Coins of the Cypriot pound

The first coinage was issued by the British in 1879, comprising bronze piastres depicting the head of Queen Victoria on one side and the word 'Cyprus' on the verso.

This was subject to some controversy at the time, with questions being asked in the British House of Commons as to the legality of the British government issuing coinage in territory which was still, legally, part of the Ottoman Empire.

The political debate on decimalising British coinage had been going on since 1824, but the 1881 motion failed to gain parliamentary approval and so the mil-system was never introduced into the United Kingdom itself.

In 1977, a gold 50 pounds was struck as a commemorative at the Royal Mint, Llantrisant.

This coin commemorates Archbishop Makarios III, who remained in office as President of Cyprus until his death.

Specifically, it shows the head of Cypriot philosopher Zeno of Citium.

When brand new, the first five coins (1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 cent) have exactly the same bright golden colour and they do not differ as shown on the table above.

The 50 cent coin has a rounded heptagonal shape and has a bright silver colour.