Buscando un nuevo avatar para Sine Metu, me encontré con esta perlita:The United Kingdom is a member of the European Union but not currently participating in the single currency. i suspect that the british will give up the pound sterling only when pried from their cold, dead fingers.
Even without the multinational flavor of the euro, british currency still has some fascinating collecting options.
The two pound coin has neen issued since 1997, a quote from Sir Isaac Newton is inscribed around its edge:
"standing on the shoulders of giants"
The one pound coin runs through a 5 year cycle of designs, one for each kingdom of the united kingdom.
The motto inscribed around the edge of each coin also varies with the cycle.
The british, english and northern ireland designs all have DECUS ET TUTAMEN, latin for 'an ornament and a safeguard'.
The welsh designs have PLEIDOL WYF I'M GWLAD, meaning 'true am I to my country', which is taken from the welsh national anthem.
On scottish designs, NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT is inscribed, latin for 'no-one provokes me with impunity', which really says something about scottish culture.
