Information about British Crown CoinsThe Crown StoryFirst Ever CrownThe world's first crown sized coin was issued in about 1484 at Joachimsthal in Bohemia, using silver from local mines including Annaberg, Schneeberg, and Altenberg. Joachimstal is now in the west of the Czech Republic, in the Erzgebirge (ore mountains), close to the German border. The Czech name is Jachymov. It should not be confused with the other Joachimsthal near Berlin in Germany. (Thanks M.S.)The coins became known as Joachimstalers, and shortened to Thalers, which in turn became dollars.Collector's ChoiceBecause the crown is the largest silver coin issued during most reigns, it is often the first choice for collectors. Large format coins make it easier to appreciate the artistry of the engraver, and silver is an attractive metal which takes a good impression from the dies, but without being as expensive as many gold coins. Crowns were often struck in sufficient quantities to enable them to be purchased today at reasonable prices.EtymologyThe name crown comes from the French gold couronne, the denier la couronne, issued by Philip of Valois about 1339, which featured as its obverse design, a large crown; and the cu la couronne issued by Charles VI of France about 1384, which had a shield surmounted by a crown.The first crown (that of the double rose) of Henry VIII had a reverse similar design to the "ecu d'or au soleil", a shield topped by a large crown, and for its obverse, had a double rose also topped by a large crown."Crown" had become the common English name for the French cu, and for other European coins of similar value.The First British Crowns Were GoldThe Crown first appeared as a British coin denomination in 1544 under Henry VIII. This was a gold coin with a value of five shillings.Perhaps we should count as a crown, two other slightly earlier coins of Henry VIII. The "Crown of the Rose" was issued in 1526, at the strange sounding value of 4s.6d (four shillings and sixpence). Its reverse design was a rose. It was intended to compete with the French cu au soleil. It was not popular, and was discontinued within a few months, and replaced with another coin known as the "Crown of the Rose", with a value of five shillings. The reverse design was a Tudor double rose. This coin is historically interesting in being the first British gold coin to be made from gold of "only" 22 carat, rather than the previous standard of 23 carat. 22 carat is, of course, the standard now used for all British gold coins.Gold crowns continued to be issued until 1662 under Charles II, when all the previous denominations of gold coins were replaced by milled guineas.The First British Silver CrownThe first silver crown was produced in 1551 under Edward VI. It was one of the first British coins to bear a date, which was in Arabic numerals. Since then the silver crown has always been the largest regularly issued British silver coin.From 1551, crowns were issued in both gold and silver, until the gold crown was discontinued after 1662.
1658 Over 1657 Overdate Crown of Oliver Cromwell
