United Kingdom (Great Britain) Elizabeth II 25 Pounds

History

25 Pounds 2019, Sp# OA7, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Tower of London, Crown Jewels

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.

The Crown Jewels are kept under armed guard at the Tower of London and are one of Britain's most iconic attractions, seen by visitors the world over to catch a glimpse of the Crown Jewels.

The collection has come together over the centuries, but most was destroyed after the English Civil War. After the restoration when King Charles II came to the throne, he ordered the recreation of the Crown Jewels after the previous medieval collection was melted down and minted into new coins under the orders of Oliver Cromwell and the victorious Parliamentarians.

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· J.C
Reverse	Construction (building, bridge etc.) Tower of London Crown, jewelry Mary of Modena Depicts the crown of Mary of Modena, and a plan of the walls of the Tower which is split over the four coins in the collection unifying their designs. The Crown of Mary of Modena is the consort crown made in 1685 for Mary of Modena, Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland, and wife of James VII & II. It was used by future queens consort up until the end of the 18th century. The crown was part of a collection of three made for Mary of Modena in 1685 by Richard De Beauvoir: a state crown, coronation crown and a diadem (ornamental headdress). The coronation crown no longer exists but the others reside at the Tower of London as part of the Crown Jewels collection in the Jewel House. A special Tower mint mark features on an official UK coin for the first time (on the left). Engraver: Glyn Davies TOWER OF LONDON GD
Edge	Reeded (milled)