Five Pounds 2018 First World War Armistice - Poppies, 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 coin is dedicated to the poppy flower, which became a symbol associated with remembrance of the First World War when it flourished in the soil churned up by artillery fire.

Artist Edwina Ellis said of her inspiration behind the design “Wild poppies and cornflowers germinate in disturbed soil and they are pioneers - the tragic metaphor of their burgeoning in the battlefields was not lost on fighting troops. These wild flowers can be seen in photographs of trenches and were often described, most memorably by Robert Graves.

“There were small trench gardens tended by troops, especially by Germans, and it is good to feel there is a symbol for all those fallen that does not dissemble. I wanted a real, wild poppy on the design to symbolise the exact poppies those fighting men saw, tended, or watched grow over their mates’ makeshift graves.”

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.