One hundred pounds (British coin) facts for kids
| United Kingdom | |
| Value | £100 |
|---|---|
| Mass | 62.86 g |
| Diameter | 40.00 mm |
| Edge | Milled |
| Composition | .999 fine silver |
| Years of minting | 2015–22 |
| Obverse | |
| Design | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Designer | Ian Rank-Broadley |
| Design date | 1998 |
| Design | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Designer | Jody Clark |
| Design date | 2015 |
| Reverse | |
| Design | Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) |
| Designer | Glyn Davies and Laura Clancy |
| Design date | 2015 |
| Design | Buckingham Palace |
| Designer | Glyn Davies and Laura Clancy |
| Design date | 2015 |
| Design | Trafalgar Square |
| Designer | Glyn Davies and Laura Clancy |
| Design date | 2016 |
The one hundred pound coin (also known as £100) is a special coin from the United Kingdom. It's a 'commemorative coin', which means it was made to celebrate something, not for everyday shopping. The Royal Mint first made these coins in 2015.
Even though they are worth £100 and are 'legal tender' (meaning they can officially be used as money), they are mostly bought by collectors. You won't find them in your change! These coins are made of fine silver. In late 2021, the silver in one coin was worth about £35.
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Coin Designs and Features
The £100 coin has featured different designs on its 'reverse' side (the back of the coin). The 'obverse' side (the front) always shows a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
| Year | Design | Designer |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) | Davies & Clancy |
| 2015 | Buckingham Palace | Davies & Clancy |
| 2016 | Trafalgar Square | Davies & Clancy |
Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) Design
The very first £100 coin was announced in late 2014. These coins are made of fine silver and weigh about 62.86 grams (2.2 ounces). They are 40 millimetres (1.57 inches) wide. The Royal Mint made 50,000 of these first coins.
The 2015 coin shows a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley on the front. On the back, it features the Elizabeth Tower, which is famous for housing the bell known as Big Ben.
Buckingham Palace Design
In August 2015, the Royal Mint announced a second £100 coin. Like the first, only 50,000 of these coins were made. They also weigh 62.86 grams and are 40 millimetres wide, made of fine silver.
This second coin features Buckingham Palace on its reverse side. This design was created by Glyn Davies and Laura Clancy. The front of this coin shows a new portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark. This was the first time this specific portrait appeared on a coin sold at its face value.
Trafalgar Square Design
In 2016, the Royal Mint released a third £100 coin. This coin features Trafalgar Square in London. For this issue, 45,000 coins were made. Each coin was still made of fine silver, weighing 62.86 grams and measuring 40 millimetres across.
Why Shops Might Not Accept Them
Since 2013, the Royal Mint has made many special silver coins, including £20, £50, and £100 coins. These coins are sold at their face value. Because of this, some people have tried to use them in shops or deposit them in banks.
The Royal Mint has explained that even though these coins are officially 'legal tender', they are meant to be special collector's items. They are not made for everyday use. This means that shops and banks are not required to accept them as payment.
See also
