Five Pounds 2013 First Portrait, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

At the time of decimalisation in 1971, the United Kingdom Crown coin (equal to 5 shillings) was redenominated as a 25p coin and pieces struck prior to 1990 - all the way back to 1818 - continue to be legal tender for that amount. The old denomination had been a regular circulating coin in the 19th century, but in the 20th century it became more of a commemorative denomination.

The Royal Mint continued issuing commemorative coins in the same format - using the traditional coin dimensions, but in copper-nickel. These were initially also denominated as 25 pence but the "Crown" was changed in 1990 to a commemorative £5 (five pound) coin, having the same dimensions and weight but with a face value twenty times as great.

The denomination is used to mark special occasions, usually royal in theme, rather than for use in general circulation. Although not circulating, these coins are legal tender.

This commemorative £5 Crown-sized coin celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Coronation (Diamond Jubilee) of Queen Elizabeth II.

Apart from the Coronation Anniversary crown coin, the Royal Mint also issued a series of four coins tracing the changes in the Queen's effigy through time. Known as The Queen's Portraits series, the four coins feature the same reverse and a different obverse: the Queen's First Portrait by Mary Gillick, her Second Portrait by Arnold Machin, the Third Portrait by Raphael Maklouf and the Fourth Portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley.

The coins were only issued in silver of gold, in sets of four; no coins were released individually.