BY THE QUEEN

A Proclamation

ALTERING THE PROCLAMATION OF THE 4th OCTOBER 1953 DETERMINING A NEW INSCRIPTION FOR GOLD COINS, REVOKING THE PROCLAMATION OF THE 17th APRIL 1985, AND ALTERING THE PROCLAMATION OF THE 19th DECEMBER 1996 DETERMINING A NEW INSCRIPTION FOR TWO-POUND COINS

ELIZABETH R.   Whereas under section 3(1)(b) and (h) of the Coinage Act 1971 We have power, with the advice of Our Privy Council, by Proclamation to determine the design of any coin to be made at Our Mint and to alter any Proclamation previously made under the said section:   And Whereas by Our Proclamation dated the fourth day of October 1953 We determined new designs for gold, silver, cupro-nickel, mixed metal and bronze coins:   And Whereas by Our Proclamation dated the seventeenth day of April 1985 We altered Our Proclamation of the fourth day of October 1953 and determined a new inscription for gold coins specified in the said Proclamation, being the five-pound piece, the two-pound piece, the sovereign and the half-sovereign:   And Whereas by Our Proclamation dated the nineteenth day of December 1996 We determined the specification and design of two-pound coins:   We, therefore, in pursuance of the said section 3(1)(b) and (h) and of all other powers enabling Us in that behalf, do hereby, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council, proclaim, direct and ordain as follows:-   1. The following paragraph shall be substituted for the paragraph headed “GOLD COINS” of Our said Proclamation of the fourth day of October 1953:-

GOLD COINS

      “(1) Five-Pound Piece—Every five-pound piece shall have for the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH.II.DEI.GRA REGINA.FID.DEF” and for the reverse the image of Saint George armed, sitting on horseback, attacking the dragon with a sword, and a broken spear upon the ground, and the date of the year. The coin shall have a graining upon the edge.       (2) Two-Pound Piece—Every two-pound piece shall have the same obverse and reverse impression and inscription in all respects as the five-pound piece. The coin shall have a graining upon the edge.       (3) Sovereign—Every sovereign shall have the same obverse and reverse impression and inscription in all respects as the five-pound piece. The coin shall have a graining upon the edge.       (4) Half-sovereign—Every half-sovereign shall have the same obverse and reverse impression and inscription in all respects as the five-pound piece. The coin shall have a graining upon the edge.”.   2. Our said Proclamation of the seventeenth day of April 1985 is hereby revoked.   3. The following paragraph shall be substituted for paragraph 5 of Our said Proclamation of the nineteenth day of December 1996:-     “5. The design of the said new coins shall be as follows:-       For the obverse impression Our effigy encircled by the inscription “ELIZABETH.II.DEI.GRA.REG.FID.DEF” and for the reverse a design in four concentric circles representing stages in technological development from the Iron Age to the modern computer, with the words “TWO POUNDS” above and the date of the year. The coins shall have a graining upon the edge and all save the gold coin shall have in incuse letters the inscription “STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS”.”   4. This Proclamation shall come into force on the eighteenth day of December One thousand nine hundred and ninety seven.   Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, this seventeenth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand nine hundred and ninety seven and in the forty-sixth year of Our Reign.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

(2 SI)