United Kingdom £5 Coin (Commemorative Crown)

2008 Five Pound Coin Designs
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

The £5 crown piece is issued to commemorate special occasions of national importance. These coins are not intended to be a permanent feature of the United Kingdom circulation coinage, rather they are intended as souvenirs.

In its present form, the cupro-nickel crown has a face value of £5 it was increased to this value from 25p in 1990. This increase gives the coin a value consistent with its weight and size in relation to present range of coins.

Each new crown issue is authorised by Royal Proclamation, as required by the Coinage Act of 1971. A crown therefore has legal tender status, but since it is not a circulation coin, most retailers will refuse to accept it. In recognition, however, that some people may wish to exchange a crown piece given or purchased as a souvenir, post offices have agreed to accept crowns in exchange for goods and services.

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

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

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

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

Reverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley

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

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

Reverse designer: Ian Rank-Broadley

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

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

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

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

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

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 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"