Five Pounds 2021 Queen's 95th Birthday, 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 £5 Crown-sized commemorative coin celebrates the 95th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II on April 5 2021.

The coin features the words "my heart and my devotion" which references part of her 1957 Christmas broadcast, which was the first to be televised.

During the speech the young Queen said: "In the old days the monarch led his soldiers on the battlefield and his leadership at all times was close and personal. Today things are very different. I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice, but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations."

Timothy Noad says about his design:
"Her Majesty The Queen is well-known as a lover of flowers and gardens. I like the idea that a posy or bouquet is often presented to The Queen, perhaps on her birthday, and that this could be a tribute from the four nations of the United Kingdom. I wanted it to look suitably royal but with an element of informality for the personal nature of the occasion. I also enjoy gardening, which I find relaxing and creative as well as an inspiration for my work.

I wanted to create a tapestry-like effect, with the Royal Cypher standing out against a dense, circular mass of leaves and flowers. I originally experimented with using spring flowers but eventually settled on the national floral emblems, which are tried and tested in coin designs and clearly connect The Queen to the four UK nations. For this design, I made the flowers more naturalistic and less formal than usual. I also felt that Her Majesty would prefer to be given a daffodil flower than the more heraldically correct Welsh leek!”