£5 Coins
What’s your favourite £5 coin design of the year 2018?
We’re on the hunt for the best Coin Design of 2018 as part of the 2018 Change Checker Awards and we need your help! With over 50 new coins issued by The Royal Mint this year, we’ve decided to shortlist the coins by denomination and then determine one overall winner from the top 10p, 50p, £2 and £5 coins as voted by Change Checkers!
£5 Coins
The £5 is widely regarded as the UK’s flagship coin and are usually reserved to commemorate the most important Royal and historical anniversaries of the year. And there have certainly been a number of important events celebrated in 2018. In fact, TEN stunning £5 coins have been released this year, including three new additions to the Queen’s Beasts series, an incredibly poignant Remembrance Day £5 with colour printing and a beautifully festive Nutcracker £5 as we move towards the Christmas season.
But which 2018 £5 coin is your favourite?
Cast your vote now using the poll at the bottom of the page and find out more about the different £5 coins below!
Red Dragon of Wales £5
The Red Dragon of Wales is the third coin in the Queen’s Beasts series which started in 2017. The Queen’s Beasts collection will eventually include ten £5 coins, each representing the ten guard beast sculptures which were at the entrance to Westminster Abbey during Her Majesty the Queen’s coronation in 1953. This coin features a design of the fierce Red Dragon of Wales, by well-known designer Jody Clark.
Four Generations of Royalty £5
This Four Generations of Royalty £5 coin marks the first time ever that The Royal Mint has issued a coin to celebrate all four generations of royalty in line to the throne on a single coin. The reverse features an original design by much-loved calligrapher Timothy Noad, and ornately shows the initials of the current four generations, E, C, W, G, and represents the heritage of the House of Windsor.
Royal Academy of Arts £5
To celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the founding of The Royal Academy of Arts, The Royal Academy (RA) and The Royal Mint collaborated to issue this £5 coin. The reverse has been designed by celebrated architect Sir David Chipperfield RA, and features the historical facade of Burlington House, home to the Royal Academy since 1867.
Black Bull of Clarence £5
The Black Bull of Clarence is the fourth coin issued to celebrate the ten ancestral beasts of heraldry, myth, and legend that have watched over Her Majesty the Queen throughout her unprecedented reign. The reverse design by Jody Clark features the strong Black Bull in a rampant position with the shield displaying the coat of arms of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales.
Royal Wedding of Harry and Meghan £5
To celebrate the wedding of HRH Prince Harry of Wales and Ms Meghan Markle, The Royal Mint issued a brand new £5 coin designed by Jody Clark and based on a portrait of the couple taken from a private sitting as well as an inscription of the date of the wedding.
65th Coronation Anniversary £5
This £5 has been issued by The Royal Mint to mark the 65th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen’s Coronation on the 2nd June 1953, an unprecedented Royal milestone.The reverse design by Stephen Taylor depicts the Royal Standard, crowned with Her Majesty the Queen’s royal cypher to represent the Sovereign and the United Kingdom.
Falcon of the Plantagenets £5
This £5 features the magnificent Falcon of the Platagenets from the Queen’s Beasts series, but although the coin is 2019 dated, it was issued during 2018. The reverse features Jody Clark’s depiction of a Falcon perched on top of the shield with a partially open fetterlock in its grasp. Originally closed, the slightly open fetterlock supposedly refers to Edward IV claim to the throne.
Prince George 5th Birthday £5
The birth of HRH Prince George on 22nd July 2013 sparked celebration throughout the country and to celebrate his 5th Birthday, The Royal Mint issued this 2018 commemorative £5 coin. The reverse design by Royal Mint engraver Jody Clark features a modern depiction of Saint George slaying a dragon with a spear.
Remembrance Day £5
To honour the sacrifices of all those who have risked their lives to protect their country’s freedom The Royal Mint issued a 2018 Remembrance Day £5 coin which features vibrant red printing to highlight the symbolic poppy. It is an especially poignant coin this year which marks the 100th anniversary of Armistice, the end of WW1.
Nutcracker £5
The Nutcracker coin is the second Christmas £5 issued by The Royal Mint, featuring a magical design which depicts an enchanting Christmas Nutcracker scene by acclaimed engraver, Harry Brockway.
The winning £5 will then be entered into our Coin Design of the Year vote as part of the 2018 Change Checker Awards, alongside the top 10p, 50p and £2 coins from 2018 to determine which coin should be crowned the overall winner!
The voting has now closed and the results can be found below:
It’s now time for you to vote for your overall winner, shortlisted from Change Checker’s favourite A-Z 10p, 50p, £2 and £5 coin of the year.
View our full range of CERTIFIED BU £5 coins here >>
Prince Charles in coins…
The Prince of Wales is the world’s longest serving heir apparent, supporting Her Majesty the Queen as her representative while also playing an important role in founding and supporting numerous charitable causes. And on the 14th November this year, HRH The Prince of Wales will celebrate a landmark birthday.
To celebrate the 70th birthday of our future King, The Royal Mint has just announced the release of a brand new UK coin.The release of this coin is sure to be exciting for Change Checkers in the knowledge that the last UK £5 coin that featured Prince Charles turned out to be extremely rare.
The Prince of Wales has had numerous commemorative coins minted to mark special occasions throughout his lifetime, and to celebrate his 70th birthday we’ve taken a look back at the history of Prince Charles in coins. From his first marriage to Princess Diana, to landmark birthday celebrations and now in 2018 as heir apparent to the throne, he will celebrate his 70th birthday…
Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer 25 pence – 1981
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1981 Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer Crown
The first ever UK coin issued in the Prince of Wales’ honour, was for his wedding to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. The coin was struck by The Royal Mint and was a crown tariffed at 25 pence (although no denomination was actually inscribed on the coin).
It was the first time that three people were portrayed on a British coin simultaneously, with the reverse featuring the conjoined profiles of the bridal couple and the effigy of Her Majesty the Queen by Arnold Machin RA.
You can add this coin to your collection here >>
Prince Charles’ 50th birthday – 1998
1998 Prince Charles 50th birthday £5
To mark his 50th birthday, The Royal Mint struck a £5 coin issued in five metal versions, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Prince of Wales’ Trust.
This charitable organisation was established to further the interests of young people and also provides the theme for the reverse, which portrays the Prince alongside a 33 word inscription setting out the aims and ideals of the Trust. This inscription is so long that it actually takes the title as the longest inscription on any British coin!
Secure the coin for yourself here >>
The Wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles – 2005
2005 Wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla £5
This 1 Dollar coin from the Cook Islands was issued to celebrate the wedding of Charles and Camilla, however it actually features the wrong date following a last minute delay to the wedding of 24 hours, so that HRH Prince Charles could attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II as the representative of the Queen. The date was unable to be changed as the coins had already been struck!
The design features a portrait of the couple and the incorrect date ‘08.04.2005’ and has a very low mintage of just 5,000, making it a significantly scarce and collectible coin.
Own this coin for your collection here >>
Prince Charles and Prince Charles’ 60th birthday – 2008
2008 Prince Charles 60th birthday £5
This £5 coin was released for Prince Charles’ 60th birthday and in fact has the lowest mintage figure in the history of UK ‘circulated’ £5 coins. Just 14,088 of these coins were struck by The Royal Mint in 2008 and was one of the last £5 coins to be issued at face value.
This coin features the portrait of Charles by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS, whose effigy of the Queen has been used on British coins since 1998. The inscription ICH DIEN means ‘I serve’ and is taken from the Badge of the Prince of Wales.
This coin is extremely sought after by collectors but unfortunately we do not have any stock currently available. Are you lucky enough to have this coin in your collection?
Four Generations of Royalty
2018 Four Generations of Royalty £5
At the start of this year, The Royal Mint released this £5 coin which was highly anticipated from the moment HRH Prince George of Cambridge was born on 22nd July 2013 – The Four Generations of Royalty £5 coin.
This is the first time ever that The Royal Mint has issued a coin that celebrates all four generations in line to the throne on a single coin.
The reverse features an original design by much-loved calligrapher Timothy Noad, and ornately shows the initials of the current four generations, E, C, W, G, and represents the heritage of the House of Windsor.
Add this coin to your collection here >>
Prince Charles’ 70th birthday – 2018
2018 Prince Charles 70th Birthday £5
2018 has been a truly unforgettable year for the Royals, celebrating the Queen’s 65th Jubilee, the birth of Prince Louis, the marriage of Harry and Meghan and on the 14th of November, the 70th birthday of HRH The Prince of Wales.
This brand new £5 coin celebrates Prince Charles’ 70th birthday this year, featuring a brand new portrait of the Prince, created by widely respected designer, Robert Elderston who was once an apprentice engraver at The Royal Mint at its previous home in Tower hill more than 50 years ago.
What makes this coin particularly interesting is that it could be very similar to the portrait of Prince Charles that will feature on all United Kingdom coinage once he becomes King.
The 2018 Prince Charles £5 has now been officially released and is available to order here >>
It’s clear that each coin commemorating a momentus period of Prince Charles’ life has proven to be a rarity in some way, whether it be due to having such a low mintage figure, an unusual design or fascinating story.
As we know, £5 coins are reserved for the most important Royal and Historical anniversaries, and this £5 is the perfect way to celebrate the birthday of our future King.
Find out more about why you should be collecting £5 coins here >>
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Add the 2018 Prince Charles 70th birthday £5 coin to your collection today
Secure this £5 coin in Brilliant Uncirculated quality today >>
Christmas comes early for Change Checkers as new UK coin is announced!
It might only be October, but we’ve already got that festive feeling at Change Checker HQ, as a brand new 2018 Christmas coin has just been announced!
In August we heard the exciting news that a Snowman 50p would be released this year, but on top of this, we are now delighted to reveal an early Christmas present for you all, as The Royal Mint will also be issuing a £5 coin this Christmas, featuring the Nutcracker!
2018 Nutcracker £5 coin
Christmas really has come early for us all, as this beautifully Christmassy, brand new coin for 2018 is now available to add to your Christmas list!
This fantastically festive coin design by acclaimed engraver, Harry Brockway features a magical scene from the Nutcracker ballet.. It is the very first time that the Nutcracker has appeared on a UK coin and is only available in Brilliant Uncirculated quality – dare I say it’s the perfect gift idea if you’re looking to get ahead with your Christmas shopping!
Let’s take a look back at some other UK Christmas Issues…
The FIRST EVER UK Christmas £5 coin
Last year saw the FIRST EVER UK Christmas £5 coin being struck by The Royal Mint, featuring a traditional Christmas tree design by engraver and printmaker Edwina Ellis.
The Christmas tree plays a key role in festive traditions, from decorating with baubles to keeping presents around the tree and opening them, so it is only fitting that one of the most iconic symbols of the festive period was featured on the first UK £5 Christmas Coin.
This seasonal sensation was so popular that The Royal Mint have struck again, and this year’s Nutcracker coin is sure to be another festive favourite!
The Christmas Nativity Story portrayed on the UK £20 Coin
In 2016, The Royal Mint struck a special Fine Silver £20 coin celebrating the Nativity story. The coin was designed by Bishop Gregory Cameron, who also created the design for the last ‘round pound’.
This was the first Christmas coin ever struck by The Royal Mint and was a limited issue with a mintage of only 30,000 coins. Struck in solid fine .999 Silver, this stunning coin weighs in at one half of an ounces – perhaps a bit heavy to hang on your Christmas tree!
The much anticipated Snowman 50p – due to be released later this year
This year will certainly be a merry one, as the Nutcracker £5 isn’t the only Christmas coin to be released this year. As already mentioned, a new 50p coin has been announced, featuring a depiction of the Snowman and the boy flying through the air, as taken from the book ‘The Snowman’.
It’s expected the coin will be issued later this year to celebrate 40 years of Raymond Brigg’s ‘The Snowman’, with commemorative collector’s editions available in Brilliant Uncirculated, Silver and Gold being made available.
So, will you be adding these coins to your Christmas list this year? We think they’re just wonderful and can’t wait to hear what Change Checkers think about these beautiful Christmas designs. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The only Christmas card you’ll want this year!
Why not send some festive cheer to friends and family with the Official Change Checker Christmas Card, featuring this beautiful Nutcracker £5 coin!
It’s the perfect way to wish a loved one merry Christmas so secure yours by clicking here >>