1999 2000 Proof Gold Crown £5 Coin Millennium Boxed

This Gold Proof £5 coin (aka Quintuple Sovereign, or Crown) was specially produced by the Royal Mint to celebrate the turn of the Millennium.

The Millennium Crown was created by Jeffrey Matthews, a veteran stamp designer for the Royal Mail. Due to his lack of experience with coins, the final version was modelled by Robert Evans, an engraver for the Royal Mint.

The Mint actually issued the same coin twice in both 1999 and 2000 - the only difference between the release being the obverse year. We consider this to be a single coin. You will receive either the 1999 or 2000 certificated version.

The design represents the dial of a clock. The British Isles appear just off-centre, as does the Latin ANNO DOMINI referring to the millennia A.D. The clock's hand sits at 12, which is perfectly across Greenwich - a reference to Greenwich Mean Time or GMT. The years 1999 and 2000 sit either side to indicate the passage of time.

The edge of the coin features the quote WHAT'S PAST IS PROLOGUE from Shakespeare's The Tempest. The character Antonio suggests to Sebastian that all that has happened has been for the purpose of leading to this moment, and now is an opportunity for change.

This Gold Proof 1999 Five Pound coin is beautifully presented in a good-quality presentation case, and comes complete with a certificate of authenticity and a full colour booklet, which discusses the coin and the Millennium. This coin was limited to 2,500 sets.