The numismatic history of the Isle of Man.

[Aidan Work]

Most of you may not know that the Isle of Man's numismatic history is actually quite young.The first Manx numismatic item was the extremely rare 1d. tokens that were issued in 1668 by John Murrey.There are 2 spellings of Murrey's surname -ending in 'ay' & ending in 'ey'.They were
declared legal tender in 1679 by an Act of Tynwald (the Manx Parliament,which is the oldest legislative body in the entire British Commonwealth).The first Manx coins were issued by the Earl of Derby in 1709.These are cast coins.The same Earl of Derby issued some coins in 1733.Here is a list of Manx coins that I have in my collection;

1733 Earl of Derby's 1d.

1758 Duke of Atholl's 1d.

1786 King George III 1/2d.

1786 King George III 1d.

1798 Cartwheel 1d.

1813 Cartwheel 1/2d.

Castletown 1811 1/2d. Quayle,Cotteen & Lightfoot.

Ramsay 1831 1/2d. William Callister (b.1808 - d.1872).

1839 Queen Victoria 1/4d.

1839 Queen Victoria 1/2d.

1839 Queen Victoria 1d.

1976PM 1 Crown George Washington (Bicentenary of American independence).

1979PM 1 Crown Ship (Millennium of Tynwald).

1989PM 1 Crown Capt. Bligh & his crew being set adrift (Bicentenary of the mutiny on H.M.S. Bounty).

Decimal Coinage;

1975PM 1/2p. 3 Flowers.

1976PM 1/2p. Fish & Map.

1977PM 1/2p. Fish & Map (F.A.O. commemorative).

1975PM 1p. Cross.

1976PM 1p. Laoghtyn Sheep & Map.

1980PM AB 1p. Cat.

1980PM AC 1p. Cat.

1988PM AC 1p. Lathe.

1979PM (t) 2p. Map & Seagull.

1980PM AB 2p. Bird.

1983PM AC 2p. Bird.

1988PM AC 2p. Cross & 'Ellan Vannin' (Manx-Gaelic for 'Isle of Man').

1989PM AC 2p. Cross & 'Ellan Vannin'.

1975PM 5p. Castle.

1980PM AC 5p. Laoghtyn Sheep.

1986PM AA 5p. Flower.

1991PM AB 5p. Surfer.

1995PM AA 5p. Golf clubs & ball.

1998PM AA 5p. Hole in 1 on the 18th hole.

1975PM 10p. Triskelion.

2002PM AA 10p. St German's Cathedral.

1986PM AC 20p. 3 Fish.

1987PM AA 20p. 3 Fish.

1978PM AA 1 Pound Map & Triskelion.

1986PM AA 1 Pound Douglas Coat-of-Arms.

1986PM (vw) 2 Pounds Castle & Seagull.

& 1993PM AA 2 Pounds Nigel Mansell racing cars.

Note; the letters in addition to the Pobjoy Mint's PM mintmark are the die letters,the purpose of which are unknown to me.

I have got 3 Manx banknotes;

1938 Martin's Bank 1 Pound.

Blue 50p. P.H.G. Stallard.

Purple & white 1 Pound Cashen.

Note; the Isle of Man has started withdrawing the 1 pound notes from circulation.The Isle of Man was the first country to have a plastic note - the 1983 Tyvek 1 Pound,which was withdrawn after a short time.

I have got 2 Manx-issued British Postal Orders - a 1/- issued at Prospect
Hill,Douglas on the 21st of August 1947,& a 50p. issued at Regent St in 2003.