
Years of minting2013-present
Obverse
DesignQueen Elizabeth II
DesignerIan Rank-Broadley
Design date1998
Reverse
DesignNo standard reverse design;

The British twenty pound (£20) coin is a commemorative denomination of sterling coinage, first issued by the Royal Mint in 2013.[1] It is minted in .999 fine silver.[2] Twenty pound coins are legal tender[3] but are intended as souvenirs and are almost never seen in general circulation.

Design

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The designs which have appeared on the twenty pound coin's reverse are summarised in the table below.

Welsh Dragon £20

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From 2016 to 2020 the Royal Mint produced a Welsh Dragon £20 on a backdrop of the visitor centre at the Royal Mint Experience. Some of these years have been accompanied by the same coin on a backdrop of the Welsh flag. The visitor centre coin could only be purchased at the shop.[4]

Year Event Design[5] Edge Inscription Designer
2013 - Saint George and the Dragon Milled Benedetto Pistrucci
2014 The 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War Britannia and a lion on the left-hand side with warships in the background. An inscription above and to the right reads THE FIRST WORLD WAR, and below and to the left of that the dates 1914-1918 John Bergdahl
2015 The 50th anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill's death Winston Churchill Etienne Millner
The Longest Reigning Monarch The five portraits of Queen Elizabeth II to appear on British coinage above the words "EIIR The Longest Reign" Stephen Taylor
2016 90th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II The royal cypher wreathed and crowned, all surrounded by roses Christopher Hobbs
Welsh Dragon Celebration The Welsh dragon Norman Sillman
Christmas The nativity Gregory Cameron
2017 Platinum Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Equestrian portrait of the Queen and Prince Philip John Bergdahl
2019 Welsh Dragon Celebration The Welsh dragon Norman Sillman
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The prolific issuance since 2013 of silver commemorative £20, £50 and £100 coins at face value has led to attempts to spend or deposit these coins,[2] prompting the Royal Mint to clarify the legal tender status of these silver coins.[6] [7] Royal Mint guidelines advise that they are considered to be limited edition collectables not intended for general circulation.


References

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  1. ^ Royal Mint creates first £20 coin, The Daily Telegraph, 5 September 2013
  2. ^ a b "£20 coin on its way - but expert says it's only worth £8". The Guardian. 5 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Are £20 coins legal tender?". Royal Mint. 9 April 2014. Archived from the original on 12 April 2014.
  4. ^ "The Royal Mint announces Welsh Dragon Silver £20 coin". Royal Mint.
  5. ^ Five Pound Coin Designs and Specifications, Royal Mint
  6. ^ "Legal Tender Guidelines | the Royal Mint".
  7. ^ "How the Royal Mint is Attempting to Redefine "Legal Tender" for Collector Coins". 27 March 2016.
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