2003 Silver Proof 4-Coin Pattern Collection - BRIDGES

The silver proof pattern collection heralds the four new reverse designs which will appear on the one pound coin in forthcoming years.

For the One Pound Pattern Collection, the initial idea was realised with the design for Northern Ireland of Macneill's Egyptian Arch, and the rest fell into place.  The majestic Forth Bridge for Scotland, Thomas Telford's bridge across the Menai Straits in Wales and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge for England - all of which in their own ways entirely different, but they are all symbolic of unity and represent a great industrial heritage.  Appropriately the idea of the bridge brings the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom together in one.

The Forth Bridge - Scotland

The Telford Bridge - Wales

The Egyptian Arch - Northern Ireland

The Millennium Bridge - England

Each of the four pattern pieces carry Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of the Queen on the obverse while each reverse features a bridge representative of one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom.  On each reverse, the customary beading of the one pound coin has been replaced with a decorative border inspired by the bridge depicted on the coin.

The coins are encapsulated and presented in the original Royal Mint case, accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity in an informative booklet.

LIMITED EDITION - 7,500