Since 1980, the Royal Mint began actively producing and marketing coins for collectors, and this has included gold two pound and five pound coins. Five pound coins are Britain’s largest gold coin. The 5 pound 2001 crown pays fitting tribute to one of the more dramatic periods in history – the Victorian era. The Victorian age, ending with Queen Victoria’s death at the dawn of the twentieth century, was one of industrial and social transformation. By the end of the nineteenth century people were enjoying the benefits of railways, telephones, electric lighting and motor cars, things that everyone, today, takes for granted. – Obverse: The obverse depicts a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

Reverse: The world famous portrayal of St. George, on horseback, killing a dragon. The initials B.P. also appear at the right of the exergue. These are the initials of Benedetto Pistrucci, who originally engraved the design for medals, and the first modern sovereigns of 1817. The 5 pound proof coin has a purity of 91.67% gold and a weight of 1.177 oz.