Owner Comments:
These coins are the first produced under a new contract for the Isle of Man by the Tower Mint for circulating currency. The previous 40+ years the Pobjoy Mint produced Manx coins for circulation, but as of April 1, 2017 the Tower Mint started its 10 year contract for the island nation. In addition to this unique fact, this is the first year Jody Clark's effigy of Queen Elizabeth II is used on the obverse. This is a different design than developed for the Royal Mint in the UK as the 5th definitive portrait and shows the Queen's shoulders facing outward, a very large necklace, a different neckline, and slightly different hairstyle. This same effigy will be on other British Overseas territories' currency such as Gibraltar.
The Tower Mint was founded in 1976 by the designer of the second, and arguably most popular, effigy of Queen Elizabeth II - Raphael Maklouf.
This is the largest denomination of a circulating coin issued for the Isle of Man, 5 pounds, and 2017 is the first year the coin is being minted not as a commemorative, but as a true coin meant for everyday use. In years past the 5 pound coin was only struck in limited quantities for commemorative events and sold in mint sets. However, the 2017 5 pound coin will have a mintage of 20,000 - a substantial amount for an island with a population of only 85,000 - yet still a very low mintage coin considering it is meant for circulation. The reverse depicts the armored legs of the triskelion; a celtic symbol of the Isle of Man. This coin is struck in a metal composition the Tower Mint refers to as "Alpaca" which is an alloy that might be some combination of nickel-brass and has a light gold hue.