The Castle Rushen Clock 20p is an Isle of Man coin issued from 2004 to 2016. It is not UK legal tender, although examples can turn up in UK collections and change.
The date and die-mark combination matters when collectors compare examples. A single verified mintage total has not been identified, so the coin should not be called rare simply because the Isle of Man has a smaller population than the UK.
Value depends on the date, die mark, condition and evidence from comparable completed sales. The IOM Coins listing showed asking prices from £1.75 to £10 on 7 September 2026; an asking price is not proof of a sale price.
When was the Castle Rushen Clock 20p Minted?
The Castle Rushen Clock 20p was issued between 2004 and 2016. The individual date and mint-mark combinations can affect how collectors compare examples.
The coin was issued for the Isle of Man Treasury and struck by Pobjoy Mint, rather than the Royal Mint which produces coins in the UK. A single verified mintage total is not provided in the sources used for this guide, so the coin should not be described as rare based only on the island’s population.
This is an Isle of Man issue, like other coins collected from the island. It should not be compared with a standard UK circulation 20p simply because the denominations look similar.
Regularly Found In The UK
Some Isle of Man coins turn up in UK collections and change, but they are not UK legal tender. The similar denomination and shape can make them easy to mistake for UK coins.
While these coins are not legal tender in the UK, their denomination and shape can make them easy to mistake for UK coins.
What Does The Coin Represent?
Castle Rushen is a medieval castle located in the Isle of Man’s historic capital known as Castletown. Castletown is in the south part of the island. The castle towers over the Market Square on one side and the harbour on the other.
Castle Rushen is home to a medieval turret clock believed to have been gifted by Queen Elizabeth I. Manx National Heritage notes that documentary evidence confirming the gift has not yet been found, so the claim should be treated as a longstanding belief rather than a proven fact. The clock’s workings were housed inside what was once the castle chapel.
Castle Rushen was built around 1200 and has served as a fortress, a meeting place for the Manx Parliament, a mint and a prison. It is now a museum and educational centre.
The clock is a 16th-century wood-framed turret clock with only one hand. Its history is discussed by Manx National Heritage, which records the traditional belief about its connection to Queen Elizabeth I while noting that documentary confirmation has not been found.
The clock is a turret clock with a single hand. It predates pendulum clocks, which became widely used later.
This style of the clock was used in monasteries and abbeys of Central Europe in the late 13th century. The clock was intended to sound when it was time for prayer. There are weights that hang on ropes wrapped around wooden barrels to drive the clock.
In 2009, the clock was damaged when its striking weight fixing failed. In this type of turret clock, the movement of the big wheels transfers to little pinions. These pinions take a lot of stress when operating and eventually wear out. During the restoration, all six pinions were replaced with cast iron leaf to keep them historically accurate.
In 2011, the clock was removed for repairs. It was eventually raised back into position and is still working today.
Castle Rushen Clock 20p Design
The Castle Rushen Clock 20p is a seven-sided coin measuring 21.5mm and weighing 5.00g. It is made of cupro-nickel, with 84% copper and 16% nickel, and has a smooth edge.
The Castle Rushen Clock 20p features the face of the historic clock with the one hand positioned pointing to the Roman numerals and positioned at 12:00, or XII, inside a square diamond shape. To the left and right of the clock are the Manx triskelion, which is the symbol of the Isle of Man with three rotating legs.
The clock is crowned above the 12:00 position with what looks to be a British Imperial State Crown, and a different crown with 7-points is seen below the 6:00 position of the clock. In the middle of the clock, to the left and right of the single hand, are what looks like the words Eliz.Reg. Which is probably short for Elizabeth Regina meaning queen, and the date 1597 below, also separated by the clock’s single hand.
The inscription on the reverse side reads CASTLE RUSHEN CLOCK above the design with a small Manx triskelion before and after. The Number 20 is seen toward the bottom of the design.
The designer of the Reverse side image is unknown.
The PM mint mark indicates that the coin was struck by Pobjoy Mint for the Isle of Man Treasury, not by the Royal Mint. Die letters appear elsewhere on the coin and are useful identification details. They should not be treated as proof of rarity without evidence for the specific date and variety.
- 2004 AA or AB
- 2005 AA or AB
- 2006 AA or AB
- 2007 AA, AB, or BA
- 2008 AA, AB, or BA
- 2009 AA, AB
- 2010 AA
- 2011 AA
- 2012 AA
- 2013 AA
- 2014 AA, or BA
- 2015 AA or CA
- 2016 AA or AB
The Obverse of the coin features the Fourth Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as done by Ian Rank-Broadley. She is facing to the right and is crowned with the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. The initials IRB are seen below her portrait truncated in her neckline to indicate the artist.
Around the rim of the coin on the Obverse side are the words ISLE OF MAN ELIZABETH II with the date centred on the bottom. In between the incuse inscription and the date as well as separating ISLE OF MAN from ELIZABETH II are the Manx triskelion, three rotating legs, which is the symbol of the Isle of Man.