© The Royal Mint, 2014
© The Royal Mint, 2014
5 Pounds - Elizabeth II Howitzer Gun; Silver Proof
2014 year| Silver (.925) | 28.28 g | 38.61 mm |
| 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 | Silver (.925) |
| Weight | 28.28 g |
| Diameter | 38.61 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#62722 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
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 gold proof.Issue limit: 1,914
©The Royal Mint, 2014
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 of a Howitzer gun on the reverse side, which is not a common motif on coins. This design was chosen to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I and to honor the soldiers who fought in the war. The coin's design is a nod to the important role that artillery played in the conflict, and it serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers during the war.
Price
| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 839 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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; Silver Proof) 2014 coin.
