Queen's historic birthday to be marked with rare £5 coin

Rebecca Taylor
·Royal Correspondent
Updated ·4-min read
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - JUNE 13: Queen Elizabeth II attends a ceremony to mark her official birthday at Windsor Castle on June 13, 2020 in Windsor, England. The Queen celebrates her 94th birthday this year, in line with Government advice, it was agreed that The Queen's Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, would not go ahead in its traditional form. (Photo by Toby Melville - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony to mark her official birthday at Windsor Castle on June 13. A special £5 coin will mark her 95th birthday. (Toby Melville - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The Queen’s 95th birthday will be marked with a special £5 coin, reserved for royal occasions.

Her birthday is 21 April but the official celebration will be in June with some form of Trooping the Colour.

In anticipation of her birthday, the Royal Mint confirmed it would be releasing a £5 coin, as she becomes the first British monarch to reach the age of 95.

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The coin features the royal cipher EIIR and the words “my heart and my devotion” which reference her first televised Christmas broadcast in 1957.

In that message the Queen said: “In the old days the monarch led his soldiers on the battlefield and his leadership at all times was close and personal.

“Today things are very different. I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice, but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.”

EMBARGOED TO 0001 MONDAY JANUARY 04 Undated handout photo issued by the Royal Mint of a new GBP 5 coin commemorating the 95th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II which is part of a range of new designs that will be appearing on British coins throughout 2021.
The £5 coin commemorating the 95th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, the first British monarch to make it to that age. (Royal Mint)
EMBARGOED TO 0001 MONDAY JANUARY 04 Undated handout photo issued by the Royal Mint of a set of new designs commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Decimal Day (left), the life and work of H.G. Wells (top), the 95th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II (centre), the life and work of John Logie Baird (bottom), and the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott (right), that will be appearing on British coins throughout 2021.
The full set of new designs commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Decimal Day (left), the life and work of H.G. Wells (top), the 95th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II (centre), the life and work of John Logie Baird (bottom), and the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott (right). (Royal Mint)

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Throughout 2021, other commemorative coins will be released to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott, and the 75th anniversary of the death of science fiction author HG Wells.

Both of those men will be remembered with £2 coins, while the 50th anniversary of decimalisation will be marked on a 50p piece.

A version of the coin will only be available as part of a commemorative set, and will feature the second effigy of the Queen on it, created by Arnold Machin to mark the move into decimalisation.

Another 50p coin will mark the 75th anniversary of the death of John Logie Baird, who was famous for his early prototypes of television.

EMBARGOED TO 0001 MONDAY JANUARY 04 Undated handout photo issued by the Royal Mint of a new GBP 2 coin commemorating the life and work of H G Wells which is part of a range of new designs that will be appearing on British coins throughout 2021.
A new £2 coin commemorating the life and work of H G Wells which is part of a range of new designs that will be appearing on British coins throughout 2021. (Royal Mint)
EMBARGOED TO 0001 MONDAY JANUARY 04 Undated handout photo issued by the Royal Mint of a new GBP 2 coin commemorating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott which is part of a range of new designs that will be appearing on British coins throughout 2021.
The £2 coin commemorating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott. (Royal Mint)

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Clare Maclennan, of the consumer division at The Royal Mint, said: “Each year The Royal Mint unveils a series of commemorative coins to celebrate key moments and milestones that helped shape Britain.

“This year’s annual set marks some of the biggest anniversaries in 2021, including Her Majesty the Queen’s 95th birthday and John Logie Baird’s legacy of innovation. Each coin is a miniature work of art and has been designed as a treasured keepsake or gift.

“This year’s annual set is particularly special for The Royal Mint as we celebrate one of the biggest milestones in our 1,100-year history – the anniversary of decimalisation.

EMBARGOED TO 0001 MONDAY JANUARY 04 Undated handout photo issued by the Royal Mint of a new 50p coin commemorating the life and work of John Logie Baird which is part of a range of new designs that will be appearing on British coins throughout 2021.
The new 50p coin commemorating the life and work of John Logie Baird who worked on television technology. (Royal Mint)
EMBARGOED TO 0001 MONDAY JANUARY 04 Undated handout photo issued by the Royal Mint of a 50p coin commemorating the 50th anniversary of Decimal Day which is part of a range of new designs that will be appearing on British coins throughout 2021.
There will also be a 50p coin commemorating the 50th anniversary of Decimal Day. (Royal Mint)

“This was one of the largest and most intensive public awareness campaigns ever staged by the government and introduced the coins that we know today.

“Decimalisation was the birth of modern coin collecting and it is fitting that the anniversary has been celebrated on a 50 pence, which is Britain’s most loved coin.”

The commemorative set will be available to buy on royalmint.com.

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