The outline of the island inside a cogwheel on a seven-sided coin: this is Guernsey’s 20 pence of 2012, struck with Ian Rank-Broadley’s crowned portrait of Elizabeth II, which had appeared on the denomination since 1999.

Guernsey’s 20 pence dates back to 1982, when the island introduced the new value in the same year as the United Kingdom. The map-in-cog reverse belongs to a family of island themes in which each value has its own subject, from a crab on the penny and cows on the 2 pence to yachts on the 5 and a freesia on the 50 pence.

On the obverse the crowned portrait is surrounded by the legend «ELIZABETH II BAILIWICK OF GUERNSEY» with the engraver’s initials IRB; the reverse reads «TWENTY PENCE» with the date and a large numeral 20. Its seven curved sides set it apart from the round coins in the same purse.

For a Guernsey collection this is the 2012 entry in a date run of 20 pence. Grade UNC: the coin has never circulated, there is no wear and the mint lustre is preserved.

The VPcoins catalogue brings together coins from many countries and eras, from circulation issues to commemorative series, so a collection is easy to continue.