Whereas under section 3(1)(a), (b), (c), (cc), (cd) and (d) of the Coinage Act 1971 We have power, with the advice of Our Privy Council, by Proclamation to determine the denomination, the design and dimensions of coins to be made at Our Mint, to determine the weight and fineness of certain gold coins, the remedy to be allowed in the making of such coins and their least current weight, and to determine the weight and composition of coins other than gold coins or coins of silver of Our Maundy money and the remedy to be allowed in the making of such coins, and to provide for the manner of measurement of the variation from the standard weight for coins:

And Whereas under section 3(1)(ff) of the Coinage Act 1971 We have power, with the advice of Our Privy Council, by Proclamation to direct that any coin shall be legal tender for the payment of any amount:

And Whereas it appears to Us desirable to order that, to commemorate the four hundredth anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, there should be made at Our Mint coins of the denomination of ten pounds in gold and in silver:

We, therefore, in pursuance of the said section 3(1)(a), (b), (c), (cc), (cd), (d) and (ff), 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:

GOLD COIN

1. (1) A new coin of gold of the denomination of ten pounds shall be made, being a coin of a standard weight of 156.295 grammes, a standard diameter of 50 millimetres, a millesimal fineness of not less than 999, and being circular in shape.

(2) In the making of the said gold coin a remedy (that is, a variation from the standard weight or diameter specified above) shall be allowed of an amount not exceeding the following, that is to say:

(a) a variation from the said standard weight of an amount per coin of 0.783 grammes; and

(b) a variation from the said standard diameter of 0.125 millimetres per coin.

(3) The least current weight of the said gold coin shall be 154.5 grammes.

(4) The variation from the standard weight will be measured as the average of a sample of not more than one kilogram of coins.

(5) The design of the said gold coin shall be as follows:

‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “· ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 10 POUNDS” and for the reverse a depiction of William Shakespeare accompanied with the inscription “OTHELLO ACTI SC.3” surrounded by the inscription “ · PUT MONEY IN THY PURSE · 2016”. The coin will have a graining upon the edge.’

SILVER COIN

2. (1) A new coin of silver of the denomination of ten pounds shall be made, being a coin of a standard weight of 156.295 grammes, a standard diameter of 65 millimetres, a standard composition of not less than 999 parts per thousand fine silver, and being circular in shape.

(2) In the making of the said silver coin a remedy (that is, a variation from the standard weight or diameter specified above) shall be allowed of an amount not exceeding the following, that is to say:

(a) a variation from the said standard weight of an amount per coin of 0.783 grammes; and

(b) a variation from the said standard diameter of 0.125 millimetres per coin.

(3) The variation from the standard weight will be measured as the average of a sample of not more than one kilogramme of coins.

(4) The design of the said silver coin shall be as follows:

‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “· ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 10 POUNDS” and for the reverse a depiction of William Shakespeare accompanied with the inscription “OTHELLO ACTI SC.3” surrounded by the inscription “ · PUT MONEY IN THY PURSE · 2016”. The coin will have a graining upon the edge.’

(5) The said silver coin shall be legal tender for payment of any amount in any part of Our United Kingdom.

3. This Proclamation shall come into force on the eleventh day of February Two thousand and sixteen.

Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, this tenth day of February in the year of our Lord Two thousand and sixteen and in the sixty-fifth year of Our Reign.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN