On 17 November 1558 the 25-year-old Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, was proclaimed Queen of England. She became one of the best-loved and influential English monarchs, whose date of accession remained a national holiday for 200 years. To celebrate the 450th anniversary of her becoming Queen a £5 crown has been struck featuring on its reverse a portrait of Elizabeth by the silversmith Rod Kelly.
Inspired by the magnificent 'Armada' portrait of Elizabeth by George Gower, the Queen is crowned and set within a mandorla created by four decorative arches. A rose has been placed at each connecting point while the two side arches each contain a beautiful leaf pattern reminiscent of the carvings made by the Queen's loyal servant and friend, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. The year of her accession and the year of the anniversary are both shown in Roman numerals.