Guernsey 1-NEW PENNY (KM21)¶
-
Reverse NORTHERN GANNET
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Obverse Coat of Arms
- Composition
- Bronze
- Country
- Guernsey
- Approx. Size
- 20mm
- Area
- Europe
- Animal Class
- Birds
- Species
- Northern Gannet
- KM#
- 21
The Northern Gannet is the largest seabird in the North Atlantic. They like to live on steep cliffs and off-shore islands. Two-thirds of the world's population lives in the United Kingdom, with the rest living in Canada, Ireland, and Norway. A small population lives in Northern France, and presumably on the island of Guernsey, since they appear on the coins. In 1971, Guernsey (along with Great Britain) finally switched to decimal coinage, with 100 pence to the pound. To avoid confusion, the first issues were called "New Penny".
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.
