Whereas under section 3(1)(a), (b), (c), (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 provide for the manner of measurement of the variation from the standard weight of coins:

And Whereas it appears to Us desirable to order that there should be made at Our Mint a new series of coins of the denomination of twenty-five pounds in gold:

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

TWENTY-FIVE POUND COIN

1. (1) A new coin of gold of the denomination of twenty-five pounds shall be made, being a coin of a standard weight of 7.800 grammes, a standard diameter of 22 millimetres, a millesimal fineness of not more than 999.9, 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 0.020 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 kilogram of the coin.

(4) The least current weight of the said gold coin shall be 7.750 grammes.

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

‘Either;

(a) For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ · ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · FID · DEF · POUNDS · 25 ” and for the reverse two Swaledale sheep, with the inscription “YEAR OF THE SHEEP · (the date of the year) · 1/4 OZ FINE GOLD 999.9” and the Chinese lunar symbol for sheep; or

(b) For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ · ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 25 POUNDS” and a monkey leaping through the trees with the inscription “YEAR OF THE MONKEY · (the date of the year) · 1/4 OZ FINE GOLD 999.9” and the Chinese lunar symbol for monkeys.

The coins will have a graining upon the edge.’

2. This Proclamation shall come into force on the sixteenth day of March Two thousand and sixteen.

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

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN