1990 Queen Mother's 90th Birthday

Obverse of 1990 Queen Mother's 90th Birthday Crown Reverse of 1990 Queen Mother's 90th Birthday Crown

Crown Re-tariffed as Five Pounds
The face value of the British crown coin had remained at five shillings, a quarter of a pound, since its introduction as a gold coin in 1544. It had survived decimalisation, its old five shilling value, having easily to twenty five new pence.
Now, in 1990, after four and a half centuries, it was reborn with a face value of five pounds. After such a long period of time, it is not simple to calculate what the current equivalent value should be, but after much debate by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee, the value of £5 was selected.
The last crown to have been issued for circulation was the Coronation crown of Edward VII in 1902. The issues from 1927 onward were not primarily intended for circulation.
One of the factors influencing the decision to retariff the crown was an economic one. The Royal Mint, in addition to supplying circulation coins, has since 1970 also produced commemorative and collectors coins. The old five shilling, equivalent twenty five new pence, later twenty five pence, value, was uneconomic for the Mint to continue to produce. Besides, as a large format coin, now fulfilling a role as an almost purely commemorative production, needed to recapture its previously important denominational value, and retain its important position as one of the higher coin denominations.

The Queen Mother
Born on the 4th August 1900, Lady Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the 9th child of the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. In 1923 she married His Royal Highness, The Duke of York, and as Duchess of York undertook many public duties.
On the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936, the Duke and Duchess of York became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Her courage during the war, her charm and devotion to duty help to explain why she is held in great affection by the public in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
Following the death of King George VI in 1952, Queen Elizabeth was accorded the title "Queen Mother" by her daughter Queen Elizabeth II who acceded to the throne in 1952.

Obverse:
The third portrait of the Queen facing right, designed by Raphael David Maklouf, FRSA.
this portrait was adopted for all British coins from 1985 to 1997, but only appears on this one crown issue.
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D
FIVE POUNDS

Reverse: A double letter "E" monogram, one reversed, crowned. On either side, a rose and thistle.
QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER
1900 - 1990

Edge
The edge is milled

Specifications
All versions:-
Denomination (face value) Five Pounds
Diameter 38.61mm

Version	Alloy	Weight	Issue
Uncirculated	Cupro-Nickel	28.28 grams	2,761,431
Specimen	Cupro-Nickel	28.28 grams	45,250
Proof	Silver	28.28 grams	56,102
Proof	Gold	39.94 grams	2,500

For Sale

Version	Alloy	In Stock	Price £	Price $
Uncirculated Specimen in Folder (Rare)	Cupro-Nickel	No	£20	$37
Proof	Gold	Yes	See Page	See Page

Specimen in Card

Silver Proof

Gold £5 Crowns
For current pricing on the gold proof versions of any of the Five Pound Crowns, from 1990 onwards, please use the £5 Gold Coins pages of our "Tax Free Gold" website.

1990 Coin Sets

See also our British Coin Sets page.

Postage & Packing:
UK: At buyer's Risk £2.50 or
Fully Insured £6 (Usually by Royal Mail Special Delivery)
USA: Airmail at buyer's risk $10 or
Fully Insured $20
For further details, please see our Postage & Packing page.

Order Form - UK
Order Form - USA
Order Form - EU
Order Form - Rest of World

Crowns Index Page

1980 British Queen Mother Crowns
This page contains further information and offers of the British crown in various versions.

1994 - 1995 Queen Mother World Collection
A Collection of silver proof coins from 24 countries.