Posts Tagged ‘coronation coin’
The history of Her Majesty’s Jubilee crown coins…
This year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Sapphire Jubilee – the first ever British monarch in history to do so. To mark the occasion, a brand new British Isles £5 Proof coin has been issued featuring a sparkling sapphire crystal as a truly fitting tribute to Her Majesty’s record-breaking reign.
In light of its release, I thought I’d take a look at the history and timeless designs of previous British Jubilee commemorative coins issued during the Queen’s reign…
The 1953 Coronation UK Crown
The 1953 crown was issued to celebrate Her Majesty’s Coronation and was the very first UK commemorative coin to be issued during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Unusually, the obverse portrait features an engraving of the Queen riding on horseback at the Trooping of the Colour ceremony in 1953 with an edge inscription which reads ‘Faith and Truth I will bear Unto You’, taken from the Coronation Oath. The Coronation crown was to form the basis of future Jubilee commemorative crown designs and still remains one of the most sought-after by collectors. It is often the starting point for many great collections.
The Silver Jubilee UK Crown
In 1977, Her Majesty celebrated 25 years on the throne – her Silver Jubilee and the first of her reign. To celebrate the occasion, a new commemorative crown was issued by the Royal Mint designed by renowned sculptor and designer of the Queen’s portrait on the UK’s stamps, Arnold Machin. The coin’s reverse design is focused upon the Coronation theme and features the Ampulla and anointing spoon from the Royal regalia surrounded by a heraldic floral pattern and the Crown.
The coin’s obverse takes inspiration from the 1953 Coronation Crown, showing a newly designed image of the Queen on horseback. Unusually, this is the only crown in British history not to feature an edge inscription or date on its reverse and is one of the last crowns to be issued with a face value of 25 pence (commemorative crowns issued after 1990 have a face value of £5), which makes it continually sought-after among collectors.
The Golden Jubilee UK Crown
2002 saw the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, marking her 50th year on the throne and the release of a new commemorative, this time, issued with a face value of £5 . The coin was designed and sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS, who created the fourth portrait of the Queen on the obverse of our UK circulating coins. The reverse design once again, features a newly designed image of Her Majesty on horseback inspired by the original Coronation crown design. The reverse features a specially designed portrait of the Queen.
The Diamond Jubilee UK Crown
In 2012, the nation witnessed the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Sixty years on the throne is a landmark milestone and one that has only been reached by one other monarch – Queen Victoria in 1897. This is the first ever coin to be struck to mark a Diamond Jubilee because there were no special coins issued for Queen Victoria’s.
Special one-off portrait designs
To mark such a momentous occasion, Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS was once again commissioned to design the coin. The obverse features a portrait of Her Majesty crowned and wearing the robes of the Order of the Garter, inspired by the sculpture that appears in the entrance of the Supreme Court building in Parliament Square. The reverse design shows a portrait of the Young Queen inspired by Mary Gillick’s portrait of Her Majesty, the very first to feature on the obverse of the UK coins in 1953.
The Sapphire Jubilee £5 Guernsey Coin
2017 marks Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 65th year on the throne, the first ever British Monarch in British history to do so. To mark such a landmark, historic occasion, this brand new limited edition £5 Proof coin has been issued by the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Fully approved by Her Majesty the Queen, the design by ex-Royal Mint engraver, Michael Guilfoyle features the Sovereign’s crossed sceptres from the Coronation regalia with the number 65 marking the years Her Majesty has been on the throne with a stunning crystal inset into the design representing a blue sapphire.
You can now own the new Guernsey Sapphire Jubilee Proof £5 Coin today.
With a low edition limit of just 4,950 worldwide in such a landmark year, demand for this limited edition special Proof coin is expected to be high.
News from the World Money Fair – sell outs, baby coins, nano technology and much, much more…
9.00am. Friday 1 February 2013. Over 500 people are queuing in the lobby area of Berlin’s Hotel Estrel. All keen to be among the very first collectors to gain entry to the World Money Fair in search of a collector’s bargain, long sought-after coin or a glimpse at the latest issues from the world’s leading national mints.
There is no coin show quite like the World Fair of Money. That is why each year our team of buyers attend, meeting the Mint Masters and Sales Directors of the leading mints, like the Royal Mint, Royal Canadian Mint and the Royal Australian Mint as well as some of the most well-connected secondary market coin dealers.
Here are a few of the highlights from this year’s show that I can share with you.
The Royal Canadian Mint will be issuing more $20 silver coins during 2013, continuing its trend as the world’s most popular silver coin. However, I also heard mention of something that I am pretty sure this could create even more of a storm than the $20 coins. I’m afraid I can’t say more until later this year!
I would also suggest that you look out for some very exciting and collectable issues to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Silver Maple.
I was excited to hear the Coronation Anniversary coins are also in the pipeline for Australia and New Zealand, which will prove historic issues with some serious collector demand.
New Zealand were also able to share with us the immense popularity of their Hobbit coins – guaranteeing that they will remain a collector favourite over the next 2 years of films.
Exciting Innovation
Elsewhere, continued innovation excited. Perhaps my favourite was the ability to in-bed a nano chip into a coin, containing detailed information, visible only under a microscope. There is already talk of how to use such technology to include the works of Shakespeare in a nano chip on a coin to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth in 2014.
Looking further ahead…
With almost 80% of you wanting a coin for a royal baby, there is some encouraging news. A number of the major national mints are having discussions with the Palace about issuing a coin with the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge’s baby this summer.
Looking further forward, I spent a considerable amount of time discussing plans to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of World War I. I think it is safe to say that this will be the major collecting theme of 2014 and beyond with coins expected from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and even many of the occupied countries.
We look forward to being able to tell you more about these and many more important issues over the coming months.
Just 2,013 new UK Coronation coins released today
Just 2,013 new UK £5 Silver Coronation Coins have today been released as part of an exclusive Proof Coin Collection issued by The Royal Mint.
Struck in 925/1000 Sterling Silver to an immaculate proof finish, the £5 Coronation Crown marks the most important Royal event of 2013.
The ‘Crowning’ glory
Emma Noble’s exquisite St Edward’s Crown design recalls the moment almost sixty years ago when the young princess Elizabeth, watched by millions, was officially crowned Queen in Westminster Abbey.
Everyday coins
with a unique finish
Alongside the £5 Silver Coronation Coin, the other eight coins in the new Coronation Jubilee Executive Proof Set – the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2 – are newly dated 2013 coins in their original circulating metal.
That’s not to say these are the exact same coins you’ll find in your change – every single one has been finished to the highest possible proof standard.
With just 2,013 Silver Coronation Coins released today, demand to own the new Coronation Proof Set is sure to be high.
**This item has now sold out**
Please click here for a selection of Coronation coins available.