A 22 carat gold Five Pound coin, celebrating 1,150 years since the coronation of Alfred the Great.
Alfred The Great
Alfred became King of Wessex in 871 while his kingdom was threatened by marauding Vikings. 1,150 years later, we remember Alfred for his success in pushing back his Danish rivals, becoming the dominant ruler among the small kingdoms that dominated the British Isles in the ninth century.
It's not just for his dominance on the battlefield that Alfred – alone of all the English monarchs – is called 'the Great'. Alfred is also renowned for his peace efforts, legal improvements, support for learning, and military reorganisation, as well as his reputation for piety and fairness. He also instituted a program of coinage reform so its fitting that this anniversary should be celebrated on a new collection of commemorative coins from The Royal Mint.
The Alfred Jewel
The reverse of this 22 carat gold Five Pound coin is the work of John Bergdahl and bears similarities to his Magna Carta £2 and Battle of Hastings 50p: both of which take inspiration from prized medieval artworks.
Berghdahl based his Alfred the Great design on the renown Alfred Jewel. Found in a field in Somerset, the jewel, now in the Ashmolean Museum is a masterpiece of early medieval goldsmithing, crafted around a vividly coloured piece of enamel work which is thought to show an image of Christ.
This stylised figure is recreated on the 2021 coin with the legend 'ALFRED THE GREAT' surrounding the motif in 'punch' style lettering, used during Alfred’s reign.
The edge inscription is also inspired by the Alfred Jewel, reading 'AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN' which means 'Alfred ordered me to be made'.
Limited Edition Presentation
Just 160 of these gold proof Five Pound coins are available from The Royal Mint.
This proof-finish £5 coin is composed of 39.94 grams of 22 carat gold. It’s the most exclusive in the 2021 Alfred the Great range with only 160 pieces offered in this presentation. John Bergdahl’s design is also featured on silver proof and silver proof piedfort Five Pound coins of which we also have a limited stock.
The 38.61 millimetre coin is offered in its original packaging from The Royal Mint which is composed of a decorative cardboard box and a presentation case. The coin is enclosed in its capsule and comes with an information booklet and a numbered certificate of authenticity.
We've seen great demand for Royal Mint commemorative five-pound coins, particularly these gold proof editions. Between the masterfully rendered design and the unusual choice of subject in Alfred the Great we predict that this one will get snapped up quickly.
Steeped in more than 1,100 years of history, The Royal Mint supplies all of the United Kingdom's coinage as well as currency for nations around the world. Renown for craftsmanship and thoughtful design, The Royal Mint also produces commemorative coins, favoured by investors and collectors.
A Millennia of Minting
Founded in the reign of Alfred the Great, around the year 886, The Royal Mint was originally one of several mints which were centralised to London in 1279. For more than 800 years the Mint was based at the Tower of London before moving to Royal Mint Court where it remained until the 1960s.
The Royal Mint has always been on the forefront of economic, technical and artistic innovation. Its skilled craftsmen minted coins that would reach the far corners of the British Empire, establishing the image and reputation of Britain for all whose pockets they ended up in.
In 2010 The Royal Mint became a limited company owned by Her Majesty’s Treasury. In recent years the Mint has struck medals for the 2012 London Olympic Games and opened a visitor centre, The Royal Mint Experience, in Llantrisant, Wales: the current home of The Royal Mint.
Collecting and Investing
The Royal Mint's commemorative and bullion coins – often minted to mark important national events and anniversaries – are not intended for circulation. They might look like ordinary coins but they are generally worth much more, thanks to their scarcity, finish and composition.
Most commemorative coins produced by The Royal Mint are available in a range of striking standards including Gold Proof, Silver Proof, Brilliant Uncirculated and Bullion. Some are also available in collectors sets. Gold and Silver Proof coins are minted in small numbers, making them rare and desirable.
The Royal Mint's commemorative coins are both VAT-free and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exempt, making them an attractive and valuable investment. Whether you are diversifying your investments or simply appreciate world-class design, commemorative coins from The Royal Mint are a great buy.
The Royal Mint at The Britannia Coin Company
The Britannia Coin Company is proud to stock official commemorative coins from The Royal Mint as well as a wide range of historic Royal Mint coinage. We offer unbeatable value on The Royal Mint coins, backed by our reputation for honesty and integrity, built over more than a decade of trading.
Buy and sell coins with confidence when you use The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire.
Buy Collectable Coins Online
We offer a wide range of collectable and investment coins in pre-owned and brand-new condition. As our name suggests, we focus on British coins (from hammered metal-detecting finds to modern Royal Mint issues) with a healthy selection of pieces from international mints too. All the coins we sell are 100% guaranteed authentic and, where relevant, are individually certified.
The Britannia Coin Company is part of the Gold-Traders group, founded in 2008. We're members of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) and pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity and expertise.
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Free And Insured UK Shipping
The price of all our coins includes free, fully insured UK shipping.
We post most orders within one to three working days of receipt. Please check individual product pages for accurate delivery estimates.
We deliver internationally. All payments are to be made in Pounds Sterling. We have a flat rate international shipping charge of just £15. See our dedicated delivery page for exceptions and further information.
Sell Your Coins With Confidence
Our experts want to make selling your coins a stress-free experience. They're ready to provide transparent valuations for your old coins: whether that's an individual piece or a large collection.
The team buys thousands of coins every month via our postal valuation service. It's a safe and easy way to sell coins from home with payment via bank transfer available the same day you confirm our price.
If you'd prefer to visit us in person, we've got secure, private meeting rooms in our offices at 29 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AE. We recommend calling ahead to book an appointment or check out one of our specialist drop-in valuation days.
Visit Our Wiltshire Showroom
If you're looking for a bargain then why not visit our showroom? We've got lots of great discount coins available in our cabinets at Old Bank Antiques.
From circulating £2s and 50ps to world coins, commemorative sets and new releases to ancients, we've got something for everyone. Make sure you save time to browse the glass, ceramics, jewellery, clocks and militaria on display in the rest of the shop, located at 143 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AB.
You won't find our full range on display in our showroom but if there is something particular you would like to examine then please do get in touch. We're pleased to arrange a private viewing appointment at a time that suits you.
Contact Our Coin Experts Now
Got questions about buying or selling coins? Our friendly team of numismatists (coin experts) are ready to assist with valuations, offers, postage enquiries, and more.
Call our enquiries line on 01793 205 007 (open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Drop us a line at coins@britanniacoincompany.com.
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