Five pounds (British coin)

Five pounds
United Kingdom
Value 5.00 pounds sterling
Mass  28.28 g
Diameter  38.61 mm
Thickness  2.89 mm
Edge Milled, with an inscription
Composition 75% Cu, 25%Ni
Years of minting Since 1990
Obverse
Design Elizabeth II
Designer Ian Rank-Broadley
Design date 1998
Reverse
Design No standard reverse design; the design varies each year with the event being commemorated
This article discusses the commemorative British "crown-sized" five pound coin issued since 1990. For earlier coins worth five pounds, see Five pounds (British gold coin).

The British five pound coin (£5) is a redenominated commemorative coin, a continuation of the former crown, being identical with it in size and weight. The crown had continued to be minted occasionally after decimalisation, with a value of twenty-five pence, although, as was the case with most pre-decimal crowns, this was not stated on the coin. The new £5 denomination was introduced in 1990 to give the coin a value consistent with its weight and size.[1] The £5 coin has the same dimensions as the crown, having a mass of 28.28 grams and having a diameter of 38.61 millimetres. It is minted in cupro-nickel, an alloy of approximately 75% copper, and 25% nickel, although special versions have also been minted in silver and gold.

Five pound coins are legal tender but are intended as souvenirs and are almost never seen in circulation. The Royal Mint states frankly "most retailers will refuse to accept them".[2] However, the coins may be spent at all post offices.[2] The coins are sold by the Royal Mint at face value and also, with presentation folders, at a premium to that face value. The 2010 coins, with such folders, were sold for £9.95 each.[3]

Most issues carry the standard obverse design as used on contemporary British coins, such as the effigy of HM The Queen by Raphael Maklouf between 1990 and 1997 and the later design by Ian Rank-Broadley since 1998, but special effigies have also been used on occasion.

The 2007 coins were released individually at face value later in the year by the Royal Mint, as well as in the regular presentation packs.

Contents

Designs

The following £5 coins have been produced:

1990: 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
Obverse: Maklouf head. ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D above FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse: Crown over two intertwined 'E's, rose & thistle QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER 1900 1990. Milled edge.
Reverse designer: Leslie Durbin
1993: 40th anniversary of the Coronation.
Obverse: Small portrait of same design as the 1960 crown, surrounded by trumpeters and swords. ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF above, FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse: Crown within 40 radially aligned trumpets FAITH AND TRUTH I WILL BEAR UNTO YOU 1953-1993. Milled edge.
Reverse designer: Robert Elderton
1996: The Queen's 70th birthday.
Obverse: Maklouf head. ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D above FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse: Flags flying with Windsor Castle behind. One flag inscribed 1926, another 1996. Also Royal Standard, Union Jack and the Queen's personal flag.
Reverse designer: Avril Vaughan
Edge inscription: VIVAT REGINA ELIZABETHA (Long Live Queen Elizabeth)
1997: The Queen's Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Obverse: Conjoined heads of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. ELIZABETH II D G REG F D PHILIP PRINCEPS.
Reverse: Royal Arms and Coat of Arms of The Duke of Edinburgh. St Edward's Crown above and anchor below 20 NOVEMBER 1947 1997 FIVE POUNDS. Milled edge.
Reverse designer: Leslie Durbin
1998: The Prince of Wales's 50th birthday.
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head. ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 1998.
Reverse: A portrait of The Prince of Wales against a background relating to the work of The Prince's Trust. FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY OF HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES above, 1948 FIVE POUNDS 1998 below. Milled edge.
Reverse designer: Michael Noakes/Robert Elderton
1999: Diana, Princess of Wales, memorial issue.
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head. ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 1999.
Reverse: A portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales facing right. IN MEMORY OF DIANA PRINCESS OF WALES around, 1961 1997 to the right, FIVE POUNDS below. Milled edge.
Reverse designer: David Cornell
1999: Millennium.
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head. ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 1999.
Reverse: Clock face showing time as midnight. Map of Great Britain and Ireland, arranged so that Greenwich is at the centre of the clock; ANNO DOMINI below, 1999 2000 FIVE POUNDS around.
Reverse designer: Jeffery Matthews
Inscription: WHAT'S PAST IS PROLOGUE (a quote from Shakespeare)
2000: Millennium.
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head. ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2000.
Reverse: Clock face showing time as midnight. Map of Great Britain and Ireland, arranged so that Greenwich is at the centre of the clock; ANNO DOMINI below, 1999 2000 FIVE POUNDS around.
Reverse designer: Jeffery Matthews
Inscription: WHAT'S PAST IS PROLOGUE.
2000: Millennium Dome issue.
Identical to the last issue except for the addition of a mintmark at the 3 o'clock position on the reverse. Sold only at the Millennium Dome, at a premium.
2000: 100th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head. ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2000.
Reverse: Portrait of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in front of people waving flags, signature Elizabeth R in exergue; outer legend: QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER, inner legend: 1900-2000 FIVE POUNDS.
Reverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley
2001: Centenary of Queen Victoria's death.
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head. ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2001.
Reverse: Wyon head of Victoria in 'V' representing railway lines with representation of the Crystal Palace around. 1901 2001 above, 5 POUNDS to low left. Milled edge.
Reverse designer: Mary Milner-Dickens
2002: The Queen's Golden Jubilee.
Obverse: Elizabeth II mounted on a horse. ELIZABETH II DEI GRA REGINA FID DEF AMOR POPULI PRAESIDIUM REG (the love of the people is the Queen’s protection) around, 2002 and coat of arms below.
Reverse: Portrait of the Queen, FIVE POUNDS below. Milled edge.
Reverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley
2002: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother memorial issue.
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head. ELIZABETH II D G REG F D around FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse: Portrait of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER around. 1900-2002 below.
Reverse designer: Avril Vaughan
Inscription: STRENGTH DIGNITY LAUGHTER
2003: Coronation 50th anniversary.
Obverse: New portrait by Tom Phillips CBE RA. ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D around.
Reverse: Central motif GOD SAVE THE QUEEN, CORONATION JUBILEE FIVE POUNDS 2003 around. Milled edge.
Reverse designer: Tom Phillips
2004: Entente cordiale.
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head (IRB). ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D above, FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse: Fused busts of Britannia and Marianne. 1904 ENTENTE 2004 CORDIALE around. Milled edge.
Reverse designer: David Gentleman
2005: Bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
Two £5 coins were issued to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, both with the same obverse.
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head (IRB). ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D above, FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse (1): Portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson, HORATIO NELSON above the portrait, 1805 to left, 2005 to right of the portrait.
Reverse Designer (1): James Butler
Reverse (2): HMS Victory leading Nelson's fleet into battle
Reverse Designer (2): Clive Duncan
2006: The Queen's 80th birthday.
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head (IRB). ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D above, FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse: Three ceremonial trumpets, VIVAT REGINA above, 1926 to left, 2006 to right.
Reverse designer: Danuta Solowieji-Wedderburn
2007: The Diamond Wedding Anniversary of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head (IRB). ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D
Reverse: The rose window of Westminster Abbey accompanied by the Latin inscription TVEATVR VNITA DEVS ("May God guard these united [kingdoms]")
Reverse designer: Emma Noble
Edge inscription: MY STRENGTH AND STAY
2008: The 60th Birthday of The Prince of Wales
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head (IRB). ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D
Reverse: Effigy of The Prince of Wales with THE PRINCE OF WALES - 1948 ICH - DIEN 2008.
Reverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley
552,500 issued.
2008: The 450th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth I
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head (IRB). ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D
Reverse: Inspired by the "Armada" portrait of Elizabeth by George Gower, the Queen is crowned and set within a mandorla created by four decorative arches. A Tudor rose has been placed at each connecting point while the two side arches each contain a leaf pattern. The inscription is ELIZABETH REGINA MDLVIII MMVIII
550,000 issued.
2009: The 500th anniversary of the accession of Henry VIII.[4]
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head (IRB). ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D
Reverse: Design inspired by a Holbein painting of King Henry VIII, set within a tressure and surrounded by the inscription THE ACCESSION OF HENRY VIII 1509
Edge inscription: ROSA SINE SPINA
2009: Countdown to the London Olympics 2012 - 3
2010: The 350th anniversary of the Restoration of the Monarchy.[5]
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head (IRB). ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D
Reverse: Designed specially, the reverse features oak leaves and two intercrossed letter c's, above that the date '1660' and a crown, all below the inscription RESTORATION OF THE MONARCHY
2010: Countdown to the London Olympics 2012 - 2
2011: Ninetieth birthday of The Duke of Edinburgh[6]
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head (IRB). ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D
Reverse: Portrait of The Duke of Edinburgh, facing right with raised ring with the inscription PRINCE PHILIP . 90TH BIRTHDAY . FIVE POUNDS . 2011 engraved into the leftmost half.

[1]

2011: The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton[7]
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head (IRB). ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F.D FIVE POUNDS . 2011
Reverse: Double profile portrait of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, facing each other in a raised central disc, legend WILLIAM AND CATHERINE at the top of outer ring, 29 APRIL 2011 at base.[7]
Reverse Designer: Mark Richards FRBS

Mintages

References

  1. ^ Frequently Asked Questions, Royal Mint
  2. ^ a b United Kingdom £5 Coin (Commemorative Crown)
  3. ^ 2008 Prince Charles £5 Presentation Folder, Royal Mint
  4. ^ 24 Carat
  5. ^ Royal Mint
  6. ^ http://www.royalmint.com/store/BritishBase/UKPPBU.aspx
  7. ^ a b http://www.royalmint.com/store/BritishBase/UK11RWBU.aspx

External links

Preceded by
Twenty Five Pence		 Crown-sized British coin
1990–Present		 Succeeded by
Current
Current circulation
Commemorative and bullion
Withdrawn (decimal)
Withdrawn (pre-decimal,
selected coins)
See also