The 1972 Silver Wedding Crown commemorates the 25th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The name can be confusing because the common UK issue and the silver proof are separate products.
1972 Silver Wedding Crown specifications
The ordinary UK crown is a 25 pence commemorative coin made from cupro-nickel. It weighs 28.28 grams and measures 38.61 millimetres in diameter. Numismatic catalogues record 7,452,100 ordinary pieces for the type.
This is not a modern £5 coin. It belongs to the post-decimal 25p crown series and was not intended for normal circulation.
Is the 1972 crown silver?
The ordinary coin is not silver. A separate .925 silver-proof type was issued, with its own finish, packaging and catalogue entry. Numista records an issue limit of 100,000 for the silver-proof type. Later sets and secondary-market allocations should not be added to that figure without a clear source.
Legal tender
Pre-1990 commemorative crowns were redenominated to 25 pence. Royal Mint guidance says they remain legal tender, but shops and banks are not obliged to accept commemorative crowns. Face value and collector value are different questions.
How much is it worth?
There is no single value for every 1972 Silver Wedding Crown. First establish whether it is the ordinary cupro-nickel issue, a .925 silver proof, a boxed example, or part of a later set. Condition, original packaging, surface quality and demand also matter.
Do not treat old online listings, dealer prices or retailer prices as current market value. Compare several recent completed UK sales of the exact type and condition, and record the sale date, grade, lot contents and buyer’s premium.
How to identify your coin
Check the date, denomination, portraits, reverse design, weight, diameter and edge. If the seller describes the coin as silver, confirm the exact issue and use a specialist reference. A capsule or presentation box can help identify a product, but it does not prove authenticity or guarantee a higher price.