This year sees the coronation of a new British monarch, the first for over seventy years, reminding us how special an event like this is. Certainly, there will be special coins issued to commemorate the event, but what may surprise you is that of the five monarchs to precede King Charles III, only three of them had crown coins issued for their coronation year, and of those only two were commemorative designs.
There are five particular coins that bring together those special coronation year issues, with two others to mark significant jubilees of the five crowned monarchs to precede King Charles III. Here is everything you need to know about them…
Queen Victoria 1887 Golden Jubilee Year Silver Crown
This crown coin features a special portrait of the Queen, designed to celebrate her Golden Jubilee. We often take for granted that commemorative coins are issued for all major national celebrations. However, that’s not always been the case. In 1838, Queen Victoria’s coronation saw the issue of her first circulation coins, but the large five-shilling crown was not one of them, as the first crown didn’t appear until 1844.
Fifty years later, to celebrate her Golden Jubilee in 1887, a new portrait of Queen Victoria was created and introduced onto her coinage, many of which had new designs. The five-shilling crown was one of these coins, appearing now with the acclaimed depiction of St George and the dragon.
King Edward VII 1902 Coronation Year Silver Crown
New coinage was released into circulation for King Edward VII’s coronation in 1902, and as part of the celebrations, the large five-shillings crown was minted. This crown featured the accomplished portrait of the king by G W de Saulles with St George slaying the dragon on the reverse.
This is the only silver crown coin issued during this monarch’s reign. The crown was quite large and heavy, taking quite a toll on the clothes of those carrying them. Therefore, it had fallen out of favour as a circulating coin by the public.
King George V 1935 Silver Jubilee Silver Crown
In 1911, the coronation of King George V led to the striking of specially prepared Proof coins, but these were the regular circulating designs and the crown coin was not part of them. In fact, the only regnal milestone commemorated during King George V’s reign was his Silver Jubilee in 1935, and this was marked by a specially designed silver crown coin, making this the first silver crown with a commemorative design.
King George VI 1937 Coronation Silver Crown
King George VI was crowned in 1937, and although there were mintings of his new coinage, there was also a one-year only silver crown coin issued to mark his coronation. Featuring the Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom, this was the last silver crown coin ever to be put into circulation in Britain.
Queen Elizabeth II 1953 Coronation Commemorative Crown
Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation took place in 1953, and this was celebrated with the issue of a commemorative design crown coin. At this time, Britain’s circulating coins were no longer silver, and were instead made from more durable and less ‘precious’ cupronickel. This crown features the young queen on horseback which is a style borrowed from silver crown coins of centuries past, and one that would be borrowed from the coins of her Silver, Golden and Platinum Jubilees.
This set contains the British five-shilling crown coins for King Charles III’s mother, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, stretching right back to his great-great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. Secure yours HERE.