This article discusses the commemorative British Five Pounds "crown-sized" coin issued since 1990, only. For earlier coins worth Five Pounds, please see the article on the 1826-1990 gold £5.
The commemorative Five Pounds (£5) coin 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. The coin is a continuation of the old Crown coin which continued to be minted after decimalisation with a value of twenty-five pence, although nowhere stating its value. The £5 coin has the same dimensions, weighing 28.28 grams and having a diameter of 38.61 millimetres.
The denomination was introduced in 1990 because the cost of producing such a large coin with a face value of only 25p was becoming too large.
Production of the £5 coin has used both the normal obverses used by all contemporary British coins, i.e. the effigies 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Inscription: WHAT'S PAST IS PROLOGUE (a quote from Shakespeare)
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.
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 legend: QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER, inner legend: 1900-2000 FIVE POUNDS.
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.
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.
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.
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