United Kingdom £5 Coin (Commemorative Crown)

2011 UK Prince Philip 90th Birthday
First Issued 4 August 1990 (previously crowns had a face value of 25 pence)
Specifications
Diameter 38.61mm
Weight 28.28g
Thickness 2.89mm
Composition Cupro-nickel
( 75% copper, 25% nickel)
Collector versions have been struck in precious metals
Obverse Designers Portrait of Her Majesty the Queen
1990-1997 - Raphael Maklouf
1998 to date -  Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
Reverse
Designers
See Table Below
Edge Milled

Background Information

These coins, as the name suggests, are issued to commemorate special occasions of national importance usually, but not exclusively, Royal in theme. They are intended to be souvenirs rather than ordinary circulation coins and are consequently seldom found in everyday circulation.

Traditionally crowns had a face value of 25p (or 5 shillings prior to decimalisation in February 1971). In 1990 the face value was increased to £5 to give the coin a value consistent with its weight and size in relation to those of the then current range of coins.

Each crown issue is authorised by Royal Proclamation in accordance with the requirements laid down by the Coinage Act 1971. This means that in common with other coins in general circulation, a crown has legal tender status.

Most people would not wish to exchange a crown piece, but in recognition of the fact that some people may wish to do so, some banks will allow crowns to be deposited into bank accounts. However, please note that whilst the coins are legal tender, banks are not obliged to accept the coins (please refer to guidelines on legal tender status ). Policies on accepting crowns do vary, therefore it is advisable to check with your bank in advance.

Alternatively, crowns can be exchanged for goods or services at Main Post Office branches throughout the UK. For further assistance please contact the Post Office Helpdesk on 08457 223344.

Coin Image
Year of Issue
Denomination
Designers
Theme/Design/Designer Information
 
1953
Five Shillings

Obverse designer:
Gilbert Ledward

Reverse designer:
Cecil Thomas/Edgar Fuller

The Queen's Coronation

The four quarterings of the Royal Arms each contained in a shield and arranged in saltire with, in the intervening spaces, a rose, a thistle, a sprig of shamrock and a leek; in the centre the Crown and in the base the date of the year, 1953.

Edge inscription: FAITH AND TRUTH I WILL BEAR UNTO YOU

 
1960
Five Shillings

Obverse designer:
Mary Gillick

Reverse designer:
Cecil Thomas/ Edgar Fuller

New York Exhibition

The four quarterings of the Royal Arms each contained in a shield and arranged in saltire with, in the intervening spaces, a rose, a thistle, a sprig of shamrock and a leek; in the centre the Crown and in the base the date of the year, 1960.

  Five_Pound_1965
1965
Five Shillings

Obverse designer:
Mary Gillick

Reverse designer:
Oscar Nenom

Winston Churchill Memorial


Portrait of Sir Winston Churchill and the word CHURCHILL

  Five_Pound_1972
1972
25p

Obverse designer:
Arnold Machin

Reverse designer:
Arnold Machin

The Queen & Prince Philip's Silver Wedding

The initials EP on a background of foliage, figure of Eros above the royal crown

  Five_Pound_1977
1977
25p

Obverse designer:
Arnold Machin

Reverse designer:
Arnold Machin

The Queen's Silver Jubilee

The Ampulla and Anointing Spoon encircled by a floral border and above a royal crown

  Five_Pound_1980
1980
25p

Obverse designer:
Arnold Machin

Reverse designer: Richard Guyatt

The Queen Mother's 80th Birthday

In the centre a portrait of the Queen Mother surrounded by bows and lions with the inscription QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER 4 AUGUST 1980

  Five_Pound_1981
1981
25p

Obverse designer:
Arnold Machin

Reverse designer:
Philip Nathan

Prince Charles & Lady Diana's Wedding

Portrait of The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer with the inscription HRH the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer 1981

  Five_Pound_1990
1990
£5

Obverse designer: Raphael Maklouf

Reverse designer:
Leslie Durbin

The Queen Mother's 90th Birthday

A cypher in the letter E in duplicate, above a royal crown flanked by a rose and a thistle all within the inscription QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER and the dates 1900-1990

  Five_Pound_1993
1993
£5

Obverse designer: Raphael Maklouf

Reverse designer:
Robert Elderton

The Queen's Coronation 40th Anniversary

St Edward's Crown encircled by forty trumpets all within the inscription FAITH AND TRUTH I WILL BEAR UNTO YOU and the anniversary dates 1953-1993

  Five_Pound_1996

1996
£5

Obverse designer: Raphael Maklouf

Reverse designer:
Avril Vaughan

The Queen's 70th Birthday

A representation of Windsor Castle with five flag poles, two holding forked pennants with anniversary dates of 1926 and 1996, the other flags are Royal Arms, Union flag and Our Personal flag

  Five_Pound_1997
1997
£5

Obverse designer:
Philip Nathan

Reverse designer:
Leslie Durbin

The Queen and Prince Philip's 50th Golden Wedding

A pair of Shields, chevronwise, on the left, Shield of Our Royal Arms, on the right, Shield of Prince Philip, above a Royal Crown and the date 20 NOVEMBER, below an anchor cabled and FIVE POUNDS

  Five_Pound_1998
1998
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer: Michael Noakes/Robert Elderton

Prince Charles' 50th Birthday

A portrait of Prince Charles and in the background words relating to the work of The Prince's Trust. A circumscription of FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY OF HRH PRINCE OF WALES and below FIVE POUNDS flanked by anniversary dates of 1948 and 1998

  Five_Pound_1999
1999
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
David Cornell

Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Crown

A portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales with the dates 1961 and 1997, circumscription IN MEMORY OF DIANA PRINCESS OF WALES and the value FIVE POUNDS

  Five_Pound_1999-2000
1999-2000
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
Jeffrey Matthews

Millennium Crown

A representation of a dial of a clock, hands set at 12 o'clock with a map of the British Isles and the dates 1999 and 2000 and the words ANNO DOMINI and the value FIVE POUNDS

Edge inscription: WHAT'S PAST IS PROLOGUE

  Five_Pound_2000
2000
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

The Queen Mother's 100th Birthday

A portrait of the Queen Mother,flanked by groups of people with the circumscription QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER, the anniversary dates 1900-2000. Below the portrait a representation of her signature.

  Five_Pound_2001
2001
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
Mary Milner-Dickens

Death of Queen Victoria 100th anniversary

A representation of Crystal Palace within the value FIVE POUNDS, stylised railway lines in the shape of a V incorporating a portrait of Queen Victoria, remnant of the words ONE PENNY and anniversary dates of 1901 and 2001

  Five_Pound_2002
2002
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

The Queen's Golden Jubilee

A portrait of the Queen with the value FIVE POUNDS below

  Five_Pound_2002_QMother
2002
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
Avril Vaughan

Queen Mother Memorial Crown

A portrait of the Queen Mother encircled by a wreath and with the circumscription QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER and the dates 1900-2002

Edge inscription: STRENGTH DIGNITY LAUGHTER

  Five_Pound_2003
2003
£5

Obverse designer:
Tom Phillips

Reverse designer:
Tom Phillips

The Queen's Coronation 50th Anniversary

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN in the centre surrounded by the words CORONATION JUBILEE FIVE POUNDS and the anniversary date 2003


Five_Pound_2004
2004
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
David Gentleman

Entente Cordiale between Great Britain and France 100th Anniversary

Combined figures of Britannia and Marianne, with the words ENTENTE CORDIALE and the anniversary dates 1904 and 2004


Five_Pound_2005_Ship
2005
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
Clive Duncan

200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar

Design features HMS Victory & Termeraire in battle surrounded by inscription TRAFALGAR and the dates 1805 & 2005


Five_Pound_2005
2005

£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
James Butler

200th anniversary of the death of Horatio Nelson

A portrait of Horatio Nelson and the dates 1805 & 2005
Edge Inscription: ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERYMAN TO DO HIS DUTY


Five_Pound_2006
2006
£5

Obverse Designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse Designer:
Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn

The Queen's 80th Birthday

Three trumpets with trumpet banners accompanied by the inscription '1926 VIVAT REGINA 2006' Edge inscription: DUTY SERVICE FAITH


Five_Pound_2007
2007
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
Emma Noble

Diamond Wedding Anniversary of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh

The rose window of Westminster Abbey accompanied by the inscription "TVEATVR VNITA DEVS", the dates "1947" and "2007", and the denomination "FIVE POUNDS".
Edge Inscription: MY STRENGTH AND STAY


2008 Queen Elizabeth Annversary Five Pounds Coin
2008
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
Rod Kelly

450th Anniversary of the Accession of
Queen Elizabeth I

A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I crowned and set within a mandorla. A rose has been placed at each connecting point while the two side arches each contain a leaf pattern reminiscent of the carvings made by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. The year of her accession and the year of the anniversary are both shown in Roman numerals.

Edge Inscription: I HAVE REIGNED WITH YOUR LOVES


2008 Prince Charles 60th Birthday Five Pounds Coin
2008
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Prince Charles' 60th Birthday

A portrait of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales

Edge Inscription: SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY


500th anniversary of the accession of Henry VIII Coin
2009
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
John Bergdahl

500th anniversary of the accession of Henry VIII


350 years since th Restoration of the Monarchy Coin
2010
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
David Cornell

350 years since the Restoration of the Monarchy
2011 UK Prince Philip 90th Birthday
2011
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
Mark Richards FRBS

 
Royal Wedding Coin
2011
£5

Obverse designer:
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS

Reverse designer:
Mark Richards FRBS

 

 

 
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