Isle of Man ½ penny 1977 - FAO Herring

Isle of Man · 1977 · ½ penny

Commemorative coinCommonVF · Very fine

€4.00estimate in VF

887,803coins minted

N6388 KM40 SCHÖN42

JSReference number JSJS-PGI4B

Commemorative coin

FAO coin programme, “Food for All” (1977)

The coin's story

In 1977, the Isle of Man struck a special version of its ½ penny for the coin programme of the FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Launched in 1968, this programme invited countries to issue circulation coins carrying a message about food and agriculture. The reverse takes up the Atlantic herring engraved by Barry Stanton for the “map of the island” series, adding the initials F.A.O. below the name of the island and the motto FOOD FOR ALL. The herring, which long supported the island's ports, suited this theme well. The coin was struck by the Pobjoy Mint in 887,803 pieces, in two versions: with the PM mark on the obverse only, or on both the obverse and the reverse. It circulated like the ordinary ½ penny.

ObverseThe Portrait of the Queen

ELIZABETH THE SECONDPM· 1977 ·

Design: Bust of Elizabeth II to the right, wearing the “Girls of Great Britain and Ireland” tiara, after Arnold Machin.
Legend: ELIZABETH THE SECOND around, with the mint mark PM (Pobjoy Mint).
Date: 1977 at the bottom, between two dots.

AMEngraved by Arnold Machin

ReverseThe FAO Herring

ISLE OF MANF.A.O.FOOD FOR ALLHALF PENNY

Design: An Atlantic herring swimming above the relief map of the Isle of Man.
Legend: ISLE OF MAN at the top, with F.A.O. below, and FOOD FOR ALL at the bottom.
Denomination: HALF PENNY around, at the bottom.

BSEngraved by Barry Stanton