Dragon One Pound Coin

Introducing the Dragon One Pound Coin

Because the one pound note was wearing down so quickly (in about nine months), the Royal Mint started issuing the round one pound coins in 1983. Celebrating the UK or one of its constituent countries, these coins could last at least 40 years. The 1995 1 pound coin is the second in a second series of 1 pound coins to feature the heraldic symbols of each of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, the design of the round one pound coins was easier to counterfeit, so they were pulled out of circulation in 2017 in order to use the current 12-sided design. 

Dragon One Pound Coin (Swimming 2011 50p)

Designed by Norman Sillman, the obverse side of the 1995 Dragon 1 pound coin has the Welsh dragon, found on the country’s national flag. It’s a version of the red dragon Cadwaladr, the badge attributed to the King of Gwynedd in the seventh century. The dragon is in ‘passant’ stance, referring to the walking position with the right front foot raised. The reverse features the third crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II by Raphael David Maklouf. 

The edge inscription has a line from the chorus of the Welsh National Anthem, ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’. The inscription, ‘Pleidiol Wyf I’m Gwlad’ means ‘True Am I To My Country.’

(Caption: The Welsh National Flag)

How Much is the Dragon 1 Pound Coin Worth?

The 1995 Dragon one pound coin was minted 34,503,501 times. As of May 2019, the highest price paid for a Brilliant Uncirculated coin was £10.10. The coin was still sealed in its original presentation packaging. 

Other Versions of the Dragon 1 Pound Coin

There are other versions of the 1995 Dragon one pound coin if you want better quality than circulation. There’s the Brilliant Uncirculated version, the Silver Proof version (mintage of 27,445), and Silver Proof Piedfort (mintage of 8,458).  

In 2000 the Royal Mint also reissued the design, much like the 1994 1 pound coin. The 2000 Dragon 1 pound coin has the fourth portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley. 

Other One Pound Coins

We’ve already mentioned the 1994 1 pound coin with the Scottish Lion, but if you’re interested in other 1 pound coins, Chancery Collection has others. There’s also the Belfast 2010 1 pound coin, the Edinburgh 2011 1 pound coin, and the 1983 1 pound coin, the very first round pound coin.