Description
DESCRIPTION
In 2012 The Royal Mint offered a collection of commemorative coinage to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: a celebration of 60 years since her accession to the throne in 1952. These are the first coins struck to celebrate a British monarch’s Diamond Jubilee (Queen Victoria marked hers in 1897 but no special coins were issued). This Five Pound piece shows a pair of unique portraits, both designed by celebrated sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. The obverse shows a mature Elizabeth II, facing right, wearing the elaborate robes of the Order of the Garter. This is accompanied by an adaption of Mary Gillick’s first official portrait used on Her Majesty’s coinage in 1953 with the legend ‘DIR IGE DEVS GRESSVS MEOS’ (translation: may God guide my steps). These words appeared the Gold £5 coin of 1839 for the first time. In Rank-Broadley’s rendition, the young Queen wears a crown of laurels and another sprig appears below the truncation of her neck. The edge inscription reads ‘A VOW MADE GOOD’ in reference to a speech made by the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947. This Crown coin is struck in 28.28 grams of .925 sterling silver and is from a limited issue of 16,820. It has a face value of Five Pounds and comes in its original packaging from The Royal Mint with its numbered certificate of authenticity.
