United Kingdom. Gold and Silver Crown Coins Mark 175 Years of London Retail Landmark

For 150 years, Liberty has paved the way for creativity, discovery and style. In 1875, entrepreneur Arthur Lasenby Liberty (1843 – 1917) opened a wondrous emporium in London, England filled with luxurious fabrics, ornaments and objects d’art from far-reaching corners of the globe. Liberty & Co. initially provided an eclectic mix of popular styles, but went on to develop a fundamentally different style closely linked to the aesthetic Art-Nouveau Movement of the 1890’s. So popular with their clientele and visitors to London, the company soon became synonymous with this new style to the extent that in Italy, Art Nouveau became known as Stile Liberty after the London shop.

Liberty soon became the place for high society to buy extraordinary, trendsetting pieces and gained international acclaim for its daring fabric prints almost instantly recognised in High Street fashion. The Tudor-inspired department store located on Great Marlborough Street which spans from Carnaby Street on the East to Kingly Street on the West, where it forms a three storey archway over the Northern entrance to the Kingly Street mall and houses the iconic Liberty Clock in its centre. The Tudor revival building was constructed from the timbers of two ships HMS Impregnable (formerly HMS Howe) and HMS Hindustan. The frontage on Great Marlborough Street is the same length as the Hindustan. The premises became a Grade II* listed building in 1972. This location was formally opened in 1924 and today, this heritage-listed building is one of London’s most beloved landmarks.

To celebrate this milestone anniversary, two prestigious British brands, the Royal Mint and Liberty & Co come together to share an on-going commitment to the finest craftsmanship. As part of Liberty’s 150th anniversary celebrations, one unique 1.5kg masterwork medallion was also crafted. The impressive medallion was created by a team of master craftspeople at The Royal Mint, using traditional minting skills alongside innovative technology - taking approximately 3 weeks to create. The reverse side of the medallion features the same design that appears on the £5 coins, while the obverse side showcases Liberty’s Coat of Arms. The medallion will be on display from the 12th May to the end of July, with the medallion also being available to buy.

In partnership with Liberty, the reverse side is created by the Liberty design team headed by Pere Bruach, Design Manager that honours Liberty’s unique, eclectic style. The depiction includes a portion of the landmark Liberty premises with its main entrance on Great Marlborough Street, distinctive for its Tudor-style edifice. Superimposed to the left is a floral fabric pattern featuring vibrant colour printing (Cupro-nickel and sterling silver), typical of the Liberty brand with the text LIBERTY along the upper left rim and the anniversary logo 150 YEARS placed just to the right of the flower and above the building. The obverse depicts an effigy of HM King Charles III, designed by acclaimed sculptor Martin Jennings. The denomination 5 POUNDS and year of issue, 2025 is part of the legend surrounding the King’s likeness. 

Available from the 12^th May, both versions of the BU cupro-nickel crown coins are housed in a blister-pak type folder with informative text and illustrations. The silver proof coins are encapsulated and presented in black leatherette matte cases accompanied with numbered certificates of authenticity. The gold proof coins are encapsulated and presented in polished gloss wood cases accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. All coins in the range are presented in beautifully designed outer packaging that tells the story of Liberty and its incredible archive of prints. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Royal Mint.