strange english cion

[suna]

i got some change there was a pound coin in 2000 with 3 loins on it instead of a welsh dragon its looks like a real between a fake really dunno unless someone else might be able to know something thanks

[squarebear]

The pound coin changes designs all the time. I'm assuming you mean 3 lions :-) That's genuine.

[vulcan]

check www.ukcoinpics.co.uk,line 26,the decimal one pound

[dundurn]

The design does change every year and I'm told that there can be "slips" where the old reverse is used with the new obverse, though I've never come across one. The reverse design for 2000 was Welsh and for 1999, Scottish and for 2001, Irish, so I don't see any way in which an English reverse could have got into the process. I'd reckon it's probably a fake. Have a good look at the edge inscription. Firstly, what is it? It should be PLEIDIOL WYF I'M GWLAD for a Welsh coin and DECUS ET TUTAMEN for an English one. Is the lettering deep and clear? Fakes nearly always get this wrong. Another tip is to look at the letters M and W. Forgers often use the same die upside down for both letters. Genuine coins have a vertical-sided M and a sloping-sided W.

[suna]

hi have had a look the DECUS ET TUTAMEN get smaller around the edge the letter s is very small on DECUs and part of the under tale of letter t not inprinted and the lettering starts off in the middle and ends up at the top and the ring of dots on the back and front are slightly out of place than in centre...
after all that still looks plenty of were and good enfuff to spend

[dundurn]

Unfortunately I suspect you are correct. I suspect the vast majority of fakes, once spotted, just get passed along in the system to the next mug. As a matter of law passing or attempting to pass off this coin as genuine is an offence and if you are caught out then you cannot ask for the coin back and are obliged to hand over another (genuine) one. For this reason a lot of these coins are found in the takings of slot machines and it's the banks who tend to pick them up. Garages, corner shops and pubs are favourite spots for dropping them into circulation.

I must have spent some in the past not realising they were dud. Those I've spotted, however, I've kept. So far being honest has cost me only a fiver, but maybe I've just been lucky.

[Andyvon]

It was reported only last week I think that one in six pound coins in the Uk are fake. It was probably one of those suna.