5 Pounds - Elizabeth II (Howitzer Gun; Gold Proof) 2014 front 5 Pounds - Elizabeth II (Howitzer Gun; Gold Proof) 2014 back
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5 Pounds - Elizabeth II Howitzer Gun; Gold Proof

2014 year
Gold (.9167) 39.94 g 38.61 mm
Description
Issuer
United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies)
Queen
Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Type
Non-circulating coin
Year
2014
Value
5 Pounds 5 GBP = USD 6.55
Currency
Pound sterling (decimalized, 1971-date)
Composition
Gold (.9167)
Weight
39.94 g
Diameter
38.61 mm
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled
Orientation
Medal alignment ↑↑
Updated
2024-10-09
References
Numista
N#241074
Rarity index
97%

Reverse

Three WWI howitzer guns, legend and dates below.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
1914 THE FIRST WORLD WAR 1918
EE

Engraver: Edwina Ellis

Edge

Plain with incuse lettering

Lettering: NEW AND FURIOUS BOMBARDMENT

Comment

The first of six sets of £5 coins issued between 2014 and 2018, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the First World War. This issue was part of the 6-coin set released in 2014, remembering the Outbreak of The First World War and was also struck in silver proof.

Possibly the weapon that most defined the change in warfare in the First World War from what went before was the advent of massed heavy artillery. With weapons featuring barrel diameters of up to 42cm in the case of the German ‘Big Bertha’, a gun capable of lobbing an 818kg (1,800lb) shell 7.8 miles, artillery could turn a battlefield into an impenetrable morass in just a few hours. At the Battle of Messines, the British artillery, consisting of approximately 2,000 field guns and 1,300 heavy guns, fired over 3.25 million shells in eight days. In September 1918 on an assault on the Hindenberg Line, they fired 943,847 rounds in just 24 hours.

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about the coin is that it features a unique design, showcasing a Howitzer gun on one side and Queen Elizabeth II on the other. This design was created to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, which took place on June 18, 1815. The Howitzer gun was a type of artillery used during the battle, and the coin's design serves as a tribute to the soldiers who fought in the battle. Additionally, the coin's gold content and proof finish add to its collectibility and value, making it a sought-after piece for coin collectors and history enthusiasts.

Price

Date Mintage VG F VF XF AU UNC
2014  20 - - - - - -

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 5 Pounds - Elizabeth II (Howitzer Gun; Gold Proof) 2014 coin.