Five Centuries of the Crown

The Royal Mint has released a collection of commemoratives to celebrate 500 years of the gold crown.

Each coin features Martin Jennings’s effigy of King Charles III on the obverse, with a special decorative border that includes five roses—one for each century of the coin. The reverse, designed by Timothy Noad, bears a rose with a crown. The legend ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOLD CROWN appears above with the years 1526-2026 below. 

The commemorative is available in gold proof and silver proof, as well as silver proof piedfort and brilliant-uncirculated versions. Mintages are limited to 56 (2-ounce gold £200); 135 (1/4-ounce gold £25); 1,010 (1/10-ounce gold £10); 160 (£5 gold); 1,510 (£5 silver piedfort); and 3,010 (£5 silver). The brilliant-uncirculated examples have an unlimited mintage. All pieces are available on the Royal Mint’s website.

The Crown

Introduced in August 1526 during the reign of King Henry VIII, the crown was inspired by the French ecu au soleil (“crown of the sun”). It found a role as a commemorative coin after it was struck to celebrate King George V’s silver jubilee in 1935. Since then, it has been used to mark significant royal milestones, from Elizabeth II’s accession to King Charles III’s coronation, though it is not restricted to celebrating royal events. In recent years, the coin has also become a canvas to pay tribute to other culturally relevant themes, such as music legends and children’s literature.