Coin
25 New Pence - Elizabeth II Royal Wedding; Silver (1981) — United Kingdom
United Kingdom • 1981 • KM# 925a, Sp# LL4
Overview
A silver proof coin issued to commemorate the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. It is a non-circulating coin. Struck as Proof.
Specifications
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Year
- 1981
- Composition
- Silver (.925)
- Weight
- 28.28 g
- Diameter
- 38.61 mm
- Thickness
- 2.89 mm
- Mint
- Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom
- Shape
- Round
- Technique
- Milled, Proof
- References
- KM# 925a, Sp# LL4
- Issuer
- United Kingdom
Design details
Obverse
Second crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, with the legend 'ELIZABETH II D·G·REG·F·D·' (Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith) around the edge.
Reverse
Conjoined profile portraits of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, with the legend 'H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND LADY DIANA SPENCER' and the date '·1981·', with the initials 'PN' below the portraits.
Collector insights
- Design heritage: Arnold Machin (obverse), Philip Nathan (reverse) is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
- Struck at: Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
- Mintage vs. survival: A moderate mintage of 218,142. Grade rarity is usually the driver of value here — mid-grade circulated pieces are common, but original-surface uncirculated coins can command a strong premium.
- Precious metal content: Silver (.925) — bullion value provides a price floor, and many circulated examples were melted during the 1979–1980 and post-2010 silver spikes, reducing the surviving population.
- Catalogue reference: Listed as
KM# 925a, Sp# LL4. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.
Curator Insights
Historical context
This 25 New Pence crown was issued to commemorate the marriage of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral in 1981. It represents the final issue of the 25p denomination before the British commemorative crown transitioned to a five-pound face value in 1990. The release coincided with a period of high public interest in the British monarchy and was part of a tradition of issuing large-format coins for major royal milestones.
Design heritage
The reverse features conjoined portraits of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer designed by Philip Nathan, who is also known for his work on the Britannia bullion series. The obverse depicts Arnold Machin’s second decimal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which was used on British coinage from 1968 until 1984. The composition maintains the physical dimensions of the historic crown piece, originally valued at five shillings.
Varieties and technical notes
This specific issue is a silver proof strike, distinguished from the standard copper-nickel version by its .925 sterling silver composition and mirror-like fields. The edge is consistently reeded, and the alignment is typically in the medallic orientation. Collectors should inspect for milk spotting or toning, which often occurs on British silver proofs from the early 1980s due to the original packaging materials.
Survival and modern availability
A total mintage of 218,142 silver proof units was produced, ensuring relatively high availability for collectors today. While the copper-nickel versions were minted by the millions for general souvenir distribution, the silver proofs were sold in official presentation cases and have a higher survival rate in impeccable condition. Unlike many older silver coins, these were protected from circulation and remain common in the secondary market.
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Browse more items in the full catalog or view United Kingdom in the country guide.