United Kingdom: Memorial Crown coins released dedicated to the life of the Late Queen Elizabeth II

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The Royal Mint has released new memorial Crown coins, which are in remembrance of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, whose death occurred on the 8th September. Despite the advanced age of the Queen, who was 96, the announcement of her death, which was made at 6:30 pm London time, startled and upset many not only in the United Kingdom, but around the world. Almost immediately, tributes from respected world leaders were received by Buckingham Palace, who sent condolences to the new King Charles III, who was at his mother’s bedside when she passed away. After this initial announcement, the Palace declared 10 days of official mourning as well as the date of the Queen’s state funeral. The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II was placed at Westminster Hall, and the public was accorded their moment to pay their respects over a four-day period. More than a quarter of a million people did. The funeral took place on the 19th September at Westminster Abbey and was televised internationally. It was estimated half of the world’s population saw all or some of the televised service. A final service to transfer the Queen’s coffin to the Royal vaults of St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, her final resting place, followed the state funeral.

With the announcement of a series of numismatic memorial tributes to the late Queen, the Royal Mint took the opportunity to also unveil the official, definitive effigy of His Majesty King Charles III, which all British coins would depict on the obverse from later this year. The final draft of the effigy and legend was approved by His Majesty in September, which sees the King facing left — in contrast to the Late Queen, who faced to the right. The legend around the effigy reads CHARLES III • D • G • REX • F • D, which translates to “Charles III, by the Grace of God King, Defender of the Faith.”

The reverse side of this memorial Crown coin features two new portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, side by side, as she was photographed at the start of her reign in 1952, and a most recent image. The design was created by artist John Bergdahl in collaboration with the Royal Mint. At the centre of the design is Her Majesty’s Royal Cypher E II R, which appears at the centre of the design. Above the two portraits is a representation of St. Edward’s Crown, the very crown that Her Majesty wore at her coronation. Above the primary design is the text ELIZABETH REGINA and below, the years of the birth and death of her Majesty, 1926 and 2022.

The obverse depicts the new definitive effigy of HM King Charles III, created by renowned British sculptor Martin Jennings, and which will be introduced onto all circulation and commemorative coinage from October 2022. The denomination FIVE POUNDS and year of release 2022 are included as part of the legend surrounding the King’s likeness. The edge of the coins also includes incused lettering which reads • ELIZABETH II • DEVOTED TO YOUR SERVICE. These words were spoken by the-then Princess Elizabeth during a broadcast made on her 21st birthday in 1947.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
Five pounds	Cupro-nickel	28.2 g	38.6 mm	Brilliant Unc.	To be announced
Five pounds	.925 Silver	28.2 g	38.6 mm	Proof	To be announced
Five pounds	.925 Silver	56.5 g	38.6 mm	Proof	To be announced
Five pounds	.9167 Gold	39.94 g	38.6 mm	Proof	To be announced
Five pounds	.9995 Platinum	94.2 g	38.6 mm	Proof	To be announced

As the Royal Mint anticipates great interest in the £5 memorial coins, they have announced that from the 3rd October until the 31st December, these coins will not be subject to a limited or specific mintage. After the sales window closes, no new orders for these coins will be accepted, and the final mintages will be published in early 2023.

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