The flax and shamrock reverse was introduced in 2014 as part of the Royal Mint's four-year cycle representing the constituent nations of the United Kingdom — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — each given a dedicated reverse before the entire pound coin series was retired. The piedfort format, struck at double the standard thickness on specially prepared blanks, was the Royal Mint's established method for producing premium collector versions without altering the die design itself.
This issue appeared just three years before the round pound was demonetised in October 2017, replaced by the twelve-sided bimetallic successor.
The flax and shamrock reverse was introduced in 2014 as part of the Royal Mint's four-year cycle representing the constituent nations of the United Kingdom — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — each given a dedicated reverse before the entire pound coin series was retired. The piedfort format, struck at double the standard thickness on specially prepared blanks, was the Royal Mint's established method for producing premium collector versions without altering the die design itself.
This issue appeared just three years before the round pound was demonetised in October 2017, replaced by the twelve-sided bimetallic successor.