Abstract: An electronic security system and an electronic proximity key for use therein are disclosed in which a multitiered distributed architecture is used to rapidly and flexibly provide ingress and egress through a plurality of electronic locks. In the event of loss of communication with the central processor, the system will continue to function at lower levels of security without interrupting requests for ingress and egress, and will continue to provide alarm monitor processing. An improved proximity key for actuating the security system is disclosed which includes coupling coils that are integrally formed as part of the integrated circuit lead frame associated with the coding circuitry of such key.