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If you’ve ever come across a silver jubilee coin, you may be wondering what it is. Or, if you’re interested in coin collecting, this might be the addition you’ve been searching for. Either way, you may be wondering what their significance is and what they’re worth.
Circulating back to the 19th-century royal crown, these coins can certainly raise eyebrows for history buffs. And while their true value is often debated, it’s no question these coins hold major historical significance.
Over several decades, the royal institution has created and designed its very own jubilee coins for major occasions. Notably, for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the first jubilee coin was established in her honor, symbolizing the start of her reign. So, what truly makes these coins special?
Here, we’ll dive into what exactly a silver jubilee coin is and if they’re worth investing in.
What Are Silver Jubilee Coins?
In celebration of Her Majesty, the Queen of the British monarch, a jubilee coin commemorates the crown and its accomplishments. Historically, the first jubilee coin was given to Queen Elizabeth II during the 1953 coronation and was made from cupronickel. Its purpose signified the historical essence of the beginning of Her Majesty’s reign.
Since then, other jubilee coins have been released, such as the 1977 Jubilee UK Crown coin that marked Queen Elizabeth II’s 25-years on the throne. This coin, in particular, is the first silver coin of its kind and was minted in 1977 with 37.3 million total mintages. However, only 377,000 were Silver Jubilee coins, which explains their higher value. As with any coin, mint condition coins will be worth more than their circulated counterparts.
The 1977 silver jubilee coin was created by Arnold Machin, the Queen’s designer and sculptor of Her Majesty’s portrait found on UK’s stamps. Its inspiration comes from no other than the 1953 Coronation UK Crown coin. The 1977 Silver Jubilee UK Crown coin was the first to omit a date and inscription. This silver jubilee coin is especially unique since it’s the last jubilee coin with a face value of 25 pence. Commemorative crown coins minted after 1990 have a face value of five euros.
25-years later came the 2002 Golden Jubilee UK Crown coin, marking Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’s five decades on the throne. Two more coins came after with the 2012 Diamond Jubilee UK Crown coin and the Sapphire Jubilee Guernsey Coin. All three coins have a face value of five euros.
What Do Silver Jubilee Coins Look Like?
Each silver jubilee coin is unique but maintains the sense of class and elegance as the next. Looking back at the 1953 Coronation UK Crown coin, it was made from cupronickel rather than silver, and its design was unusual for the time. An inscription reading, “Faith and Truth I will bear Unto You,” is accompanied by an engraving of Her Majesty riding horseback during the 1953 Trooping of the Colour ceremony. This particular jubilee coin established the basis for future coins to come. For those interested in silver jubilee coins, this is a great one to start with.
The 1977 Silver Jubilee UK Crown coin is slightly different. Here, we see this coin changing in terms of material and, of course, design. However, Arnold Machin constructed this coin with a design closely related to the 1953 coronation coin. Her Majesty is seen sitting on a horse with the anointing spoon and Ampulla originating from royal decorations. On the reverse side, the crown is surrounded by a floral pattern.
What sets the 1977 Silver Jubilee UK Crown coin apart from other coins is the lack of date and inscription on the reverse side, which is quite unusual for royal UK Crown coins. It’s also important to note that this coin’s value is 25 pence, while future coins are worth 5 euros. This price difference can represent more value to historians and collectors. It stands out against the rest of Queen Elizabeth II’s coins in comparison to face value and design.
The 2002 Golden Jubilee UK Crown marks Her Majesty’s 50 years as Queen. Sculpted and designed by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS, this coin shows a portrait of the Queen on one side with “five euros” inscribed below. On the reverse side, the Queen is seen again on horseback, inspired by the previous two jubilee coins.
The Diamond Jubilee UK Crown coin of 2012 commemorates Her Majesty’s 60-years on the royal throne. This is especially important since Queen Elizabeth II is the only other Queen to reach this milestone (the first being Queen Victoria). On one side, the Queen is wearing the Order of the Garter robes, inspired by the statues outside the Parliament’s supreme court building. The reverse side shows a younger depiction of the Queen, inspired by Mary Gillick’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
The most current jubilee coin is the 2017 Sapphire Jubilee Guernsey Coin. This coin signifies the 65th year of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, the first Queen to reach this milestone. Since this is such a pivotal, historical landmark, the limited edition five euro coin was distributed by Bailiwick Guernsey. Her Majesty’s ex-Royal mint engraver designed this jubilee coin which accents the Sovereign’s specters originating from the Coronation regalia. The number 65 is engraved at the top to signify the number of years Her Majesty has reigned. At the bottom, a single blue sapphire sits opposite the engraved 65.
Are Silver Jubilee Coins Worth Anything?
Looking specifically at the 1977 Silver Jubilee Crown Coin, many were made from silver, but some were made with cupronickel, which can be lower in value. Those that are made from exclusively silver can be worth up to thirty euros. So, yes, they’re worth something. But, this doesn’t mean you’ll get a massive return on your investment.
While these coins, ranging from the first to most current, are not worth exorbitant amounts of money, they do hold value. When these coins were released, there were millions in circulation, meaning they were easily accessible. However, as decades pass, they become more valuable as commemorative items than the price value itself. This is attributed to the slow regression of accessibility rather than when they were released. These one-of-a-kind coins are great for collectors or historians interested in adding something to their coin portfolio.
For the 1977 Silver Jubilee Crown Coin, this was the last of its kind to have a face value of 25 pence; therefore, it might be more valuable than the other coins mentioned. Coins made after 1990 hold a value of 5 euros which is significantly less than the 1977 coin. Even though we see a decrease in price value, this doesn’t mean overall value is diminished. Adding a silver jubilee coin to your collection can be a great conversation starter, get passed down generations, and can slowly increase in value. Sometimes, nothing is better than historical value, especially with coins.
What Makes Commemorative Coins Worth Collecting?
Commemorative coins, especially jubilee coins, are popular to collect. These types of coins are made to symbolize a specific day and event. Because they’re designed to commemorate something, they’re often something people like to collect to remember specific points in history.
Since these coins were explicitly made for certain days and events, they are often seen as a rare commodity. While millions of these coins are typically made, over the years, the more people sell, trade, and collect these coins, the less we see of them. That’s why when you have a commemorative coin, it can gain value over time (depending on when they were made). For example, the 1953 Coronation UK Crown coin could be worth more than the 2017 Sapphire Jubilee Guernsey Coin based on its age and, potentially, its rarity.
Sometimes, members of the public find these coins worth collecting based on their historical and political impacts across the globe. Many leaders choose to collect commemorative coins either from inside or outside their country. It’s a great conversation piece and can gain value over time.
Interested in buying silver jubilee coins? The coin experts at Oxford Gold Group are here to help! — Call us today!
If you’re looking to slowly develop your coin portfolio, look no further than silver jubilee coins! We know the difficulties of jumpstarting a new portfolio, and that’s why the coins professionals at Oxford Gold Group are here to help you along the way.
For decades, we’ve worked with clients to achieve their investment and financial goals. Our team understands the risks and rewards of collecting commemorative coins for your investment portfolio. The professionals at Oxford Gold Group will ensure your silver jubilee coins are safe and secure.
Are you interested in buying silver jubilee coins to enhance your investment portfolio? Or, are you looking to collect? Let the experts at Oxford Gold Group help you keep your investments safe and reach your financial dreams.
Give us a call today at 833-600-GOLD (4653) or visit our contact page to learn more!
