£5 Coin Designs and Specifications

Background Information

These coins, as the name suggests, are issued to commemorate special occasions of national importance that are usually, but not exclusively, Royal in theme. They are intended to be souvenirs, rather than ordinary circulation coins, and are therefore rarely 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, just like other coins in general circulation, a crown has legal tender status.

Most people would not wish to exchange a 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 and it is therefore 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.

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	1990-1997 - Raphael Maklouf 1998-2015 - Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS 2015 - 2022 - Jody Clark 2022 to date - Martin Jennings
Reverse Designers	See Table Below
Edge	Milled

Year of Issue	Denomination	Designers	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	The 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.
1965	Five Shillings	Obverse designer: Mary Gillick Reverse designer: Oscar Nenom	Winston Churchill Memorial Portrait of Sir Winston Churchill and the word CHURCHILL
1972	25p	Obverse designer: Arnold Machin Reverse designer: Arnold Machin	The Queen & Prince Philip's Silver Wedding Anniversary The initials EP on a background of foliage, with the figure of Eros above the Royal Crown.
1977	25p	Obverse designer: Arnold Machin Reverse designer: Arnold Machin	The Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II The Ampulla and Anointing Spoon encircled by a floral border and above a Royal Crown.
1980	25p	Obverse designer: Arnold Machin Reverse designer: Richard Guyatt	The 80th Birthday of The Queen Mother 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.
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.
1990	£5	Obverse designer: Raphael Maklouf Reverse designer: Leslie Durbin	The 90th Birthday of The Queen Mother 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.
1993	£5	Obverse designer: Raphael Maklouf Reverse designer: Robert Elderton	The 40th Anniversary of The Queen's Coronation 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.
1996	£5	Obverse designer: Raphael Maklouf Reverse designer: Avril Vaughan	The 70th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 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.
1997	£5	Obverse designer: Philip Nathan Reverse designer: Leslie Durbin	The Queen and Prince Philip's Golden Wedding Anniversary 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.
1998	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Michael Noakes/Robert Elderton	The 50th Birthday of HRH The Prince of Wales 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 the anniversary dates of 1948 and 1998.
1999	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: David Cornell	Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Coin 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.
1999-2000	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Jeffrey Matthews	The 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
2000	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS	The 100th Birthday of The Queen Mother A portrait of The Queen Mother, flanked by groups of people, with the circumscription QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER, and the anniversary dates 1900-2000. Below the portrait, a representation of her signature.
2001	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Mary Milner-Dickens	The 100th Anniversary of the Death of Queen Victoria 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, a remnant of the words ONE PENNY and the anniversary dates of 1901 and 2001.
2002	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS	The Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II A portrait of The Queen with the value FIVE POUNDS below.
2002	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Avril Vaughan	The 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
2003	£5	Obverse designer: Tom Phillips Reverse designer: Tom Phillips	The 50th Anniversary of The Queen's Coronation GOD SAVE THE QUEEN in the centre, surrounded by the words CORONATION JUBILEE, FIVE POUNDS and the anniversary date 2003.
2004	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: David Gentleman	The 100th Anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between Great Britain and France Combined figures of Britannia and Marianne, with the words ENTENTE CORDIALE and the anniversary dates 1904 and 2004.
2005	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Clive Duncan	The 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar Design features HMSs Victory & Temeraire in battle, surrounded by inscription TRAFALGAR and the dates 1805 & 2005.
2005	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: James Butler	The 200th Anniversary of the Death of Horatio Nelson A portrait of Horatio Nelson and the dates 1805 & 2005. Edge Inscription: ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY
2006	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn	The 80th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Three trumpets with trumpet banners accompanied by the inscription 1926 VIVAT REGINA 2006. Edge inscription: DUTY SERVICE FAITH
2007	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Emma Noble	The Queen and Prince Philip's Diamond Wedding Anniversary 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	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Rod Kelly	The 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	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS	The 60th Birthday of HRH The Prince of Wales A portrait of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. Edge Inscription: SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY
2009	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: John Bergdahl	The 500th Anniversary of the Accession of Henry VIII
2010	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: David Cornell	The 350th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Monarchy
2011	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Mark Richards FRBS	The 90^th Birthday of The Duke of Edinburgh
2011	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Mark Richards FRBS	Prince William & Miss Catherine Middleton’s Wedding
2012	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS	The Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
2013	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Emma Noble	The 60th Anniversary of The Queen's Coronation
2013	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: John Bergdahl	The Christening of HRH Prince George of Cambridge
2014	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Mark Richards FRBS	The 300th Anniversary of the Death of Queen Anne
2015	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Mark Richards FRBS	The 50th Anniversary of the Death of Sir Winston Churchill
2015	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: David Lawrence	The 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo
2015	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: John Bergdahl	The Christening of HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
2016	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Christopher Hobbs	The 90th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
2017	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Lee R Jones	The 1000th Anniversary of the Coronation of King Canute
2017	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Timothy Noad	The Centenary of the House of Windsor
2017	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Glyn Davies	The Sapphire Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
2017	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The Lion of England
2017	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The Unicorn of Scotland
2017	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Humphrey Paget	Prince Philip: Celebrating a Life of Service
2017	£5	Obverse designer: Etienne Millner Reverse designer: John Bergdahl	The Queen and Prince Philip's Platinum Wedding Anniversary
2017	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Edwina Ellis	The Christmas Tree
2017	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Stephen Taylor	Remembrance Day 2017
2018	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The Red Dragon of Wales
2018	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The 5th Birthday of HRH Prince George of Cambridge
2018	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Timothy Noad	Four Generations of Royalty
2018	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The Black Bull of Clarence
2018	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	Prince Harry & Miss Meghan Markle’s Wedding
2018	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Stephen Taylor	The 65th Anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
2018	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The Pride of England
2018	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Laura Clancy	Remembrance Day 2018
2018	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Harry Brockway	The Nutcracker
2018	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Robert Elderton	The 70th Birthday of HRH The Prince of Wales
2018	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: David Chipperfield	The Royal Academy of Arts
2019	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The Falcon of the Plantagenets
2019	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Glyn Davies	The Legend of the Ravens
2019	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The Yale of Beaufort
2019	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Glyn Davies	The Crown Jewels
2019	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: John Bergdahl	The 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Queen Victoria
2019	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Glyn Davies	The Yeoman Warders
2019	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The Lion of England - Cricket World Cup
2019	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Glyn Davies	The Ceremony of the Keys
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: P.J. Lynch	The Lunar Year of the Rat
2019	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Harry Brockway	Remembrance Day 2019
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The White Lion of Mortimer
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Dominique Evans	A Celebration of the Reign of George III
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Chris Facey	Music Legends - Queen
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The White Horse of Hanover
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: David Lawrence	The 250th Anniversary of the Birth of William Wordsworth
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Christian Davies & Matt Dent	Bond, James Bond
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Christian Davies & Matt Dent	Pay Attention 007
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Christian Davies & Matt Dent	Shaken Not Stirred
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Timothy Noad	The White Tower
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Timothy Noad	The Royal Menagerie
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Timothy Noad	The Royal Mint
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Timothy Noad	The Infamous Prison
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Bradley Morgan Johnson	Music Legends - Elton John
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Henry Gray	The 150th Anniverary of The British Red Cross
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Matthew Dent and Christian Davies	The End of the Second World War
2020	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Natasha Preece	Remembrance Day 2020
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Harry Brockway	The White Greyhound of Richmond
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The Lunar Year of the Ox
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	Music Legends - David Bowie
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Timothy Noad	The 95th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The Griffin of Edward III
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Adam Hargreaves	The 50th Anniversary of Mr. Men Little Miss - Mr. Happy
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Adam Hargreaves	The 50th Anniversary of Mr. Men Little Miss - Mr. Strong & Little Miss Giggles
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Adam Hargreaves	The 50th Anniversary of Mr. Men Little Miss - Little Miss Sunshine
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Anne Desmet	The 150th Anniversary of the Royal Albert Hall
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: John Bergdahl	Alfred the Great
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Ffion Gwillim	The Tale of Peter Rabbit
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Jody Clark	The Queen's Beasts
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Henry Gray	Music Legends - The Who
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley	HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Ffion Gwillim	Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Ffion Gwillim	Through the Looking Glass
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Gary Breeze	Remembrance Day 2021
2021	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Heena Glover	Mahatma Gandhi
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: David Lawrence	The Lunar Year of the Tiger
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: David Lawrence	The Royal Tudor Beasts - The Seymour Panther
2022	£5	Obverse designer: John Bergdahl Reverse designer: John Bergdahl	The Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: David Lawrence	The Royal Tudor Beasts - The Lion of England
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Ffion Gwillim	The Tale of Peter Rabbit
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Thomas T. Docherty	The 40th Birthday of HRH The Duke of Cambridge
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: P J Lynch	The Queen's Reign - Charity and Patronage
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: P J Lynch	The Queen's Reign - Honours and Investitures
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: P J Lynch	The Queen's Reign - The Commonwealth
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: John Bergdahl / The Royal Mint	Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Laura Clancy	The Discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb
2023	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Louie Maryon	The Lunar Year of the Rabbit
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: David Lawrence	The Royal Tudor Beasts - The Yale of Beaufort
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Hannah Phizacklea	Music Legends - The Rolling Stones
2023	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: Dan Thorne	The 75th Birthday of His Majesty King Charles III
2022	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: David Lawrence	Myths and Legends - King Arthur
2023	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: David Lawrence	The Royal Tudor Beasts - The Bull of Clarence
2023	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: David Lawrence	Myths and Legends - Merlin
2023	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: Timothy Noad	The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III
2023	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: Norman Sillman	Pride of England 2023
2023	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: Sue Aperghis	Dame Shirley Bassey
2023	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: Heena Glover	The Police
2023	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: David Lawrence	Myths and Legends - Morgan le Fay
2024	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: William Webb	Lunar Year of the Dragon
2024	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: David Lawrence	The Seymour Unicorn
2023	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: Sandra Deiana	Mary Seacole
2023	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: Matt Dent and Christian Davies	Bond Films of the 1960s
2024	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: Jody Clark	Myths and Legends - Robin Hood
2023	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: Christian Davies & Matt Dent	Bond Films of the 1970s
2024	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: Christian Davies & Matt Dent	Bond Films of the 1980s
2024	£5	Obverse designer: Martin Jennings Reverse designer: Henry Grey	Buckingham Palace

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