2011 Royal Mint Capital Cities Edinburgh One Pound Silver Proof Coin £1 UK11EDSP

The Edinburgh Coat of Arms features a triple towered dark castle on a rock, with flags flying. The Arms also features two supporters, a woman and a doe. The castle on the Arms is directly inspired by Edinburgh Castle and Castle Rock. It is a site that was occupied since the Iron Age, and held a royal castle since the 12th century and David I. The castle was involved in many conflicts, from the Scottish Wars of Independence to over twenty sieges. Today, Edinburgh Castle is the second most-visited paid tourist attraction in the UK.

 Inspired by the castle's popularity and its prominence in the Coat of Arms, the 2011 Edinburgh £1 coin, including this silver proof version, depicts a circle with the castle and rock in the centre, three flags flying from the towers. Below are three smaller circles with the miniature versions of Belfast, London, and Cardiff's Coats of Arms. Above is the inscription 'EDINBURGH' and the denomination 'ONE POUND' around the rim. The edge carries the inscription 'NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA', which translates to 'it is vain without the Lord.' It is part of a series of four coins, each focusing on a different capital from the Home Nations. 

The obverse displays Ian Rank-Broadley's effigy of The Queen, the fourth official portrait. This proof standard £1 is struck in .925 sterling silver and comes in its original packaging from The Royal Mint, along with the certificate of authenticity. 4,973 were issued in this presentation, each with a weight of 9.50 grams and a diameter of 22.50 millimetres.