1965 Manx Gold Coin Sets
The Manx government has issued gold coin sets of the sovereign series since 1965.
The 1965 gold coins were the first issued by the Isle of Man government. These comprise a five pounds, sovereign (pound), and half sovereign. Both proof and non-proof mint sets were issued in 1965.
Bicentenary of Revestment Act 1765
Rather than write our own description, we feel it worthwhile to quote from the information card which accompanied these sets.
The Isle of Man
Situated in the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man has a unique constitutional history and government. The Norse Viking kings who ruled it until 1265 established its parliament of Tynwald (Old Norse Thingvøllr), the oldest continuous parliamentary assembly in the world. After a period when its rule passed between England and Scotland it came under the English crown. Henry IV, (1399 - 1413), granted it to Sir John Stanley whose descendants, the Earls of Derby and, through the female line, the Dukes of Atholl, were Lords of Man until 1765, when its "regalities" were revested by purchase in the British Crown. The modern Tynwald consists of a Lieutenant Governor, who is the Queen's representative, a popularly elected lower house, known as the Keys, and an upper house, the Legislative Council.
Man had its own coins, all of which bore the emblem of the three legs and the motto"Quocunque jeceris stabit" (which ever way I am thrown I will stand), from 1679, when an act of Tynwald made the tokens issued by John Murray legal tender, until 1840, when the Victorian issue of 1839 was withdrawn from circulation. since that time British and Irish coins and banknotes have been current. In 1961, the Island issued its own banknotes, in denomination of £5, £1 and 10s.
Hallmarking
We were very interested to find a second slip of paper enclosed with one of these sets, which we will also quote verbatim:
We are glad to be able to inform you that it has now been officially decided that the Isle of Man Coins will not have to be hallmarked.
We are therefore sending you your Coins herewith and once again ask you to accept our apologies for the delay, which was beyond our control.
Description
Each coin in the set shares the same design. On the obverse, an uncouped portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right with the legend:
BICENTENARY OF THE REVESTMENT ACT
1765 1965
The engravers initials HP are beneath the bust.
In the centre of the reverse is a curved triangular shield bearing the three armoured and spurred legs of the Manx coat of arms, surrounded by a border of a Celtic braid or belt design. This also encloses the engravers initials near the top, J.H.N. The reverse legend reads:
QUOCUNQUE JECERIS STABIT
1965
For the proof set, the square green box repeats this motto in gold foil on its outer lid below the three legs in a shield. The inner lid is also foil blocked with the following inscription:
THE FIRST GOLD COINAGE OF
THE ISLE OF MAN 1965
ONE OF 1,000 PROOF SETS
Technical Specifications
|
Denomination | Diameter | Weight | Fineness | Gold Content
| |
Five Pounds (Uncirculated) | 35.7 | 39.9403 | .9170 | 1.1776
| |
Five Pounds (Proof) | 35.7 | 39.9500 | .9800 | 1.2558
| |
Sovereign (Uncirculated) | 22.05 | 7.9881 | .9170 | .2355
| |
Sovereign (Proof) | 22.05 | 8.0000 | .9800 | .2520
| |
Half Sovereign (Uncirculated) | 19.14 | 3.9940 | .9170 | .1177
| |
Half Sovereign (Proof) | 19.14 | 4.0000 | .9800 | .1260
| |
Total (Uncirculated) | | 39.9403 | .9170 | 1.5508
| |
Total (Proof) | | 39.9500 | .9800 | 1.6368
|
Notes
Diameter = diameter in millimetres
Weight = Gross weight in grams.
Gold Content = Actual gold content in troy ounces.
Prices & Availability
Please telephone before ordering for current prices and availability.
The prices quoted in the US $ column may be out of date due to currency fluctuations.
|
Date | Description | Coins | Version | Mintage | Availability | Price £ | Price $
| |
1965 | Proof in green leatherette box, Almost FDC* | 3 | Proof | 1,000 | Ask | £1,540 | $2,310
| |
1965 | Uncirculated | 3 | Uncirculated | 1,500 | Ask | £1,440 | $2,160
|
Notes
* Almost FDC. This particular set has numerous light scratch marks on all three coins. In 1965 it was not standard practice to package proof coins in plastic capsules, the coins often came out of there recesses and were allowed to scratch each other. It is also common to find fingerprints on sets from this period.
Other Manx Gold Proof Sets
Postage & Packing
UK Registered Post (Special Delivery) £8 per order
EU Insured Post £10 per order
USA Airmail $10 per order
USA Insured Shipping $20 per order
|
|
Reverse of 1965 Manx Gold Sovereign
Isle of Man
Countries Index
1965 Manx Gold Proof Set in Box
Obverse of 1965 Manx Gold Sovereign
Information Card for 1965 Manx Gold Set
|
