United Kingdom (Great Britain) Elizabeth II 5 Pounds

History

5 Pounds 2022, Sp# L95, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, 70th Anniversary of the Accession of Elizabeth II to the Throne, Platinum Jubilee

Obverse. Photo © Royal Mint

Description

A piedfort is an unusually thick coin, often exactly twice the normal weight and thickness of other coins of the same diameter and pattern. Piedforts are not normally circulated, and are only struck for presentation purposes by mint officials (such as patterns), or for collectors, dignitaries, and other VIPs.

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 1926–2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and of 14 other Commonwealth realms. Her reign, which began on February 6, 1952, lasted for 70 years and seven months, making it the longest of any British monarch in history. At the age of 25, she became queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries after her father's death in February 1952. These countries were the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and she also served as Head of the Commonwealth.

Throughout her reign, Elizabeth acted as a constitutional monarch and oversaw significant political changes, such as the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the decolonization of Africa, and the United Kingdom's accession to and withdrawal from the European Communities. The number of her realms changed over time as territories gained independence and some became republics.

Elizabeth experienced many personal milestones during her reign, including the births and marriages of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was crowned in 1953, and her Silver, Golden, Diamond, and Platinum jubilees were celebrated in 1977, 2002, 2012, and 2022, respectively.

Obverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Horse British royal family Accession Person (king, queen, tsar etc.) Elizabeth II Depicts HM Queen Elizabeth II on horseback of her horse Winston, dressed in her uniform as Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards and as worn by Her Majesty during the ceremony of Trooping the Colour, advancing to left, surrounded by the inscriptions and the Order of the Garter. The motto HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE appears on a circular belt. Date below. The equine theme featured pays tribute to the remarkable 70 years the Queen has served the nation and Commonwealth, as well as her love for horses, and her participation in one particular annual event in which she appeared on horseback for many years. The Queen has, since her accession in 1952 and until 1987, taken the salute of Trooping of the Colour, the official birthday of the sovereign, which she did on horseback. As a keen horsewoman, Queen Elizabeth II could be seen riding Burmese (1962–1990), a black RCMP police service horse. She was given to Queen Elizabeth II by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1969 and took part in Trooping the Colour that same year and for 18 consecutive years until 1986. The Order of the Garter (formally the Most Noble Order of the Garter) is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III in 1348 and regarded as the most prestigious British order of chivalry in England and the United Kingdom. The star, which is worn pinned to the left breast, was introduced in the 17th century by King Charles I and is a colourfully enamelled depiction of the heraldic shield of St. George's Cross, encircled by the Garter, which is itself encircled by an eight-point silver badge. Each point is depicted as a cluster of rays, with the four points of the cardinal directions longer than the intermediate ones. Honi soit qui mal y pense is a French maxim used as the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter. It is translated as "May he be shamed who thinks badly of it". ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATRIX means Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen and Defender of the Faith. Engraver: John Bergdahl · ELIZABETH II·D·G·REG·F·D·5 POUNDS · JB · HONI · SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE · 20 22
Reverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Lion Coat of arms United Kingdom Order, medal etc. Order of the Garter Depicts crowned escutcheon of the United Kingdom surrounded by the Order of the Garter. The motto HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE appears on a circular belt. The royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, or the Royal Arms for short, is the official coat of arms of the British monarch. The shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three passant guardant lions of England; in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure flory-counterflory of Scotland; and in the third, a harp (a winged female) for Ireland. The Order of the Garter (formally the Most Noble Order of the Garter) is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III in 1348 and regarded as the most prestigious British order of chivalry in England and the United Kingdom. The star, which is worn pinned to the left breast, was introduced in the 17th century by King Charles I and is a colourfully enamelled depiction of the heraldic shield of St. George's Cross, encircled by the Garter, which is itself encircled by an eight-point silver badge. Each point is depicted as a cluster of rays, with the four points of the cardinal directions longer than the intermediate ones. Honi soit qui mal y pense is a French maxim used as the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter. It is translated as "May he be shamed who thinks badly of it". Engraver: John Bergdahl HONI·SOIT·QUI·MAL·Y·PENSE· JB ·1952 2022·
Edge	Inscribed (lettered) The reference to Her Majesty’s first Christmas speech in 1952 and unparalleled longevity as monarch. Pray that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life. – Elizabeth II, December 1952 • SERVE YOU ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE