MOTTOES ON COINS - PART I (GREAT BRITAIN)

Mottoes on coins have attracted lots of people. It conveys a national message from one end of a country to the other without any extra cost. It also shows the thinking and the behavior of the society and the government of that country. Many countries all over the world put mottoes on their coins. But Great Britain was using many different mottoes on their coins from very long time, so they have a vast history of mottoes on coins. Thereby I have divided this post into two parts. Part one covering only Great Britain on this topic and part two will cover rest of the world coins.

Mottoes on coins of Great Britain were largely of religious nature or had a reference to the politics of during those days. From time of Edward III to that of Charles II it became customary for all coins to bear mottoes. Different british rulers adopted different mottoes on coins. They mostly appeared in latin language.

EDWARD III

"POSVI DEVM ADVTOREM EMVM"

Meaning - I have taken God to be my helper.

This motto appears on the groats (4 pence) and half groats (2 pence) coins of Edward III. The same motto was also inscribed on coins of Henry VI, Edward IV, Edward VI, Richard III, HenryVII, Henry VIII, Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I.

EDWARD VI

"TIMOR DOMINI FONS VITAE"
Meaning - The fear of lord is the fountain of life.

"POSVI DEVM ADVTOREM EMVM"

Meaning - I have taken God to be my helper.

Edward VI was 9 years old when he was made King in 1547. It was feared that ambitious men close to him may grab his power and use it for their own needs. Therefore the shillings of his reign were inscribed with this legend.

MARY I

"VERITAS TEMPORIS FILLA"
Meaning - Truth is the daughter of time.

The Duke of Northumberland forced the dying King Edward VI to disinherit Mary and make Lady Jane as his successor. So the groat of Catholic Queen Mary bears this legend.

PHILIP & MARY

"POSVIMUS DEVM ADVTOREM NOSTRUM"

Meaning - We have taken God to be our helper.

JAMES I

"FACIAM EOS IN GENTAM UNAM"
Meaning - I will make them one nation.

"EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTOR INIMICI"

Meaning - Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered.

In the reign of King James I, the union of Scotland and England took place. So his coins bears these legends.

CHARLES I

"CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO"

Meaning - I reign with Christ as my protector.

"EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTUR INIMICI"

Meaning - Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered.

COMMONWEALTH PROTECTORATES - OLIVER CROMWELL

"GOD WITH US"

"PAX QUAERITUR BELLO"
Meaning - Peace is sought by war.

"HAS NISI PERITURUS MIHI ADIMAT NEMO"
Meaning - The penalty for clipping this coin is death.

In the reign of Cromwell for the first time a motto was adopted in plain english (first motto). The second motto shows the political conditions of the country during that time. The third motto was inscribed on the rim of the coin. This motto became a warning to coin clippers. This kind of motto for any coin is considered very harsh. It appeared on crown and half crown coins.

CHARLES II

"DECUS ET TUTAMEN"
Meaning - An ornament and a safeguard.

"CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO"

Meaning - I reign with Christ as my protector.

Charles II became king after protectorates, and adopted this smooth legend. It appeared on the edge of five guinea, five pound and on the crown during the reign of King Charles II to Queen Victoria.

WILLIAM & MARY

"HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE DIEU ET MON DROIT"
Meaning - Shame be his who thinks ill of it.

GEORGE III

"HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE"

Meaning - Shame be his who thinks ill of it.

VICTORIA

"HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE"

Meaning - Shame be his who thinks ill of it.

This different but more sensible and powerful motto was inscribed on the jubilee shillings of Queen Victoria. This motto also forms an integral part of British Coat of Arms. As a numismatist, I personally think that this is the best motto to have appeared on any coin in the world till now. Previously the same motto was also inscribed on the 1 shilling and 6 pence coins of George III and George IV.

ELIZABETH II

"DECUS ET TUTAMEN"

Meaning - An ornament and a safeguard.

"PLEIDOL WYF I'M GWLAD"

Meaning - True am I to my country.

"NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT"
Meaning - No-one provokes me with impunity.

"STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS"

In this long reign of Queen Elizabeth II many mottoes have appeared on the coins. The first motto above is from the period of King Charles II. First three mottoes are inscribed on the edge of one pound coins and the last motto in english is found on the edge of two pound coins. This is the second ever motto to have appeared in English. All other mottoes are in latin language.

Besides all these mottoes, some other mottoes also appears on British coins which are combined with the title of the ruler. These mottoes are,

"DEI GRATIA"

Meaning - By the grace of God.

and,

"FIDEI DEFENSOR"

Meaning - Defender of the Faith.

These two mottoes were used with the title of the English king since King Henry VII. But the title of, Defender of the Faith appeared on all coins from the period of King George I. Previously this title rarely appeared on coins.

Kings on Coins - King Edward VIII, Great Britain

King Edward VIII became the king of Great Britain after his father King George V on 20th January 1936. But he wasn't able to rule for longer period. He was in love with an American Lady (divorcee) and wanted to marry her. But this marraige was opposed by King's government on legal, religious, political and moral grounds. Further his wish was also opposed by Church of England and other Heads of many English Establishments all over the world. The king had to choose between the throne and his love. He chose his love. And so the opposition towards this incident led to the abdication of the king on 10th Decenber 1936 by his consent. He gave away the throne to his younger brother King George VI.

Regarding the coins, officially no coins were struck bearing head of Edward VIII for the circulation. But pattern coins of one penny and three pence were struck in small quantity with the year 1937. Unofficial pattern coin of One Crown and Half sovereigns were also struck but they don't have any catalog value.

But outside England, coins of Edward VIII were officially struck in British territories of East Africa and West Africa without the face. These coins became very popular and pride for every coin collector. In East Africa these coins were issued in 5 penny and 10 penny denominations and in West Africa in 1 penny, half and one-tenth penny. Those coin are known as hole pennies.

Besides these, coins in the name of King Edward VIII were struck in Indian Princely States of Kutch and Jodhpur by local rulers. Below is the picture of the copper quarter anna coin of Jodhpur state in the joint name of Maharaja Umaid Singh and Edward VIII issued in year 1936.

The coin shown above is a silver 1 kori coin of Kutch state in the joint name of Maharaja Khengarji III and Edward VIII. Other denominations are 3 dokda, 2 1/2 and 5 kori, in which coins in the name of Edward VIII were issued. 3 dokda coin was issued in copper and other coins in silver metal. Two and half kori is rarest of them and is scarcely available.

Another official coin bearing the head of King Edward VIII was issued by Gibraltar in 1993 on the 40th anniversary of coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. This coin was issued in proof silver and in 1 crown and half crown denominations On this occasion coins with the head of many former kings and queens were also issued.

Other than these no coins have been officially minted for Edward VIII. There are many other coins, but all of them are fantasy or pattern coins which have no catalog value. Collectors should be beware of them.

Here is the official design of an australian 1 dollar note which was suppose to be issued with the picture of King Edward VIII, but such notes were never printed. No banknote was ever issued bearing his name or portrait anywhere.

New designs for Great Britain coins

New designs for the regular coins of Great Britain have been recently approved. The coins with these designs will be minted for the next 40 years. One pound coin will bear the complete shield of Royal coat of arms, and this design will be dividedly seen on other coins of small denomination of

1 penny, 2 pence, 5 pence, 10 pence, 20 pence and 50 pence. And the other side will have the Queen's head. They are very attractive designs. The new coins are being minted and will come into circulation later this year. It is the first change to the country's coinage since decimalisation was first introduced in April 1968. The old coins will remain legal tender alongside the new versions but only the minting would be discontinued.