Like many other mints, the Royal Mint issues bullion coins in precious metals, having much higher intrinsic value than their face value. The five ounces (5 oz) gold coins are denominated as either ten pounds (£10) or five hundred pounds (£500).
The coins are legal tender but are not intended for circulation. They are targeted at bullion investors or collectors who appreciate the special editions as pieces of art. The coins are typically "one-year" types usually issued in parallel with smaller denominations with the same reverse designs.
This commemorative 5 oz gold proof coin marks 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare.
On the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, The Royal Mint has commissioned a range of coins celebrating the man and his work. For the prestigious five-ounce coin, Tom Phillips RA has created a portrait of Shakespeare that can only be found on this coin, the largest in the range. Struck in 999.9 fine gold, this is an impressive coin and a tribute to a giant of British culture.
Designed by Tom Phillips, the reverse was inspired by the best-known portrait of William Shakespeare, an engraving that appears in the famous First Folio of his plays. The design is finished with the quotation "Put money in thy purse", chosen by the artist from Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello. | 
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