Five pounds (British decimal coin)

Infobox Coin
Denomination = Five pounds
Country = United Kingdom
Value = 5.00
Unit = pounds sterling
Mass = 28.28
Diameter = 38.61
Thickness = 2.5
Edge = milled, with an inscription
Composition = 75% Cu, 25%Ni
Years of Minting = 1990–
Catalog Number = -
Obverse = 20085.jpg
Obverse Design = Queen Elizabeth II
Obverse Designer = Ian Rank-Broadley
Obverse Design Date = 1997
Reverse =
Reverse Design = The reverse of £5 coins have no fixed design, the design varies with the event being commemorated.
Reverse Designer =
Reverse Design Date =

:"This article discusses the commemorative British "crown-sized" five pound coin issued since 1990. For earlier coins worth five pounds, see Five pounds (British pre-decimal coin)."

The commemorative British five pound (£5) coin is a redenominated continuation of the old crown, which continued to be minted after decimalisation, initially with a value of twenty-five pence (although nowhere stating this). The £5 denomination was introduced in 1990 to give the coin a value consistent with its weight and size. [ [http://www.royalmint.co.uk/Help/faqs.aspx Frequently Asked Questions] , Royal Mint] The £5 coin has the same dimensions, 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 are also minted in silver and/or gold.

Five pound coins are legal tender, but are intended as souvenirs and are almost never seen in circulation (according to the Royal Mint, "most retailers will refuse to accept them" [http://www.royalmint.gov.uk/Corporate/BritishCoinage/CoinDesign/FivePoundCoin.aspx United Kingdom £5 Coin (Commemorative Crown)] , Royal Mint] ). They may, however, be exchanged for goods and services at post offices. The coins are sold by the Royal Mint at a premium to their face value — the 2008 coins, with presentation folders, are on sale at £9.95 each (as of April 2008). [ [http://www.royalmint.com/PackedSets/UKPC60BU.aspx 2008 Prince Charles £5 Presentation Folder] , Royal Mint]

Most issues carry the standard obverse used on contemporary British coins (i.e. the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Raphael Maklouf between 1990 and 1997, and by Ian Rank-Broadley since 1998), but special effigies have also been used on occasion.

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

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 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. ELIZABETH II D G REG F D PHILIP PRINCEPS.::Reverse: Royal Arms and Coat of Arms of Prince Philip. 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: Jeffrey 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: Jeffrey 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 Mother in front of people waving flags, signature Elizabeth R in exergue; outer
QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER, inner
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 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: Queen 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 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 Prince Charles with THE PRINCE OF WALES - 1948 ICH - DIEN 2008 ::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 King Henry VIII. [http://www.24carat.co.uk/crownsindxframe.html 24 Carat]

Mintages

*1990 ~ 2,761,431
*1991-1992 ~ none
*1993 ~ 1,834,655
*1994-1995 ~ none
*1996 ~ 2,396,100
*1997 ~ 1,733,000
*1998 ~ 1,407,300
*1999 ~ 5,396,300
*2000 ~ 3,147,092
*2001 ~ 851,491
*2002 ~ 3,687,882
*2003 ~ 1,307,147
*2004 ~ 1,205,594
*2005 ~ 1,075,516

References

External links

* [http://www.royalmint.gov.uk/Corporate/BritishCoinage/CoinDesign/FivePoundCoin.aspx Royal Mint – £5 coin]

British coinage