Five Pounds 2021 Remembrance Day, 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 coin commemorates "Remembrance Day" - a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

As the formalities of the peace settlement were negotiated into 1919, finding ways to honour those who lost their lives during the war became a preoccupation. Ordinary objects became an instant reminder of loved ones from photographs to letters. Communities gathered around stone monuments to remember the war dead. However, purchasing a poppy to fund-raise for wounded servicemen became the most common was to mark commemoration.

After two minutes of silence occurred on 11 November, Remembrance Sunday was adopted as a day which everyone gathered to pay tribute to those who served at war and a wreath of poppies was laid to remember the war dead.