Five Pounds 2015 Gallipoli (Fourth 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 was issued as part of a six-coin set of similar coins commemorating the Centenary of the First World War; the set itself is the second part of a series of sets issued over several years. The coin commemorates the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 - 1916.

The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Battle of Gallipoli, the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Çanakkale after the Turkish name of the place, was an unsuccessful attempt by the Allied Powers to control the sea route from Europe to Russia during World War I. The campaign began with a failed naval attack by British and French ships on the Dardanelles Straits in February-March 1915 and continued with a major land invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25, involving British and French troops as well as divisions of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Lack of sufficient intelligence and knowledge of the terrain, along with a fierce Turkish resistance, hampered the success of the invasion. By mid-October, Allied forces had suffered heavy casualties and had made little headway from their initial landing sites. Evacuation began in December 1915, and was completed early the following January.

The coin’s inscription, "HEROES THAT SHED THEIR BLOOD", is taken from the Kemal Ataturk Memorial. Named after the commander who led the Turkish 19th Infantry Division when it repelled the Allied attack, the memorial honours those who fought gallantly in Gallipoli.

The coin was issued in Proof FDC, in sterling silver, for a four-coin commemorative set issued jointly by Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Turkey; it has the Queen's Fourth Definitive Portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley. Later in the year, the same reverse design was issued in a six-coin UK set with the new Fifth effigy of the Queen by Jody Clark.