United Kingdom | |
| Value | £5 |
|---|---|
| Mass | 39.94 g |
| Diameter | 36.02 mm |
| Edge | Varies |
| Composition | .917 gold (22 carat) |
| Gold | 1.1771 troy oz |
| Years of minting | 1820, 1826, 1829, 1839, 1887, 1893, 1902, 1911, 1937, 1953, 1957, 1980–1982, 1984–present |
| Mint marks | S (1887 and 1902 only). Found on exergue between design and date. |
| Obverse | |
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| Design | Reigning monarch (Elizabeth II shown) |
| Reverse | |
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| Design | St George and the Dragon |
| Designer | Benedetto Pistrucci |
| Design date | 1817 (first appearance on five-pound coin in 1820). |
The five pound British gold coin, also known as a quintuple sovereign, has a nominal value of five pounds sterling. It has been struck intermittently since 1820, though as a circulation coin only in 1887, 1893 and 1902. Through most of its history, it has depicted, on its reverse, Benedetto Pistrucci's portrayal of St George and the Dragon, which has traditionally been used on the sovereign, or one-pound gold coin.
The five-pound piece was one of the original denominations of gold coins authorised as part of the Great Recoinage of 1816. It was not struck until 1820, and then only as a pattern coin. It was issued again in small numbers in 1826, 1829 and 1839, with the last using the well-regarded depiction of Una and the Lion by William Wyon. Although the Una coin was for sale for almost half a century at the Royal Mint, only about 400 are believed to have been struck.
In 1887, it was struck for the first time for circulation, and this also took place in 1893 and 1902, though few actually circulated; examples struck in 1911 were only available as part of a proof set. In 1887 and 1902 it was struck in very small numbers at the Sydney Mint, with examples bearing its mint mark S. The examples struck in preparation for the coinage of Edward VIII are highly prized; one sold in 2021 for £1,654,000, the highest price paid for a British coin.
Since 1980, the five-pound gold piece has been struck in most years by the Royal Mint for sale to collectors and holders of bullion. Although generally featuring Pistrucci's design, commemorative versions have been issued, such as in 2022, as a memorial following the death of Elizabeth II, featuring the bust of her son and successor, Charles III.