2015 50th Anniversary of the Death of Sir Winston Churchill Five Ounce Silver Proof

This 2015 Silver Proof coin from The Royal Mint, honours the late great Sir Winston Churchill. Only 650 of these individually boxed coins were struck, making the coin highly sought-after. Designer Etienne Millner took inspiration from official photographs of Churchill to create a depiction of his characteristics. This representation of the great leader has been immortalised in the coin's reverse. The obverse of each coin hosts the 4th Portrait of Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II, by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Born at Blenheim Palace in 1874, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill would later become one of the greatest statesmen the world has ever encountered. Half American and half English, he was the first person to be made an honorary citizen of the United States. Churchill served with the armed forces in both world wars, and became a prisoner of war in the Boer War while working as a journalist. In 1939, now Prime Minister, Churchill led his country into the Second World War. He became the face of the nation and emerged victorious in 1945. A man known in public life as the 'British Bulldog' and 'Winnie' to his friends, Churchill's resolve is often attributed to his sense of humour and optimism. Sir Winston Churchill was also a man of many talents. In his forties, he took up art, creating over 500 paintings across a 48-year period. Many of his works are still held by The National Trust Collections. A well-rounded individual, Churchill also won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his written works. For his services to WWII, Churchill was awarded a knighthood in 1953 by Queen Elizabeth II in her first year of reign. At this point, the Prime Minister had already served under no less than five previous monarchs; Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII and George VI. Sir Winston Churchill passed away at age 90 following ill health. Fifty years after his death, this coin honours the legacy of this great man. 

This limited edition Silver Proof 5oz coin celebrating Churchill's legacy was designed by Etienne Millner, of the Royal Society of Sculptors. The artist also created the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square. The reverse depicts the classic traits of the great man, such as his defined jawline and thin lips, to create a true likeness. The coin's obverse presents the 4th Portrait of Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II, by Ian Rank-Broadley.