1993 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 40th Anniversary Coronation Crown

1993 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 40th Anniversary Coronation Crown

Queen Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953. She had acceded to the British throne on the death of her father, George VI, the previous year. To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of this coronation, The Royal Mint released a series of commemorative coins, including this Brilliant Uncirculated Five Pound. Both the obverse and reverse of the coin were designed by Robert Elderton. The obverse depicts the original effigy of Her Majesty by Mary Gillick, which adorned coins between 1953 and 1970. Around this portrait are eight trumpeters mounted on horseback. They are separated by swords and sceptres of the Royal Regalia. On the coin’s reverse, Elderton has depicted St Edward’s Crown, surrounded by forty trumpets in honour of the fanfare which greeted Her Majesty’s arrival to Westminster Abbey. This crown was the final of three worn by The Queen during the coronation day. The George IV State Diadem was worn during the procession to Westminster Abbey. During the crowning, St Edward’s crown was placed on Her Majesty’s head for a few minutes. First used by Charles II in 1661, this crown is solid gold and adorned with precious and semi-precious stones, weighing almost 2.3 kilograms. Finally, the Imperial State Crown was donned, it is traditionally worn by a monarch after their coronation, and has since been worn by The Queen for state occasions. Around the crown and trumpets is a legend which reads ‘FAITH AND TRUTH I WILL BEAR UNTO YOU · 1953-1993’ which also adorned the original 1953 coronation commemorative coin. This BU Five Pound weighs 28.28 grams and is comprised of cupro-nickel, the same as coins in your change but with a higher quality finish to be an ideal collectors’ piece and allow appreciation of the designs. It comes in the original presentation sleeve from The Royal Mint with additional information about the coronation and the three previous effigies of The Queen which adorned coins from 1953.