The wording being around the edge is actually a security measure - they put them on British one pound coins from their introduction in 1983.
It is supposed to be very much harder to forge than an ordinary milled edging. pictorial proof! The design on pound coins vary year on year, to represent the different countries of the UK - the first ones were 'English' and the words around the edge actually say - DECUS ET TUTAMEN, meaning 'An Ornament and a Safeguard' in latin, presumably to let any passing Romans know why the words are there!
Just to complete 'everything you never needed to know about British coinage' pound coins that represent Scotland have NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT, meaning 'No-one provokes me with impunity', which is the Latin Motto of the Order of the Thistle.
Those minted in 'Welsh years' have PLEIDOL WYF I'M GWLAD, meaning 'True am I to my country', taken from the Welsh National Anthem. (Although it does look as if it means - 'hello, my name is Gladys'....)
'Irish' ones have the same as the 'English' ones.
Note - although the head on the coins is that of the head of the national church - God is not mentioned on any of them!
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It is supposed to be very much harder to forge than an ordinary milled edging. pictorial proof! The design on pound coins vary year on year, to represent the different countries of the UK - the first ones were 'English' and the words around the edge actually say - DECUS ET TUTAMEN, meaning 'An Ornament and a Safeguard' in latin, presumably to let any passing Romans know why the words are there!
Just to complete 'everything you never needed to know about British coinage' pound coins that represent Scotland have NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT, meaning 'No-one provokes me with impunity', which is the Latin Motto of the Order of the Thistle.
Those minted in 'Welsh years' have PLEIDOL WYF I'M GWLAD, meaning 'True am I to my country', taken from the Welsh National Anthem. (Although it does look as if it means - 'hello, my name is Gladys'....)
'Irish' ones have the same as the 'English' ones.
Note - although the head on the coins is that of the head of the national church - God is not mentioned on any of them!