Guernsey 3-PENCE (KM18)¶
-
Reverse GUERNSEY COW
-
Obverse Coat of Arms
- Composition
- Copper-Nickel
- Country
- Guernsey
- Approx. Size
- 21.5mm
- Area
- Europe
- Animal Class
- Mammals
- Species
- Guernsey Cow
- KM#
- 18
When the militant monks sent by the Duke of Normandy came to Guernsey around 960, they brought the very best of French cattle. Over the centuries, they developed the Guernsey breed, which is known for its high-quality milk. The Guernsey Cow consumes 20-30% less food per gallon of milk compared to other larger breeds. This coin was issued for circulation in 1956 (KM#17), and again in 1959 on a thick flan (KM#18). This example is one of the (very) thick coins, but was issued in 1966 only for collectors.
Guernsey¶
- Area
- Europe
The Balliwick of Guernsey is an island (and several smaller isles) in the English Channel about 30km from the coast of France. The total area is less than 200 sq.km. with a population of 65,031 (2004). The islands are dotted with prehistoric megalithic tombs (dolmens) and stone monoliths (menhirs) which suggests that neolithic farmers lived here thousands of years ago. Militant monks from Normandy built here before the Norman conquest of 1066, and since that invasion Guernsey has belonged to Britain (except for a 5 year German occuption during WWII). In Guernsey, Queen Elizabeth II is not known as the Head of State, but rather as the Duke of Normandy. British acts of parliament do not apply to Guernsey, unless the parliament specifically names the island.
