If you’re in possession of a 1902 Edward VII crown coin there’s no doubt you’ll want to know how much it’s worth and whether the coin is rare or not.
A 1902 Edward VII crown is considered to be very rare, and if you have one of the regular silver versions coins it is worth anywhere from £50 to £300 on average, but it can be even higher in some cases depending on the condition of the coin. There is also a matt finish proof version that is even more valuable.
In the rest of this article, we’ll explore the mintage and commemoration of the coin to see why it is so valuable and how you can tell the difference between the regular and matt finish proof versions.
Let’s get into it.
Mintage And Specification Of The 1902 Edward VII Crown Coin
In terms of mintage, the 1902 Edward VII crown had a very limited run with approximately 256,000 produced in silver. There was also a matt proof version that was issued which had a much smaller mintage of just 15,000, also in silver.
The silver matt proof finish version can be worth upwards of £1,000 depending on the condition.
Both coins have the specifications as listed in the table below:
| Weight (g) | 28.30 |
| Diameter (mm) | 38.00 |
| Alloy | 0.925 Silver |
There was also a gold sovereign issued in matt proof finish that had a mintage of around 8,000.
This gold version, also referred to as the £5 gold sovereign, has exactly the same design as the silver crown but a smaller diameter. The 1902 gold £5 sovereign is worth anywhere from £1,000 upwards depending on condition.
How To Tell The Difference Between Them
Firstly, if you have the gold sovereign you will be able to tell right away as it will be gold in appearance. We know this sounds obvious, but there are examples of other coins where the gold version and regular version are difficult to tell apart – fortunately, this is not the case for the Edward VII crown.
For the silver versions, there is the regular version and the matt proof finish.
Matt proof finishes were used quite regularly in the first half of the 20th century, and it is a technique used to produce a textured finish that isn’t very reflective. You can think of this as the opposite of a proof finish, where the surface of the coin is highly reflective.
If you have an Edward VII crown and it isn’t very reflective and has a matt appearance, it could well be a matt finish proof version which is more valuable. These versions are worth anywhere from six or seven hundred pounds, depending on the quality.
Did The 1902 Edward VII Crown Enter Circulation?
The regular version of the coin entered circulation, which is quite interesting given the transition of the crown from a circulating coin used in daily life to a commemorative coin over the course of the end of the 19th century and into the 20th. Examples of non-circulating commemorative coins in the 20th century include the 1977 Jubilee crown, as well as the Festival of Britain Crown, minted in 1951.
The coin was in fact one of the last crown coins to ever enter circulation.
The matt proof finish did not enter circulation however and was instead issued in a collectable set.
Reverse And Obverse Designs
The reverse design features the scene of St. George slaying a dragon, which was created by Benedetto Pistrucci and first used on gold sovereigns in 1817. His initials can be seen towards the bottom right, and the dater 1902 is seen below.
This design was so popular that it is still used on sovereign coins to this day.
The obverse design shows the bare head portrait of Kind George VII created by G.W.De Saulles, with his initials towards the bottom left. The inscription around the edge reads ‘EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP’.
The edge inscription reads DECUS ET TUTAMEN ANNO REGNI II.
How Much Was The Coin Worth When It Was Issued?
When the 1902 Edward VII crown was issued it was worth 5 shillings, with each shilling being worth 12 pre-decimal pence.
In today’s money, this equates to 25 pence, which is quite funny considering the collectable value that these coins hold today.
Final Thoughts
In terms of rare crown coins, the 1902 Edward VII crown is up there in terms of rarity, and this is reflected in the value of the coin today.
If you have one of the coins be sure to check for a matt finish as this will increase the value of the coin significantly.
