The celebrations of the life of Sir Winston Churchill in the 50th year since his death continue apace in the numismatic world. Just this year we’ve had the excellent close-up portrait from the Royal Mint, a £20 design that also made it onto some large proof gold and silver coins, and one from the Pobjoy Mint.
Latest to come is this very nice four-coin set, again from the Royal Mint, but this time issued for the island of Alderney, the most northerly of the Channel Islands. All are one-ounce sterling silver strikes, two clean, one gilded, and one coloured. Each coin celebrates a facet of Churchills breadth of talent from his love of painting, to his incalculable contribution to the defeat of Nazism in the Second World War. All carry an edge inscription, and all are limited to just 1,000 pieces available only in this set.
A set we like a lot, especially the two clean coins, although it’s disappointing that the Orator coin doesn’t carry an image of the Churchill tank instead of the Sherman; a missed opportunity, especially as the latter isn’t really associated with the battle despite a good presence there. The overall mix of styles works well and it’s a fine tribute to the man, showing signs of being carefully thought out conceptually. Not available seperately, a shame given the £350 set price, there is a BU set (2,000 set mintage from 2,500 total) also available for £50 should you like to have the coins without the greater investment. Ironically, these forego the colour and gilding on the two coins, so many may actually prefer them. Available now.
THE WAR LEADER
“We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”
These words are taken from one of Churchill’s most famous speeches to the House of Commons, given on 4 June 1940, during the Battle of France, as he summoned the support of the nation for the ordeal that lay ahead. The quote is surrounded by intricately detailed barbed wire, strewn on a sandy beach. It is all indicative of the horrors that so many faced during the bloody conflicts fought on foreign shores.
THE ORATOR
“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
The Battle of El Alamein is considered one of the most decisive battles of the Second World War. It was fiercely fought by both sides, close to the Egyptian coastline, testing the spirits of the men on the ground and that of their leaders. Sensing waning morale among the allied troops, Churchill installed Lt General Bernard Montgomery as leader, and in a notable speech, conveyed the fact that, while the path to victory was still likely to be a long and difficult one, headway had been made. The design of this coin portrays the tyre track of a tank, suggesting a sense of the harsh conditions in which many of the battles of the Second World War were fought, and the artillery that was used.
THE MAN
“Success always demands a greater effort”
These words were spoken to Robert Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia in 1940. From his command of his country’s troops, and his time as a war correspondent during the Boer War, to his re-election in 1951 after the disappointing defeat of 1945, this coin design captures the perfect analogy for Winston Churchill – the phoenix rising from the ashes, suggestive of his courage and self-belief.
Lee R. Jones took inspiration for the flames from Auguste Rodin’s Gates of Hell monument. Gold plating has been used on the reverse of the Silver Proof set version of this coin, highlighting the dramatic flame design.
THE ARTIST
“Painting is a companion with whom one may hope to walk a great part of life’s journey.”
This quote appeared in an essay written by Churchill entitled ‘Painting as a Pastime’, which featured in Strand magazine in 1921. Winston Churchill began to paint when he was in his forties, entering, and winning, painting competitions under assumed names. In 1948 he was made Honorary Academician Extraordinary by the Royal Academy for achievements in the art of painting.
This coin design takes the form of an artist’s palette, with lettering that is suggestive of an artist’s handwritten signature. Tri-chromatic printing has been used on the Silver Proof edition of this coin, to create a textured layer of colour on the coin’s surface conveying Churchill’s love of colour.
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MINTS DESCRIPTION
The Royal Mint has issued an Alderney four-coin set capturing some of the best-known quotes of celebrated statesman and renowned orator, Sir Winston Churchill, in his own words.
Issued in two limited mintage editions – Silver Proof and Brilliant Uncirculated – and designed by a Royal Mint senior engraver, Lee R. Jones, each coin reflects a different well-known aspect of the great man’s persona.
A young Winston Churchill, stationed in India in 1897, wrote that: “Of all the talents bestowed upon men, none is so precious as the gift of oratory.” Often quoted, always inspiring, Churchill’s words have become legend, and they tell his story decades later, in his own inimitable fashion.
Director of Commemorative Coin and Medals, Shane Bissett, said, “Sir Winston Churchill grew to be one of the greatest, and most respected, statesmen the world has encountered, and his words have become legendary. On the 50th anniversary of his death, The Royal Mint celebrates some of his best known and most inspirational quotes.”
LEE R. JONES
Lee R. Jones is one of The Royal Mint’s senior engravers and has produced many evocative coin designs, including the reverse design that features on the 70th Anniversary of D-Day £5 coin, brilliantly capturing the courage and sacrifice made by those ‘rank and file’ troops on the ground. For this four-coin set, Lee wanted to convey a sense of the great leader’s character:
“It was a challenge to take the words of Churchill and represent them on the relatively small canvas of a coin. Fortunately, his words were so powerful and pure in vision that I was able to select the heart of his message, presenting them against evocative images. Each coin represents a facet of the complex yet formidable character that led a nation through the Second World War.”
What a tribute this is to one of the most iconic figures in British and world history; one that honours the great man in his own words. This stunning set includes four £5 coins, each with its own unique flair, that unite to reveal Churchill’s story and form a dramatic collection. Royal Mint engraver Lee R. Jones has combined Churchill’s rousing words, some taken from his most famous speeches and some from his private life, and combined them with symbolic images. The result is a vibrant collection with beautiful details, highlighted in The Royal Mint’s pristine Proof finish.
This luxurious tribute has been struck in sterling silver to Proof quality and includes some eye-catching elements. The coin celebrating Churchill’s strength of character is gold-plated to highlight the stunning ‘phoenix from the ashes’ design, and colour-printing adorns the coin that reflects Churchill’s artistic talents. Just 800 of these fine sets will be available, likely to prove hugely popular given the interest in this remarkable man and the beauty of the coins struck in his honour.
In 1965 nations united in mourning the loss of one of the most iconic and widely respected leaders the world had ever seen. Sir Winston Churchill’s formidable leadership during the Second World War helped secure the support of the allied forces and, eventually, victory in 1945. His words united a nation and helped to sustain the morale of the armed forces through gruelling years.
Churchill’s varied public and private life has captivated our interest for decades. Both his public and more personal speeches were delivered with passion, wit and humour. Countless writers have penned books on his life, his achievements and his legacy. Churchill’s words have become legend, and now this eye-catching set tells his story decades later, in his own words. So many will want to honour this legendary man, and we have created two versions of the set to suit most budgets – one Brilliant Uncirculated with a newly-minted finish, and one in silver Proof including a gold-plated and a colour-printed coin.
SPECIFICATION
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | WEIGHT | DIAMETER | FINISH | MINTAGE | BOX / COA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £5 UKP | 0.925 SILVER | 28.28 g | 38.61 mm | PROOF | 1,000 | YES / YES |
| EDGE INSCRIPTIONS | ||||||
| THE ARTIST | “PAINTING IS A COMPANION” | |||||
| THE MAN | “SUCCESS ALWAYS DEMAND A GREATER EFFORT” | |||||
| THE ORATOR | “THE END OF THE BEGINNING” | |||||
| THE WAR LEADER | “WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER” | |||||
Dissapointed they didnt choose my favorite Winston Churchill quote: “My dear you are ugly, but tomorrow i shall be sober and you will still be ugly”
If only he had looked in the mirror before making that cruel reference point.