Five Pound Coin Designs and Specifications

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 1998-2015 - Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS 2015 to date - Jody Clark
Reverse Designers	See Table Below
Edge	Milled

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 in just like 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.

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	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 The initials EP on a background of foliage, figure of Eros above the royal crown
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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	£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	£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
2009	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: John Bergdahl	500th anniversary of the accession of Henry VIII
2010	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: David Cornell	350th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Monarchy
2011	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Mark Richards FRBS	90th Birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh
2011	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Mark Richards FRBS	Royal Wedding
2012	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS	Diamond Jubilee
2013	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: Emma Noble	60th Anniversary of the Queen's Coronation
2013	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: John Bergdahl	The Christening of 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 View products that feature this coin
2015	£5	Obverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS Reverse designer: David Lawrence	200th Anniversary of Waterloo View products that feature this coin
2015	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: John Bergdahl	Princess Charlotte Christening View products that feature this coin
2016	£5	Obverse designer: Jody Clark Reverse designer: Christopher Hobbs	The Queen’s 90th Birthday View products that feature this coin