Crown coins

[Gollum]

Ok, so crowns when I was a kid were valued at 5/- then when decimal came in at 25p. So why are they calling the £5 coin a crown now. whats that about. It's very confusing to an old brain.

[Gollum]

Ok, so crowns when I was a kid were valued at 5/- then when decimal came in at 25p. So why are they calling the £5 coin a crown now. whats that about. It's very confusing to an old brain.

Just for Debbie, that's 5 Bob .

[TomGoodheart]

A crown is 5/- (that's five shillings). Same size as a dollar or 8 Real coin (piece of eight) or a thaller, the universally accepted silver coin from the 1600s to the 1800s.

But the crown was 'revalued' after 1981 (effectively from the Queen Mum issue of 1990 onwards) at £5. Quite why, I don't know, though sometimes it amuses me to get a few from the post office and use them in shops just to see the confusion it causes! I suspect the cost of producing a 25p coin nobody would use wasn't worth it, but the RM saw a market for a large commemorative coin they could flog and decided £5 was an acceptable price for another piece of tat .. er, modern numismatic and artistic collectable. Effectively it's a crown-sized coin. If you're pernickity like me at least!

The important thing is that if it's a £5 coin then it will say on the coin. If no value is stated, it's worth 25p as they have never been demonetised. Except Churchill ones, which are of negative value, on account of their ugliness and lack of desirability.

[Gollum]

Except Churchill ones, which are of negative value, on account of their ugliness and lack of desirability.

Oi !, I just purchased one of them, you saying my coins are ugly .

[Peter]

You are the 1st UK based (interested in coins)person I am aware of who has actually had to purchase a Churchill Crown.

I'm sure they have a use in automotive repairs somewhere.

[ski]

you saying my coins are ugly

if their all like churchill crowns....yup

even football yobs wont lower themeselves to throwing a churchill at an opposition player

[ski]

I'm sure they have a use in automotive repairs somewhere.

NaaaaaaaH

[Gollum]

You are the 1st UK based (interested in coins)person I am aware of who has actually had to purchase a Churchill Crown.

I'm sure they have a use in automotive repairs somewhere.

Swine

As a diversion from this matter, is it true that ALL old english notes are still exchangeable with the mint for its modern counterpart ?. I ask as someone I know offered me some old green pound ones and a old £10 one for 30p each. Could be a bargain.

[Rob]

You are the 1st UK based (interested in coins)person I am aware of who has actually had to purchase a Churchill Crown.

I'm sure they have a use in automotive repairs somewhere.

Peter, this may come as a surprise, but I too will have to acquire a Churchill crown to fill the Oscar Nemon slot in the attributed designers section of the collection. I'm still looking for one with minimal bagmarks though. I can't bring myself to pay nearly £1K for a satin proof, but will stretch to a fiver(!) for a bagmark free one. My appointment with a man in a white coat is at 2 o'clock.

[Gollum]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130579916384

[Rob]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130579916384

I've got more than 10 available too. That doesn't mean to say the one you get will be mark free though. The one in the picture isn't, and the other side isn't shown. The picture may or may not be the coin you receive.

[Colin G.]

The important thing is that if it's a £5 coin then it will say on the coin.

But watch out for the Jersey/Guernsey/Isle on man etc etc which are not widely accepted as legal tender....

[Gollum]

The important thing is that if it's a £5 coin then it will say on the coin.

But watch out for the Jersey/Guernsey/Isle on man etc etc which are not widely accepted as legal tender....

Actually I was going to bring those up later, I can not understand why they can strike some really pretty coins and yet we seem to have "dull" ones. Are we just boring as a nation in this respect.

[Gollum]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130579916384

I've got more than 10 available too. That doesn't mean to say the one you get will be mark free though. The one in the picture isn't, and the other side isn't shown. The picture may or may not be the coin you receive.

Dave Watson is a member of this forum, and has told me he will ensure I get one that has either minimal or no marks on it and in a wallet.

[Peter]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130579916384

I've got more than 10 available too. That doesn't mean to say the one you get will be mark free though. The one in the picture isn't, and the other side isn't shown. The picture may or may not be the coin you receive.

Dave Watson is a member of this forum, and has told me he will ensure I get one that has either minimal or no marks on it and in a wallet.

Like Rob I must have 20+ aquired over the years.I really haven't inspected them.Some are in Lloyds bank folders or black velvet pouches etc.

Rob you will probably have to go to the US market and pick out a slabbed MS66 and then release it.Hus was after one a while back.

[Colin G.]

The important thing is that if it's a £5 coin then it will say on the coin.

But watch out for the Jersey/Guernsey/Isle on man etc etc which are not widely accepted as legal tender....

Actually I was going to bring those up later, I can not understand why they can strike some really pretty coins and yet we seem to have "dull" ones. Are we just boring as a nation in this respect.

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder with some of these!! What have they done to Kate!!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Coins-Collectable-Prince-WILLIAM-and-KATE-Middleton-/160617668726?pt=UK_Royalty&hash=item25658f2076

[Gollum]

The important thing is that if it's a £5 coin then it will say on the coin.

But watch out for the Jersey/Guernsey/Isle on man etc etc which are not widely accepted as legal tender....

Actually I was going to bring those up later, I can not understand why they can strike some really pretty coins and yet we seem to have "dull" ones. Are we just boring as a nation in this respect.

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder with some of these!! What have they done to Kate!!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Coins-Collectable-Prince-WILLIAM-and-KATE-Middleton-/160617668726?pt=UK_Royalty&hash=item25658f2076

Nowt, that's her pre makeup face . Well ok, so they made her look a little like wurzel gummidge.

[TomGoodheart]

As a diversion from this matter, is it true that ALL old english notes are still exchangeable with the mint for its modern counterpart ?. I ask as someone I know offered me some old green pound ones and a old £10 one for 30p each. Could be a bargain.

AFAIK at the Bank of England you can exchange old notes for their face value since none have been demonetised.

Here you go. Fill in the form and bob's your uncle. Or in this case £1 note is your uncle.

Bank of England

Edited December 29, 2011 by TomGoodheart

[Cerbera100]

I'm lead to believe that the face-value exchange extends to the sov (and half, double and quin)... though quite who in their right mind would accept £5 for 40g of 22ct gold, I dont know! Given that - I did have an argument with a pawnbroker once who tried to convince me that my sov (and guinea) were only 9ct!

On the Churchill front, I did once (ok twice ) manage to get a fivers worth of change for one... is that mean of me?!

[Gollum]

On the Churchill front, I did once (ok twice ) manage to get a fivers worth of change for one... is that mean of me?!

Only if your a member of Reading coin club Still not heard from Frank either.

[Peckris]

A crown is 5/- (that's five shillings). Same size as a dollar or 8 Real coin (piece of eight) or a thaller, the universally accepted silver coin from the 1600s to the 1800s.

But the crown was 'revalued' after 1981 (effectively from the Queen Mum issue of 1990 onwards) at £5. Quite why, I don't know, though sometimes it amuses me to get a few from the post office and use them in shops just to see the confusion it causes! I suspect the cost of producing a 25p coin nobody would use wasn't worth it, but the RM saw a market for a large commemorative coin they could flog and decided £5 was an acceptable price for another piece of tat .. er, modern numismatic and artistic collectable. Effectively it's a crown-sized coin. If you're pernickity like me at least!

The important thing is that if it's a £5 coin then it will say on the coin. If no value is stated, it's worth 25p as they have never been demonetised. Except Churchill ones, which are of negative value, on account of their ugliness and lack of desirability.

Jeez Tom - it's not rocket science! The Royal Mint, in one fell swoop, went from getting 25p for the cost of each crown they produced and perhaps £1 for specimens in glossy folders, to getting £5 for exactly the same item and £9 or £10 for that specimen issue! I'm no accountant but it seems a pretty foolproof scheme to me.

[Gollum]

I received my two Crowns today from Mr David Watson. As promised they are undamaged and in wallets, so as they say, the jobs a good un. Oh and Churchill is NOT ugly, it's quite a decent coin thank you you miserable old beggars.

[Peckris]

I received my two Crowns today from Mr David Watson. As promised they are undamaged and in wallets, so as they say, the jobs a good un. Oh and Churchill is NOT ugly, it's quite a decent coin thank you you miserable old beggars.

I agree. It's not a bad looking issue at all. It's just unfortunate that - like the very attractive 1997 crown - it's so common.

[Gollum]

I received my two Crowns today from Mr David Watson. As promised they are undamaged and in wallets, so as they say, the jobs a good un. Oh and Churchill is NOT ugly, it's quite a decent coin thank you you miserable old beggars.

I agree. It's not a bad looking issue at all. It's just unfortunate that - like the very attractive 1997 crown - it's so common.

I finaly got someone to say that my churchill crown is not bad looking

[Debbie]

I received my two Crowns today from Mr David Watson

Ah,ah! that's 7 coins then!