Sir Winston Churchill, one of histories greatest wartime leaders, died fifty years ago in 1965, and as you’d expect, the Royal Mint has released several coins in commemoration of the event.

The best of them was the full-head portrait released last month in both gold and silver, and in that post you can read more about the man himself. Just a couple of weeks later, the mint released its latest £20 for £20 coin depicting a fuller length image of Churchill by sculptor Etienne Millner. It’s a great design, but the small ½oz size and polished finish didn’t really do justice to the artwork. We speculated at the time that a 5oz proof version would really allow the design to shine and lo and behold, just four weeks later, that’s exactly what we have. And more.

Available in 5oz gold and silver versions, both with small mintages, we were surprised to see giant one-kilo versions as well, as it isn’t a size the Royal Mint produces often. The designs are fantastic, excellently presented and very exclusive. The downside is that prices are quite high, although much of that is offset by really small mintages (just 15 for the gold kilo) that simply necessitate production costs being spread over very few units.

Available now, click the logo-link at the bottom of the article to go to the Royal Mint website page featuring the coins, and help AgAuNEWS at the same time. Thanks.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

The Royal Mint has issued precious metal kilo and five-ounce coins to commemorate the death of Sir Winston Churchill – the only statesman to have been honoured on a coin on more than one occasion.

In 1965 Britain was joined by nations across the world to mourn the death of Churchill, and The Royal Mint marked the occasion by striking a commemorative coin in his honour. Now, half a century on, we mark the anniversary of his death with the issue of limited edition gold and silver kilo and five-ounce coins capturing the instantly recognisable figure of the great man.

Sculptor Etienne Millner has taken his inspiration from Yousaf Karsh’s widely-recognised 1941 photographic portrait of Churchill to create the design featured on the kilo and the five-ounce coins.

A limited edition presentation, the coins are to be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

THE DESIGN AND THE DESIGNER

Etienne Millner is a leading figurative sculptor, creating works in clay and plaster that are later cast in bronze. A fellow of the Royal British Society of Sculptors and President of the Society of Portrait Sculptors, much of his work is portraiture, often life-sized or larger.

Etienne’s subjects include politicians, artists, writers and many personal commissions. Etienne’s latest work includes a statue of a ‘Flesher’, one of the key roles in the production of leather. At life-sized and a quarter it was commissioned for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by the Leathersellers’ Company.

The Churchill coin is his first commission for The Royal Mint and it provided an enjoyable challenge: “My work is normally very free, and while I aim to achieve a good likeness to the subject my portraits are not entirely literal. Working within the confines of a coin’s size and relief took some practice and for Churchill I could only work with photographs instead of a sitting. I turned to the famous portrait taken by Yousuf Karsh in 1941, however, the picture is dark and I had to turn to other lighter prints for some of the fine details. Working with the coin’s relief forced me to simplify and emphasise the strongest features – the powerful jaw, the distinctive thin lips rising to one side – all helping to achieve the likeness of such a familiar figure.” Etienne Millner

SPECIFICATION