Alderney is one of the Channel Islands (situated in the Channel between England and France), and is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey - a British Crown dependency. As such, it is not a sovereign country, but has operated as a quasi-sovereign entity since the Middle Ages. The island has issued commemorative coins since 1989, denominated in the Alderney Pound - which is a variant of the Pound Sterling and is legal tender on the islands, but not in the United Kingdom.
The British Royal Mint occasionally uses the jurisdiction of Alderney to issue commemorative coins, usually crowns-sized (i.e. modelled on the pre-decimal crown denomination, which is now continued by the commemorative £5 type. Coins of this type are not intended for circulation.
This coin was issued to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of England winning the FIFA Football World Cup.
The eighth FIFA World Cup tournament was played in England from 11 July to 30 July 1966. England defeated West Germany 4-2 in the final to win their first (and only) World Cup; the match had finished at 2-2 after 90 minutes and went to extra time, when Geoff Hurst scored two goals to complete his hat-trick, the first and as of 2021 only to be scored in a World Cup final, with spectators storming the pitch during the fourth goal. England were the fifth nation to win the event, and the third host nation to win after Uruguay in 1930 and Italy in 1934. Brazil were the defending champions, but they failed to progress from the group stage. |