'THE CITY OF BELFAST' COIN ENCAPSULATED WITHIN A ROYAL MINT FIRST DAY COIN COVER.
Note: 2010 Belfast £1 coin, for Northern Ireland enclosed within a First Day Cover, issued by the Royal mint in original package, and in pristine condition.
THE ORIGINS OF THE CITY
Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of devolved government in the country. The town is relatively recent in origin. The first Belfast Castle was built by the Normans in the 12th century, but it wasn't until the early 1600s that a small settlement grew up on the site. Located at the point where the river Lagan, Farset and Blackstaff come together (and thence flow into Belfast Lough), it quickly became a busy port. In the early 19th century, ship building started to become a major part of the town's economy. In 1888, Belfast was granted the status of city.