1999 Official Millennium £5 Crown Now Available

Crowns Index

Obverse and Reverse of the 1999 Millennium Crown

Packaging of the 1999 Millennium Crown

Obverse of Ethelred II Silver Penny Replica

Reverse of Ethelred II Silver Penny Replica

We can still deliver the 1999 Millennium £5 Crown from stock.

The Greenwich Meridian
Greenwich Mean Time is recognised throughout the world as an international time zone system with every day beginning and ending from twelve midnight at Greenwich. Despite its universality, GMT is in fact of fairly recent adoption, influenced by the arrival of the railways. The development of railway networks enabled people to travel faster than the speed of the sun. With each town adhering to local time the organisation of a timetable proved impossible and a uniform system of keeping time became essential.
By the mid-nineteenth century the majority of clocks on church towers and town halls were set to GMT and towards the end of the century it was given formal authority as British standard time.
Greenwich was also chosen for a worldwide time zone system by the International Meridian Conference, 1884.

The 1999 Millennium Crown
With a denomination (face value) of five pounds, the Millennium Crown has been produced by the Royal Mint as a lasting souvenir of the occasion.

Obverse
The obverse (head), which is dated 1999, bears the fourth major different portrait of the Queen, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, and introduced in 1998.

Reverse
Designed by Jeffery Matthews and modelled by Royal Mint engraver Robert Evans, the reverse of the coin perfectly captures the passage of time from this century into the new millennium.
The focal point of the design bears a representation of the British Isles with a pair of clock hands, pivoted on Greenwich and set at the crucial twelve o'clock position, with the important millennium dates of 1999 and 2000 incorporated either side.
In addition, the traditional beading around the outer edge has been transformed into the minutes and hours of a clock face, further enhancing the essential theme of the design. This is continued by the incuse edge inscription:-
WHAT'S PAST IS PROLOGUE
taken from Shakespeare's The Tempest and recognising the dawn of the new millennium as an opportunity to look into the future.

The First Millennium
For Britain the start of the first millennium is marked by the presence of the Romans, who brought with them a hitherto unknown level of civilisation, including an efficient communications system, incredible construction skills and even central heating.
Following their departure, a long and ultimately futile struggle against the invasions and settlement of people from the Continent of Europe saw Britain again become a patchwork of numerous kingships, each loath to relinquish their sovereignty.
Not until the military success of Alfred the Great, did England start to find an enduring unity, but at the end of the first millennium AD a major role on the world scene was still some way distant.

The Second Millennium
During the second millennium the pace of change quickened dramatically. If the Domesday Book revealed a small and rural economy, the centuries that followed transformed the country into a highly advanced industrial nation. Not only did British scientists and engineers lead the way in discovery and innovation but the nation that produced Newton also showed itself capable of giving birth to great writers, poets, artists, and composers. The name of Shakespeare, for instance, is known throughout the world and it is appropriate that one of his plays should have provided the edge inscription for the new millennium crown.

Versions
The Millennium Crown 1999 is available in four different versions:-
An ordinary uncirculated version available from banks and post offices.
An uncirculated specimen version, shown on this page, details below.
All the above are struck in cupro nickel.
In addition there are two precious metal versions:-
A Silver Proof Version
A Gold Proof Version

Specimen In Folder
The specimen version of the millennium crown is a specially produced version of the uncirculated coin. Although the Royal Mint don't guarantee it to be absolutely perfect, it is handled with extra care, and each coin individually inspected before packing.
The presentation folder is attractive and informative, making the specimen version an ideal commemorative gift.

Specifications
Denomination: Five Pounds
Alloy: Cupro-Nickel
Diameter: 38.61mm.
Weight: 28.28 grams
Issue Limit: Unlimited
Obverse Designer: Ian Rank-Broadley, FRBS, FRSA
Reverse Designer: Jeffery Matthews

Price
Current price £11.00

Available Now!
We still have stocks of all versions of the millennium crown for immediate delivery.

We also have the Gold Version available.

First Millennium Coin!
Exclusive - We also have available Replica Silver Penny of Ethelred the Unready
Ethelred II was King of England from 978 to 1016, so we can offer you a replica silver penny from the time of the first millennium. These are produced for us in such close reproduction of the original that our mint has added its own mint-mark to distinguish it from the original.
Price £3.95

1999 British Coin Sets - Proof
The 1999 Proof sets contain 9 coins, including the Princess Diana Crown, and the World Rugby Championships £2 bi-metallic coin, and are available now in two formats:
In blue Royal Mint leatherette case.
In de-luxe red leather case, with booklet.
For prices please see our 1999 Coin Sets page.

1999 Uncirculated Coin Set
The 1999 uncirculated set contains 8 coins, without the crown, and is packaged in the official Royal Mint folder.

Order Now To Avoid Disappointment
We believe the millennium crown may be the most popular coin issue in recent times.
We have already received many multiple orders, and customers have told us they are buying them as special gifts to mark the millennium, especially grandparents buying for grandchildren. Our largest quantity private order so far has been for 13.

1999 Baby Pack Coin Set

Order Form for UK Customers

Order Form for U.S.A. Customers

Order Form for Canadian Customers