Five Pounds 2022 Queen's Reign - Charity and Patronage, 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 is part of a range celebrating the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The second design in The Queen’s Reign Collection, it focuses on Her Majesty’s charity and patronage activities.

Featuring reverse designs by the Irish artist and illustrator Patrick James (P. J.) Lynch, the coins in this limited collection of three UK coins honour The Queen’s contribution to society and the common good. Each of the artist’s designs feature The Queen’s iconic signature as a symbol of her personal commitment to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

The Mint says:
When a member of the Royal Family lends their support to a charity, this can help create an uplift in publicity and public interest for said organisations. Naturally, the patronage of Her Majesty The Queen is in high demand: from honorary military roles to those in support of small and large organisations alike, Her Majesty held 600 patronages at the time of her 90th birthday.

Some of Her Majesty’s associations are well known, including many that carry the name "Royal" due to their links, including the Royal Academy of Arts and the Royal Academy of Dance. She also champions the medical profession, remaining patron of the Cardiff, Manchester and Edinburgh Royal Infirmaries, and the Royal College of Nursing. As Patron of King’s College London and Queen’s College London, she highlights the importance of education. From the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), service to those in greatest need features strongly in her list of patronages, and The Queen even won her own RLSS Life Saving Medal as a teenager.