Five Pounds 2025 Liberty Store, 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 coin marks the 150th anniversary of the Liberty store in London - the first time a fashion house has been celebrated on an official coin of the United Kingdom.

Liberty, commonly known as Liberty's, is a luxury department store in London, founded in 1875 by Arthur Lasenby Liberty. It is located on Great Marlborough Street in the West End of London, housed in a distinctive Tudor-style building constructed in 1924 - famously using timbers from historic Royal Navy ships.

Liberty began as a small shop on Regent Street selling ornaments, fabrics, and "objets d'art" sourced primarily from Japan and the East, reflecting Arthur Liberty's vision to bring exotic and luxurious goods to London. The store quickly became fashionable and influential, especially noted for its bold floral and paisley print fabrics, and it played a key role in popularizing the Art Nouveau style, which in Italy is even called "Liberty Style" after the store.

Over time, Liberty expanded its offerings to include men's, women's, and children's fashion, beauty products, homewares, and furniture, championing both established and emerging designers. It is renowned for its rich design heritage, including a vast archive of historic prints and a dedicated in-house design studio that continues to create distinctive textiles and products.

The coin’s reverse features artwork by Liberty’s design team.