⅕ Crown - Elizabeth II The Empty House

Reverse

Dr Watson with a gun saving Sherlock

Script: Latin

Lettering:
100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
THE EMPTY HOUSE
- 1/5 CROWN -

Edge

Reeded

Comment

Sherlock Holmes, the remarkable detective based in Victorian London, has to be one of the best known and most enduring fictional characters of all time. He wvas first introduced to the public in 1887, in serialised stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The stories were narrated by another fictional character, Dr Watson, who was Holmes' loyal companion and biographer.
Conan Doyle managed to inspire such feeling for Holmes in his readers that the character's 'death' in 1894 caused a public outcry. As a consequence, the author felt obliged to 'resurrect' Holmes soon afterwards in a story whose Centenary this set of coins was to commemorate.
Appropriately, Sherlock Holmes was something of a numismatist and is desbribed as owning a collection of coins in ‘The Musgrave Ritual'.
There is also a strong connection with Gibraltar: see coin number 6, 'The Mary Celeste', and the book by Sam Benady 'Sherlock Holmes in Gibraltar – the true solution to the mystery of the –Mary Celeste'. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is also known to have visited the ‘Rock’.
The coins were issued in Cupro Nickel, Sterling Silver and 1/5oz Fine 999.9 Gold. The portrait of Sherlock Holmes was also available in 1/2oz Fine Silver and in CuNi in a colour pack.

The Empty House – The dead of Holmes led to outrage among his fans – so much so that Conan Doyle eventually relented writing “The Empty House”, in which Sherlock Holmes returned. True to form, the great detective made his reappearance in spectacular and theatrical style, much to surprise of his erstwhile companion, Dr. Watson.

Interesting fact

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
1994 PM	5000	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for ⅕ Crown - Elizabeth II (The Empty House) 1994 coin.