United Kingdom (Great Britain) Elizabeth II 5 Pounds

History

5 Pounds 2019, Sp# L73, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Tower of London, Legend of the Ravens

5 Pounds 2019, Sp# L73, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Tower of London, Legend of the Ravens, Royal Mint case accompanied by a booklet

Obverse. Photo © Royal Mint

Description

For the very first time The Royal Mint has chosen to feature the Tower of London on a series of UK coins. Starting with The Legend of the Ravens, the collection continues with coins featuring The Crown Jewels, Yeoman Warders and The Ceremony of the Keys. Together the coins tell the story of this mighty stone fortress and the ancient ceremonies that still take place within these walls.

History comes alive at the Tower of the London. From Traitors’ Gate to the Bloody Tower, within its stone walls echoes of the past are everywhere. Once home to kings and queens, lions and bears, its most famous residents are the ravens.

The Ravens of the Tower of London is a group of at least six captive ravens which live at the Tower of London. Their presence is traditionally believed to protect The Crown and the tower; a superstition holds that "if the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it".

Obverse	Crown, jewelry Diamond Diadem Person (king, queen, tsar etc.) Elizabeth II The fifth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the George IV State Diadem and drop earrings. The George IV State Diadem, officially the Diamond Diadem, is a type of crown that was made in 1820 for King George IV. The diadem is worn by queens and queens consort in procession to coronations and State Openings of Parliament. The piece of jewelry has been featured in paintings and on stamps and currency. It can be seen in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace. ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATRIX means Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen and Defender of the Faith. Engraver: Jody Clark ELIZABETH II·D·G·REG·F·D·5 POUNDS·2019· JC
Reverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Raven Construction (building, bridge etc.) Tower of London Depicts a single raven stares back, and a plan of the walls of the Tower which is split over the four coins in the collection unifying their designs. A special Tower mint mark features on an official UK coin for the first time (on the right). Engraver: Glyn Davies TOWER OF LONDON GD
Edge	Inscribed (lettered) A phrase from the poem Human Life of Samuel Rogers (1763–1855): On thro' that gate misnamed, thro' which before Went Sidney, Russell, Raleigh, Cranmer, More, On into twilight within walls of stone, Then to the place of trial; ON INTO TWILIGHT WITHIN WALLS OF STONE