1965 Winston Churchill Ordinary Circulation Crown

Individual 1965 Winston Churchilll Ordinary Circulation Crown. A commemorative crown was issued in the honour of the great man, following his death in 1965.

This coin is sold as ordinary circulation and selected at random. We do have a variety of assorted coins available so if you want a good higher grade specimen please get in touch on live chat or 01253 343081 and we can sort, grade and price one up for you. If you're interested in a bag of the coins, make us an offer! 

Sir Winston Churchill, 1874 - 1965

Renowned throughout the world as a great statesman, and described as "the greatest living Englishman", Churchill was a man of many talents.

Born at Blenheim Palace at Woodstock in Oxfordshire, he was the eldest son of Lord Randolph Churchill. Educated at Harrow and Sandhurst Military Academy.
Military service included Malakand and the Nile. During the Boer war, as a war journalist, he was captured but escaped.

He served as a Member of Parliament for all three major political parties, entering Parliament in 1900, and held various important positions including Colonial Under-Secretary, President of the Board of Trade, Home Secretary, Minister of Munitions, Secretary of State for War and Air, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Prime Minister at least twice, and still remained as a back bencher after 1955.

He was a talented painter, a union card carrying bricklayer, editor of the British Gazette, and author of a number of important books, including "History of the English Speaking Peoples" in 4 volumes.

He had a supreme command of the English language, both as an orator and a writer, and is credited with many witty remarks and quotations.

His perceptive vision of world politics was one of his outstanding qualities, which combined with his leadership, helped to ensure that Britain survived the Second World War.

There are many stories about his intensely rich, human and vivid personality. His abiding qualities included courage, imagination, passion, magnanimity and foresight. His love of good cigars, vintage wines and fine brandy have become legendary.

With the issue of the 1965 Commemorative crown, he became the first commoner to be portrayed on a British coin.

The first (young) portrait of the Queen facing right, designed by Mary Gillick. 

ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D
1965

A sombre-looking portrait of Sir Winston Churchill, in a siren suit.

We are sure that Churchill himself would have been the first to admit that he was not pretty, his portrait on this crown is not exactly flattering. It is in quite low relief, and we believe it to be one of the least attractive British coins ever issued.

Quite what Churchill would have made of our comments, we will never know, but this was a very popular coin issue at the time, and over 9 million were issued!

CHURCHILL