The History of the British Crown Coin

By Rachel | July 17, 2019 |

Discover the journey of the crown coin and how it became the UK’s flagship £5 commemorative coin…

Do you have any of these crown coins in your collection? Let us know in the comments below!

Own the £5 coin issued to celebrate an unprecedented British Royal milestone

To celebrate this unprecedented Royal milestone, of the 65th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen’s Coronation, The Royal Mint issued a £5 coin in 2018 in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality, as a lasting tribute to this historic year.

Secure your Sapphire Coronation Anniversary £5 coin here.

Posted in 5 pound coins, Blog Home, Coin Info, General info and tagged British crown coins, Coin, Coin Collecting, Coin collection, Coin Collector, Coins, Crown, crown coin, crown coins, Five Pound, Five Pound Coin, Henry VIII, numismatics, tower of london, UK crown coins

12 Comments

American Eagle Platinum Coins on August 5, 2019 at 8:38 am

You have shared a lots of information about coins. I recommend your blog to my colleagues.

Graham Meldrum on July 17, 2019 at 6:58 pm

I think in 1544, that was the first English Crown. Henry VIII was an English King. Britain didn’t exist until 1707. Try to get your facts right.

Rachel Hooper on July 18, 2019 at 8:11 am

Hi Graham, you’re right, Great Britain was established in 1707 so the first two coins shown are technically English crowns.
Barry Wilshaw on July 20, 2019 at 5:35 pm

I have the following Crown Coins
1965 – 72 – 77 – 80 – 81.
All displayed in my Album
I also have a further 15 £5 coins.
I have every 50p plus Olympic 50p every £1 every £2 and all 10p A to Z

Paul Miller on July 17, 2019 at 11:24 am

I have the Winston Churchill, the QEII and Phillips Silver Anbiversary, the Charles and Diana wedding, two of Queen Mothers 80th Birthday, the Silver Wedding and three of the Silver Jubilee coins. I also have some other £5 coins.

Julie Faben on July 17, 2019 at 10:44 am

I have 1935, 65, 72, 77, 81 and 2019

David Bartlett on July 17, 2019 at 10:25 am

I HAVE EVERY ONE OF THEM DATED
FROM 1935 TO PRESENT DATE ?
I probably have over 100 £5 coins
In my Collection, along with, CROWNS
AND 5 SHILLINGS COINS
SOME OF THEM (the rarer ones),Have
Been harder to source & Therefore cost
me more, but all in all, I’ve got a pretty large & varied collection ???

Jim on July 17, 2019 at 9:37 am

Good article: As the 1981 Royal Wedding commemorative was the last 25p issued before the crown was revalued to £5 in 1990, care needs to be taken if buying on ebay as there are lots of the 25p’s on there that are described by the sellers as £5 pieces. Both values remain legal tender.
The chart is slightly incorrect as the Royal Mint website lists the last £5 issued at face value as the Prince Charles 60th birthday piece in 2008 of which only a tiny 14,088 were released through the cash distribution system, the rest being in sets/packs only.

Philip GINN on July 19, 2019 at 6:00 pm

Hi what is classified as legal tender? As the 25p crowns you cannot spend anywhere!
- Rachel Hooper on July 22, 2019 at 8:08 am
  
  Hi Philip, legal tender coins are authorised by Royal Proclamation in accordance with the requirements laid down by the Coinage Act 1971. This means that in common with coins in general circulation these coins have legal tender status. However whilst these coins are legal tender, they may not designed for general circulation, so banks and shops may not accept them.

Christopher CHAMBERS on July 17, 2019 at 9:36 am

I’m SURE I once owned a 1902 Edward VII crown, depicting ‘George and the dragon’, as featured in your ‘brief history of the crown, 1935, or similar – which MAKES NO MENTION of one from that year. Sadly/tragically, it is no longer to hand. Went ‘missing’ at some point prior to my current interest in numismatism.

Mervyn Hood on July 17, 2019 at 9:08 am

I am pleased to say that I have every one between (and including) 1951 (my birth year) and the present day that have been issued by the UK Issuing Authority. I have no idea how much this collection is worth, as far as I can remember they are all uncirculated, some being Proof but the majority are BU. I also have several swaps viaIf which I would like to try to collect all the 2019 A – Z 10p’s. If anyone is interested could they please get in touch. Thank you very much and best wishes and good luck to all you collectors out there.

American Eagle Platinum Coins on August 5, 2019 at 8:38 am

You have shared a lots of information about coins. I recommend your blog to my colleagues.
Graham Meldrum on July 17, 2019 at 6:58 pm

I think in 1544, that was the first English Crown. Henry VIII was an English King. Britain didn’t exist until 1707. Try to get your facts right.
- Rachel Hooper on July 18, 2019 at 8:11 am
  
  Hi Graham, you’re right, Great Britain was established in 1707 so the first two coins shown are technically English crowns.
- Barry Wilshaw on July 20, 2019 at 5:35 pm
  
  I have the following Crown Coins
  1965 – 72 – 77 – 80 – 81.
  All displayed in my Album
  I also have a further 15 £5 coins.
  I have every 50p plus Olympic 50p every £1 every £2 and all 10p A to Z
Paul Miller on July 17, 2019 at 11:24 am

I have the Winston Churchill, the QEII and Phillips Silver Anbiversary, the Charles and Diana wedding, two of Queen Mothers 80th Birthday, the Silver Wedding and three of the Silver Jubilee coins. I also have some other £5 coins.
Julie Faben on July 17, 2019 at 10:44 am

I have 1935, 65, 72, 77, 81 and 2019
David Bartlett on July 17, 2019 at 10:25 am

I HAVE EVERY ONE OF THEM DATED
FROM 1935 TO PRESENT DATE ?
I probably have over 100 £5 coins
In my Collection, along with, CROWNS
AND 5 SHILLINGS COINS
SOME OF THEM (the rarer ones),Have
Been harder to source & Therefore cost
me more, but all in all, I’ve got a pretty large & varied collection ???
Jim on July 17, 2019 at 9:37 am

Good article: As the 1981 Royal Wedding commemorative was the last 25p issued before the crown was revalued to £5 in 1990, care needs to be taken if buying on ebay as there are lots of the 25p’s on there that are described by the sellers as £5 pieces. Both values remain legal tender.
The chart is slightly incorrect as the Royal Mint website lists the last £5 issued at face value as the Prince Charles 60th birthday piece in 2008 of which only a tiny 14,088 were released through the cash distribution system, the rest being in sets/packs only.
- Philip GINN on July 19, 2019 at 6:00 pm
  
  Hi what is classified as legal tender? As the 25p crowns you cannot spend anywhere!
  - Rachel Hooper on July 22, 2019 at 8:08 am
    
    Hi Philip, legal tender coins are authorised by Royal Proclamation in accordance with the requirements laid down by the Coinage Act 1971. This means that in common with coins in general circulation these coins have legal tender status. However whilst these coins are legal tender, they may not designed for general circulation, so banks and shops may not accept them.
Christopher CHAMBERS on July 17, 2019 at 9:36 am

I’m SURE I once owned a 1902 Edward VII crown, depicting ‘George and the dragon’, as featured in your ‘brief history of the crown, 1935, or similar – which MAKES NO MENTION of one from that year. Sadly/tragically, it is no longer to hand. Went ‘missing’ at some point prior to my current interest in numismatism.
Mervyn Hood on July 17, 2019 at 9:08 am

I am pleased to say that I have every one between (and including) 1951 (my birth year) and the present day that have been issued by the UK Issuing Authority. I have no idea how much this collection is worth, as far as I can remember they are all uncirculated, some being Proof but the majority are BU. I also have several swaps viaIf which I would like to try to collect all the 2019 A – Z 10p’s. If anyone is interested could they please get in touch. Thank you very much and best wishes and good luck to all you collectors out there.