2002 Golden Jubilee Guernsey Gold Proof £5 Coin

This 2002 Golden Jubilee Piedfort gold proof £5 coin was issued by The Royal Mint to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.

Struck from 22-carat gold, the coin contains 2.3542 troy ounces of the precious metal.

Only 100 of these coins were minted.

Coach & Cavalry

For all who watched and waited along the Coronation route on that rainy day in June 1953, the highlight came when the newly crowned Queen, seated in the magnificent Gold State Coach, and escorted by the Yeomen of the Guard and the household troops, made her way back to Buckingham Palace.

The Gold State Coach, used for every Coronation since 1831, travelled at walking pace to allow everyone in the crowd an opportunity to see their young Queen. It was, as one observer was moved to say, "the most memorable experience I'll ever recall. She looked so beautiful, so delicate... and as she passed the sun came out and there was a glint of silver light which seemed to go through the coach, creating a kaleidoscope of colour".

The Piedfort

The origin of the Piedfort can be traced to twelfth-century France where they became treasured court prizes for the King would occasionally present a few special pieces to court celebrities.

In Britain medieval and Tudor examples are known but these were probably struck as pattern pieces perhaps to satisfy the engraver of the quality of his work or to provide a model for his fellow engravers in the mint workshop.

Its French name signifies "heavy measure" - a term still entirely appropriate today since, struck on thicker than normal blanks, the Piedfort is now customarily double the thickness and so double the weight of its standard Proof counterpart.

The obverse features Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II. The text reads:

ELIZABETH II BAILIWICK OF GUERNSEY 2002

The reverse features the Queen in the Gold State Coach being led by the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.