1 British Pound (GBP) Coin (Old Round Pound) – All designs

The original round £1 coin was first introduced in 1983, replacing the £1 banknote and becoming a familiar feature of UK currency for over three decades. Struck in a gold-coloured nickel-brass alloy, the round pound remained in circulation until it was officially withdrawn on 15 October 2017, when it was replaced by the current 12-sided bi-metallic £1 coin.

The obverse of the round £1 coin featured successive portraits of the reigning monarch, including designs by Arnold Machin, Raphael Maklouf, Ian Rank-Broadley, and later Jody Clark. The reverse, however, is what made the round pound especially distinctive. Over the years, the Royal Mint issued a wide variety of national and regional designs representing different parts of the United Kingdom.

We accept all versions of the old round £1 coin, including the many circulating designs issued between 1983 and 2017. These include, for example:

• Royal Arms (1983 and later standard issues)

• Scottish Thistle

• Welsh Leek

• English Oak

• Northern Irish Flax Plant

• Celtic Cross and Welsh Dragon designs

• Edinburgh, Cardiff, London, and Belfast city designs

• The “Bridges” series

• Floral emblem series representing England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

Although these coins carried different reverse artwork, they all remained legal tender until withdrawal in 2017.

Since the old round pound has now been withdrawn from circulation, it is no longer accepted in shops and many banks will not exchange them over the counter without restrictions. Large quantities are often found in charity collections, retail float boxes, fundraising events, and household savings jars. If you would like to exchange leftover currency, our UK-based service provides a straightforward way to process surplus UK and overseas coins.

• Indicate the quantity of old round £1 coins you want to exchange

• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button

• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Withdrawn coins like the round £1 frequently cause confusion, particularly when discovered in bulk. We exchange leftover currency for individuals, charities, and businesses across the UK, offering a secure and efficient route to convert old coins into pounds instead of leaving them unused or rejected by traditional banking channels.