Information about effigy: Imperial Crown - St Edward's Crown and the Tudor Crown

Imperial Crown - St Edward's Crown and the Tudor Crown
Australia / Two Dollars 2013 Coronation (Purple)

St Edward's Crown is named after Saint Edward the Confessor, one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England (1042 - 5 January 1066). It has traditionally been used to crown English and British monarchs at their coronations since the 13th century (with a two-century gap between 1689 and 1911).

The Tudor Crown, also known as Henry VIII's Crown, was the state crown of English monarchs from around the time of King Henry VIII until it was destroyed during the Civil War in 1649. It was described by the art historian Sir Roy Strong as "a masterpiece of early Tudor jeweller's art", and its form has been compared to the crown of the Holy Roman Empire.

The heraldic depictions of the Royal Crown have undergone many changes in their form and enrichment, and have alternated between representing St Edward's Crown and the Tudor Crown. On coinage, the royal crown is used to mark symbols related to the British monarchy - for example, to crown the monarch's monogram, or the value on some denominations.The symbol is used mostly on coinage of the United Kingdom, but also on colonial (British Empire) and Commonwealth coinage as well - such as the Australian sovereign series. It first appeared on the Crown of the Double Rose coin introduced during the reign of King Henry VIII in 1526.

The actual crown began to assume its present form in the reign of King Henry V. Henry V's crown consisted of a jewelled circlet heightened by four crosses pattée alternating with eight fleurs-de-lis in pairs, and two arches springing from behind the crosses and supporting at the top a mound and cross (similar to an orb). In some reigns additional arches were used, and the number of crosses pattée and fleurs-de-lis was varied. By the reign of King Charles I the royal crown was depicted similarly to the Tudor crown which had four crosses pattée alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, and also four arches rising almost to a point, the arches being studded with pearls. After the restoration of the monarchy, King Charles II based the royal crown on the new St Edward's Crown, which had four crosses pattée alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, but the number of arches was reduced to two and the curvature of the arches being depressed at the point of intersection. On this pattern the royal crown was depicted until the second half of the reign of Queen Victoria.

While various crown symbols had been used for this purpose for many years previously, in 1880 after Queen Victoria became Empress of India it was felt that the heraldic crown should be given an imperial form (it was now the Imperial Crown), and this was effected by making the arches semi-circular joined at the top with the mound and cross. The new design was never intended to represent any actual physical crown and its depiction was never officially standardised at the time, although in shape it bears a close resemblance to both the Imperial State Crown and the small diamond crown of Queen Victoria. As a result of this change the depiction of the crown was very much "at the mercy" of the artist and many variants emerged. After the accession of King Edward VII the War Office raised the issue of a standardised design for use by the army. The king decided on the "Tudor" or "imperial" crown design, and henceforth only this depiction of the crown was used.

In 1952 Queen Elizabeth II requested the design be replaced with a representation of the St Edward's Crown which she wore at her coronation. Many, though not all, of the derived designs around the world were updated to match. Maundy coinage for example was not updated, and continued with the 1880 design depicting the Tudor crown (rounded on top, without the depressions of St Edward's crown).

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the design of King Charles III's royal cypher was announced on 27 September 2022, which featured the Tudor crown rather than the St Edward’s Crown. According to the College of Arms, this depiction would henceforth be used in representations of the Royal Arms, badges and military uniforms. It is also represented on coinage depicting the King's royal cypher, and features on his crowned effigy.

Imperial Crown - St Edward's Crown and the Tudor Crown - Example/s on coins
Australia / Two Dollars 2013 Coronation (Purple)

St Edwards Crown on Australian $2

Australia / Two Dollars 2013 Coronation (Purple)

St Edwards Crown is the central motif of the second Australian coloured circulation coin, marking the 60th anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Imperial Crown - St Edward's Crown and the Tudor Crown - showing 100 of 1,448 coins (Page 4 of 15)
Coin NameReverseObverseDetails
Twopence 1861 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1861 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Penny 1861 (Maundy) Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Threepence 1861 (Circulating) United Kingdom / Threepence 1861 (Circulating) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Threepence 1861 (Circulating) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 3,299,208
Fourpence 1861 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1861 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Threepence 1861 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Threepence 1861 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Australian Half Sovereign 1862 New South Wales / Australian Half Sovereign 1862 - reverse photo New South Wales / Australian Half Sovereign 1862 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 210,000
Australian Sovereign 1862 Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 2,477,500
Fourpence 1862 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1862 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Threepence 1862 (Circulating) United Kingdom / Threepence 1862 (Circulating) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Threepence 1862 (Circulating) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,160,808
Three Halfpence 1862 United Kingdom / Three Halfpence 1862 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Three Halfpence 1862 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 256,000
Twopence 1862 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1862 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Penny 1862 (Maundy) Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Sixpence 1862 United Kingdom / Sixpence 1862 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sixpence 1862 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 990,000
Shilling 1862 United Kingdom / Shilling 1862 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Shilling 1862 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 954,360
Threepence 1862 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Threepence 1862 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Australian Sovereign 1863 Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 1,255,500
Australian Half Sovereign 1863 New South Wales / Australian Half Sovereign 1863 - reverse photo New South Wales / Australian Half Sovereign 1863 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 150,000
Fourpence 1863 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1863 (Maundy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fourpence 1863 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Shilling 1863 United Kingdom / Shilling 1863 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 859,320
Threepence 1863 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Threepence 1863 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Sixpence 1863 United Kingdom / Sixpence 1863 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sixpence 1863 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 491,040
Threepence 1863 (Circulating) United Kingdom / Threepence 1863 (Circulating) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Threepence 1863 (Circulating) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 954,488
Penny 1863 (Maundy) Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Twopence 1863 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1863 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Australian Half Sovereign 1864 New South Wales / Australian Half Sovereign 1864 - reverse photo New South Wales / Australian Half Sovereign 1864 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 141,000
Australian Sovereign 1864 New South Wales / Australian Sovereign 1864 - reverse photo New South Wales / Australian Sovereign 1864 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 2,698,500
Sixpence 1864 United Kingdom / Sixpence 1864 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sixpence 1864 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,253,040
Twopence 1864 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1864 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Penny 1864 (Maundy) Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Fourpence 1864 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1864 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Threepence 1864 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Threepence 1864 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Threepence 1864 (Circulating) United Kingdom / Threepence 1864 (Circulating) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,335,048
Australian Half Sovereign 1865 New South Wales / Australian Half Sovereign 1865 - reverse photo New South Wales / Australian Half Sovereign 1865 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 62,000
Australian Sovereign 1865 New South Wales / Australian Sovereign 1865 - reverse photo New South Wales / Australian Sovereign 1865 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 2,130,500
Threepence 1865 (Circulating) United Kingdom / Threepence 1865 (Circulating) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,746,888
Fourpence 1865 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1865 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Twopence 1865 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1865 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Sixpence 1865 United Kingdom / Sixpence 1865 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,631,520
Shilling 1865 United Kingdom / Shilling 1865 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Shilling 1865 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 5,619,240
Threepence 1865 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Threepence 1865 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Penny 1865 (Maundy) Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Australian Half Sovereign 1866 New South Wales / Australian Half Sovereign 1866 - reverse photo New South Wales / Australian Half Sovereign 1866 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 154,000
Australian Sovereign 1866 New South Wales / Australian Sovereign 1866 - reverse photo New South Wales / Australian Sovereign 1866 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 2,911,000
Shilling 1866 United Kingdom / Shilling 1866 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Shilling 1866 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,989,600
Sixpence 1866 United Kingdom / Sixpence 1866 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sixpence 1866 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 5,140,080
Threepence 1866 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Threepence 1866 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Penny 1866 (Maundy) Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Threepence 1866 (Circulating) United Kingdom / Threepence 1866 (Circulating) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Threepence 1866 (Circulating) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,905,288
Twopence 1866 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1866 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Fourpence 1866 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1866 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Australian Sovereign 1867 New South Wales / Australian Sovereign 1867 - reverse photo New South Wales / Australian Sovereign 1867 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 2,370,000
Twopence 1867 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1867 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Threepence 1867 (Circulating) United Kingdom / Threepence 1867 (Circulating) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Threepence 1867 (Circulating) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 717,288
Penny 1867 (Maundy) Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Sixpence 1867 United Kingdom / Sixpence 1867 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sixpence 1867 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,362,240
Shilling 1867 United Kingdom / Shilling 1867 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Shilling 1867 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 2,166,120
Fourpence 1867 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1867 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Threepence 1867 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Threepence 1867 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Australian Sovereign 1868 Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 2,319,000
Half Farthing 1868 (Proof only) United Kingdom / Half Farthing 1868 (Proof only) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Half Farthing 1868 (Proof only) - obverse photo Material: Copper
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: unknown
Sixpence 1868 United Kingdom / Sixpence 1868 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sixpence 1868 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,069,200
Threepence 1868 (Circulating) United Kingdom / Threepence 1868 (Circulating) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Threepence 1868 (Circulating) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,461,768
Penny 1868 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Penny 1868 (Maundy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Penny 1868 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Shilling 1868 United Kingdom / Shilling 1868 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Shilling 1868 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 3,330,360
Threepence 1868 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Threepence 1868 (Maundy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Threepence 1868 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Fourpence 1868 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1868 (Maundy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fourpence 1868 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Twopence 1868 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1868 (Maundy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Twopence 1868 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,158
Fourpence 1869 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1869 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,488
Twopence 1869 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1869 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,488
Threepence 1869 (Circulating) United Kingdom / Threepence 1869 (Circulating) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Threepence 1869 (Circulating) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: unknown
Threepence 1869 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Threepence 1869 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,488
Sixpence 1869 United Kingdom / Sixpence 1869 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sixpence 1869 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 388,080
Penny 1869 (Maundy) Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,488
Shilling 1869 United Kingdom / Shilling 1869 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 736,560
Australian Sovereign 1870 New South Wales / Australian Sovereign 1870 - reverse photo New South Wales / Australian Sovereign 1870 - obverse photo Material: 0.9167 Gold
Mint: Sydney Mint
Mintage: 1,220,000
Fourpence 1870 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1870 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,569
Sixpence 1870 United Kingdom / Sixpence 1870 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 479,613
Twopence 1870 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1870 (Maundy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Twopence 1870 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,569
Threepence 1870 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Threepence 1870 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,569
Penny 1870 (Maundy) Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,569
Shilling 1870 United Kingdom / Shilling 1870 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Shilling 1870 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,467,471
Three Halfpence 1870 (Proof only) Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: unknown
Threepence 1870 (Circulating) United Kingdom / Threepence 1870 (Circulating) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Threepence 1870 (Circulating) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,287,796
Penny 1871 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Penny 1871 (Maundy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Penny 1871 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,627
Sixpence 1871 United Kingdom / Sixpence 1871 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Sixpence 1871 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 3,662,684
Fourpence 1871 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1871 (Maundy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fourpence 1871 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,627
Shilling 1871 United Kingdom / Shilling 1871 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Shilling 1871 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,910,010
Twopence 1871 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1871 (Maundy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Twopence 1871 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,627
Threepence 1871 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Threepence 1871 (Maundy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Threepence 1871 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,627
Threepence 1871 (Circulating) United Kingdom / Threepence 1871 (Circulating) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Threepence 1871 (Circulating) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,004,121
Shilling 1872 United Kingdom / Shilling 1872 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Shilling 1872 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 8,897,781
Threepence 1872 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Threepence 1872 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,119
Threepence 1872 (Circulating) United Kingdom / Threepence 1872 (Circulating) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Threepence 1872 (Circulating) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,297,759
Twopence 1872 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1872 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,119
Penny 1872 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Penny 1872 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,119
Fourpence 1872 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1872 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,119
Sixpence 1872 United Kingdom / Sixpence 1872 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 3,382,049
Shilling 1873 United Kingdom / Shilling 1873 - reverse photo United Kingdom / Shilling 1873 - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 6,589,598
Twopence 1873 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Twopence 1873 (Maundy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Twopence 1873 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,162
Fourpence 1873 (Maundy) United Kingdom / Fourpence 1873 (Maundy) - reverse photo United Kingdom / Fourpence 1873 (Maundy) - obverse photo Material: 0.925 Silver
Mint: Royal Mint
Mintage: 4,162
Showing 301 to 400 of 1,448 Coins.
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