Five Pounds 2023 James Bond - 1970s, 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 is part of the second of seven releases marking six decades of James Bond films, and is dedicated to those released in the 1970s.

The mint says about it:
"For more than 60 years, James Bond has wowed cinema-goers worldwide with his trademark blend of wit, action and espionage. A global sensation known around the world, the iconic secret agent has become as ingrained in British culture as any other character in movie history. Starting with the 1960s, each coin explores a different decade of the 007 films and features an iconic scene from that decade of Bond."

This coin features Wet Nellie - the custom-built submarine created for the 1977 James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me" in the shape of a Lotus Esprit S1 sports car.

The series was designed by Matthew Dent and Christian Davies, who also designed an earlier James Bond range issued by the Royal Mint between 2020 and 2022 (on coins and non-legal tender bullion),