Decimal Coins of the UK
by Tony Clayton
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Decimal Coins of the UKby Tony Clayton |
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Decimal Two Pounds <<-- : -->> Post-1971 Gold Coins
Pictures of Decimal Crowns on www.ukcoinpics.co.uk
Crown sized coins continue to be issued for major Royal events. As the crown had been five shillings before decimalisation, the denomination continued as 25 pence for the first ten years. Four issues were made between 1971 and 1981. A characteristic of all of these four 25p versions is that they have no indication of value, whereas the later 5 pound coins all do.
Weight: 28.28 grams, Diameter 38.61 mm; circulation issues are in cupronickel (75% Cu 25% Ni) although proofs are known in silver of various degrees of fineness.
Obverse: First Portrait, ELIZABETH II D.G.REG F.D.
Reverse: Crowned EP on floral arrangement.
ELIZABETH AND PHILIP above, 20 NOVEMBER 1947-1972 below
Obverse: Queen on Horseback, ELIZABETH II DG REG FD 1977
Reverse: Coronation Regalia with floral border. Crown above.
No Inscription.
Obverse: First Portrait, ELIZABETH II D.G.REG F.D.
Reverse: Head of Queen Mother with bows and lions (a pun on her maiden name, Bowes-Lyon)
QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER AUGUST 4th 1980
Obverse: First Portrait, ELIZABETH II D.G.REG F.D.
Reverse: Conjoined heads of Charles & Diana
H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND LADY DIANA SPENCER 1981
By 1990 inflation had meant that to issue a large coin at 25p would result in a large portion of the income being taken up in minting the coin, and the purchasing power of the first commemorative crown of 1935 was well over ten times that of 25p in 1990. As a result it was decided that future issues of crown sized coins would have a face value of five pounds.
It is a misnomer to call them crowns, however, as the crown has been five shillings since 1551. They are correctly referred to as crown-sized coins.
Weight: 28.28 grams, Diameter 38.61 mm, cupronickel, although silver and gold proofs are known.
So far there have been twenty two crown-sized five pound coins.
Obverse: Second Portrait, 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
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Small portrait of same design as 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
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Second Portrait, ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D above
FIVE POUNDS below (portrait slightly larger than in 1990, and no beading at the rim)
Reverse: Flags flying with Windsor Castle behind.
One flag inscribed 1926, another 1996. Also Royal Standard, Union Jack
and the Queen's personal flag.
Edge: VIVAT REGINA ELIZABETHA
Obverse: Conjoined portraits of the Queen & Prince Philip
ELIZABETH II D G REG F D to the left, PHILIP PRINCEPS to the right.
Reverse: Royal Arms and Coat of Arms of Prince Philip. St Edwards Crown
above and anchor below
20 NOVEMBER 1947 1997 FIVE POUNDS
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 1998 around
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
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 1999 around
Reverse: A portrait of Diana Princess of Wales facing right, by David Cornell.
IN MEMORY OF DIANA PRINCESS OF WALES around,
1961 1997 to the right, FIVE POUNDS below
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 1999 around
Reverse: Clock face showing time as midnight. Map of GB &
Ireland, arranged so that Greenwich is at the centre of
the clock; ANNO DOMINI below, 1999 2000 FIVE POUNDS around.
Edge: WHAT'S PAST IS PROLOGUE
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2000 around
Reverse: Clock face showing time as midnight. Map of GB &
Ireland, arranged so that Greenwich is at the centre of
the clock; ANNO DOMINI below, 1999 2000 FIVE POUNDS around.
Edge: WHAT'S PAST IS PROLOGUE
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2000 around
Reverse: Clock face showing time as midnight. Map of GB &
Ireland, arranged so that Greenwich is at the centre of
the clock; ANNO DOMINI below, 1999 2000 FIVE POUNDS around.
Mint mark: Globe at 3 o'clock
Edge: WHAT'S PAST IS PROLOGUE
Only issued in the Millenium Dome at a premium.
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2000 around
Reverse: Portrait of the Queen Mother, facing left. QUEEN ELIZABETH THE
QUEEN MOTHER around, 1900 - 2000 FIVE POUNDS inside, signature 'Elizabeth R' below.
Crowds waving flags behind.
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2001 around
Reverse: Wyon head of Victoria in V representing railway lines
with representation of Crystal Palace around. 1901 2001
above, 5 POUNDS to low left. Designed by Mary Milner Dickens
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II mounted on a horse.
ELIZABETH II DEI GRA REGINA FID DEF
AMOR POPULI PRAESIDIUM REG around, 2002 and coat of arms below
(The love of the People is the Queen's Protection)
Reverse: Portrait of the Queen, FIVE POUNDS below.
Designed by Ian Rank-Broadley
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D around , FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse: Portrait of Queen Mother, QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER around.
1900-2002 below.
Designed by Avril Vaughan, widow of John Lobban (see two pound coins)
Edge: STRENGTH DIGNITY LAUGHTER
Obverse: Fourth Portrait, ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D around.
Reverse: Central motif GOD SAVE THE QUEEN, CORONATION JUBILEE FIVE POUNDS 2003 around.
Both sides designed by Tom Phillips, C.B.E., R.A..
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D around, FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse: 1904 ENTENTE 2004 CORDIALE around, conjoined Britannia and the Sower.
Edge: Milled
The decision to issue this coin was too late for it to be included in the Royal Mint Proof Sets.
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D around, FIVE POUNDS below. (not confirmed)
Reverse: Nelson facing, HORATIO NELSON above, 1805 to left, 2005 to right. Designed by James Butler
Edge: Milled (not confirmed)
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D around, FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse: The VICTORY and the TEMERAIRE, TRAFALGAR below, 1805 and 2005 above. The inscription is incuse rather than raised. Designed by Clive Duncan
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D around, FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse: Three trumpets with banners, 1926 VIVAY REGINA 2006 above. Designed by Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn.
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Conjoined portrait of the Queen and Prince Philip. ELIZABETH II DEI GRA REG F D PHILIP PRINCEPS around. Designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.
Reverse: Rose window of Westminster Abbey, TVEATVR VNITA DEVS above (translated as 'May God guard these united'), 1947 FIVE POUNDS 2007 below. Designed by Emma Noble.
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D around, FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse: Queen Elizabeth I crowned, set within a Mandorla created by
four decorative arches; Tudor roses at the connecting points. ELIZABETH REGINA above,
MDLVIII MMVIII below. Designed by Rod Kelly.
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D around, FIVE POUNDS below.
Reverse: Portrait of Charles right, THE PRINCE OF WALES above,
1948 ICH DIEN 2008 below. Designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.
Edge: Milled
Obverse: Third Portrait, ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2009 around (to be confirmed).
Reverse: Facing Portrait of Henry standing, HR to each side, THE ACCESSION OF HENRY VIII 1509 above, FIVE POUNDS below.
Designed by John Bergdahl.
Edge: Milled
See my Main Coins Index page for acknowledgements
I am grateful to Phil McLoughlin for the information regarding Avril Vaughan.
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