£5 Coins
King Charles III celebrates 75th Birthday with UK £5
2023 has been quite the year for King Charles III. As well as being crowned King on 6th May, His Majesty celebrates his 75th birthday on 14th November 2023.
To celebrate his milestone birthday, The Royal Mint have issued a UK £5 coin featuring a reverse design representing The King’s love of nature.
In case you missed it…
You may recognise the King Charles III 75th Birthday £5 from earlier this year, as it was one of 5 commemorative coins issued in the 2023 Annual Coin Set. It’s actually the final coin from the set to be released individually, so now’s the time to secure it if you missed out on the 2023 Annual Set.
A passion for nature
Inspired by King Charles’ passion for nature and conservation, designer Dan Thorne has created a beautiful reverse design on this new UK £5. It includes The King’s royal cypher along with the number 75, all framed within oak leaves and delphiniums. The design was even personally approved by The King himself.
It’s not just nature that His Majesty is passionate about, he also has a keen interest in the arts, architecture and supporting disadvantaged young people. In 1976, when he was His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, The King founded The Princes Trust, an organisation committed to improving the life of young people in the UK.
He’s also been an avid campaigner for environmental issues and sustainability, living by the principle that it’s better to work with nature than against it.
A closer look
As well as the main aspects of the design such as the plants, royal cypher and the years 1948-2023, there are a few features on the coin you may not have noticed at first glance.
On closer inspection, we can see a ladybird, 4 bees and a dragonfly hidden within the design – another nod to The King’s love of nature.
New UK Coinage for King Charles III
The King’s love for nature and his passion for conservation is also reflected in the UK’s New Coinage. The 8 brand new coins feature designs themed around British wildlife and conservation, whilst the obverses feature King Charles III and a special privy mark.
Find out more about the UK’s New Coinage here >>
Secure your 2023 UK King Charles III 75th Birthday £5
Secure your 2023 UK King Charles III 75th Birthday £5 in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for just £13.99 (+£2.99 postage) >>
Celebrating a true hero – The UK Mary Seacole £5
For nearly 100 years, the story of an incredible, heroic woman was forgotten, but Mary Seacole is finally receiving the recognition she deserves by being celebrated on a UK coin.
A true likeness
This brand new UK £5 coin has been issued to mark Mary Seacole’s selfless efforts during the Crimean War, where she cared for sick and injured soldiers.
The reverse design by Sandra Deiana is based on a genuine photograph of Seacole. The photograph was taken around 1870 and is now held at Winchester College.
Caring in the crossfire
From the age of 12, Mary Seacole helped her mother, a nurse who specialised in traditional Jamaican medicine. Inspired by her mother and following the death of her husband, Mary focussed on caring for the sick.
Credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Her medical expertise was invaluable during the Crimean War, where, along with Thomas Day, she opened a ‘British Hotel’ near the battlefields. She devoted her time and resources to caring for sick and injured soldiers, even riding on horseback into the battlefields under fire to help men from both sides of the conflict.
The 2023 UK Mary Seacole £5 has been created in collaboration with ‘The Mary Seacole Trust’ to pay tribute to her dedication to helping others.
‘The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands’
In 1957, Seacole penned a memoir, fittingly named ‘The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands’ which detailed her humanitarian contributions during her 75 years. It wasn’t until the 1970s that people started to discover her story and realise how much of an impact she made on history.
Seacole was commemorated with a memorial in 2016 which is located in front of St Thomas’ Hospital. The sculpture was designed by none other than Martin Jennings, the creator of the King Charles III effigy that we see on UK coinage.
Credit: Peter O’Connor aka anemoneprojectors, via Wikimedia Commons
Secure your 2023 UK Mary Seacole £5
You can celebrate Mary Seacole’s eventful life by securing the 2023 UK Mary Seacole £5 in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for just £13.99 (+p&p) >>
Myths and Legends: Morgan le Fay £5 JUST RELEASED!
The third coin in the Myths and Legends £5 series pays tribute to King Arthur’s half sister and legendary enchantress, Morgan le Fay.
Click here to order the brand new 2023 UK Morgan le Fay CERTFIED BU £5 coin >>
The design
The reverse design features a depiction of Morgan le Fay wearing a winged headpiece in an intimidating stance ready to cast her dark powers. David Lawrence, who also designs the other coins in the Myths and Legends series, has perfectly captured her as a force to be reckoned with on this new UK £5.
This is the third and final coin inspired by Arthurian legend in the Myths and Legends series. But what would you like to see on a Myths and Legends £5 next? Let us know in the comments below!
The mythology of Morgan le Fay
In many legends, Morgan le Fay is portrayed as a witch with the ability to fly and shapeshift. However, in alternate versions of Arthurian legend, she plays a pivotal role in helping a wounded King Arthur to the Isle of Avalon where she treats his injuries.
Credit: Frederick Sandys, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Whilst she is sometimes portrayed as a benevolent healer, Morgan le Fay is commonly cast as a villain who seeks to harm King Arthur and anyone associated with him in literature of the 19th and 20th centuries.
2023 UK Merlin £5
The second £5 in the series featured mythical wizard Merlin poised with his magical staff, ready to wield his power. If you look closely, you’ll also see Archimedes the owl – a character from author T. H. White’s The Sword in the Stone – sitting serenely on the wizard’s shoulder.
Designer David Lawrence gave collectors a peek at the mythical island Avalon in the background, while Martin Jennings’ portrait of King Charles III featured on the obverse of the coin.
Find out more about the Merlin £5 coin here >>
2023 UK King Arthur £5
King Arthur featured on the first £5 in the Myths and Legends UK series. The legendary British King was depicted carrying a sword of Merlin’s creation – Excalibur!
Find out more about the King Arthur £5 coin here >>
I’m sure you’ll agree each of these dynamic coins has been a brilliant addition to the Myths and Legends series. Will you be adding Morgan Le Fay to your collection?
2023 UK Morgan le Fay CERTIFIED BU £5
Secure the brand new 2023 UK Morgan le Fay £5 in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality, protectively encapsulated in official Change Checker packaging. Click here to order yours >>