Five Pounds 2018 First World War Armistice - Peace, 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 Armistice ending the First World War; the set itself is the last part of a series of sets issued over several years. The last coin, fittingly, is dedicated to the peace which came after the war.

When the war came to an end on 11 November 1918, it did not mean instantaneous peace. Countries faced the political turmoil that resulted from the war. On 18 January 1919, the Paris Peace Conference began and the conference led to five major peace treaties.

The Dove of Peace is David Lawrence’s second design. David depicts the traditional dove of peace finally flying about the barbed wire of war. David said, “It is a great honour to be part of the programme of commemoration. In researching these coins, I looked at many images of the conflict, in all its diverse aspects. It was a humbling experience: glimpsing, from my peaceful, comfortable world, a time of great fear and desperation.

There have been big ceremonies in the past few years, but sacrifice, grief and remembrance are very small personal things, quiet reflections in a quiet moment; long-term things that echo down the generations.”

The coin was issued in Proof FDC, in sterling silver and in a gold, both in sets only and not issued individually. The set features edge inscriptions from an exclusive poem by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.