20 April 2022
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To mark the 25th anniversary of the Queen's coronation, The Royal Mint issued a special Silver Jubilee Crown, so how many were minted and are the coins worth anything today? Find out in our guide to this 1977 coin.
In 1977 Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Silver Jubilee - 25 years on the throne - and The Royal Mint marked the occasion by producing a commemorative crown.
Many British children received one of the coins from their school, while others bought it to mark the anniversary.
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What are the design features of the Silver 1977 Jubilee Crown coin?
The obverse of the coin featured a portrait of the Queen in Guards uniform and on horseback, similar to the design of the 1953 Coronation crown. The text reads: 'ELIZABETH II DG. REG FD 1977'.
The coin's reverse did not have any inscription or value, and so today some casual coin collectors are left confused as to the denomination of the coin and the reason it was issued. In fact, the coin had a face value of 25p and could, in theory, be used to pay for goods and services. However, coin collectors should be aware that most shopkeepers refused to accept the coin, and most people kept them as souvenirs anyway.
The reverse of the 1977 Queen Elizabeth coin does feature a small vessel with an eagle design, known as an Ampulla, along with a ceremonial spoon which was used to anoint the sovereign at the coronation. The outer design shows the 1977 crown of St Edward and the heraldic flowers of the United Kingdom.
The coin was designed by Arnold Machin, the sculptor most famous for his portrait of the Queen that appeared on coins from 1968 and still appears on postage stamps.
How much is a Silver 1977 Jubilee Crown worth?
There were two versions of the 1977 queens silver jubilee coin issued in 1977:
- The more common cupronickel version (with a mintage of 37,061,160)
- A silver proof coin which included 0.841 troy ounces of 0.925 sterling silver (mintage: 377,000)
Coin collectors should be aware that the number of coins issued and the metal used to create the coins has an impact on their value.
The cupronickel version is said to be worth around £2 depending on condition, and it is very likely there are thousands of examples held by those who received the coin back in 1977.
However, the version containing silver can demand higher prices, especially if it is still in the original presentation box. Examples of this 'silver Silver Jubilee coin' can fetch around £30 if in perfect condition.
How do I tell which version of the Silver Jubilee Crown coin I have?
The two 1977 Elizabeth coins are very similar in weight and size, but the thickness does vary.
The standard cupro-nickel coin is 3.2mm thick, and the silver version is 2.89mm thick, so it's worth measuring the coin's thickness to see if your coin is one of the more scarce versions.
How can I Keep My Coin Collection Safe?
Coin collectors can keep their coin collection safe in coin binders known as coin collection books, these are perfect for keeping your collection secure and accessible.
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