2021 Alfred the Great Silver Proof £5 Coin

This is the 2021 Alfred the Great Silver Proof £5 Coin. The Privy Council have announced that The Royal Mint intend to release this coin to celebrate the 1,150th anniversary since he was made King. 

The silver proof £5 coin will be struck from 0.925 sterling silver and feature a depiction of Alfred the Great on the reverse, with the dates “871· 2021”

We will update this page when we have more information. 

Alfred The Great

King Alfred ruled as the King of the West Saxons from 871 until 886. During his reign he was an advocate of education, and believed all English boys were entitled to schooling. Alfred made sure that important texts were taught in English, rather than Latin, and would even translate them himself.

Alfred also introduced a reformed coinage. By reissuing coins with unified weights and sizes, he helped restore peoples faith in the economy. Under his reign the first round half pennies were introduced.

The epithet of 'the Great' was said to have been bestowed by 16th century writers. Alfred is the only King to be referred to as 'the Great'.

Privy Council

We first heard about the coin after the Privy Council published information about it. The Privy Council is made up of senior politicians who advise the Queen on such matters as bank holidays, coinage and livery company statuses. The Royal Mint have to submit any new coin designs to The Privy Council for approval and that information is then announced on the Privy Council website. 

The obverse of the coin will likely feature the fifth coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark, with the inscription

“· ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · FID · DEF · 5 POUNDS”

According to the Privy Council, the reverse will feature: 

a depiction of Alfred the Great accompanied by the inscription “· ALFRED THE GREAT” and the dates “871· 2021”. The coin shall have a plain edge and in incuse letters the inscription “AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN”