Five Shilling Coin?

[bustergutt]

I have a George VI 1951 Five shilling coin with the Latin phrase on the outer edge which translates to -To Be Distinguished For State Civil Industry 1851-1951. Does any one know what this was issued for? and is it rare?
Many thanks in advance.

[kettledrum]

The first silver crown ( 5 shillings) was minted in 1551. To commemorate this, 400 years later. on the occasion of the Festival of Britain another one was minted, with the inscription 'civium industria floret civitas' 1851-1951 - meaning (roughly), 'by the hard work of its people the state flourishes'.
I don't know how many were minted - probably an awful lot - so I wouldn't expect them to be particularly valuable, although a nice thing to have. NB. I am NOT an expert!

[Octavius]

Probanly issued in 1951 on the occasion of the Festival of Britain. This was the first crown coin (five shilling coin) to be issued in cupro-nickel, which had replaced silver in the "silver" coinage from 1947.

Rare, not really.

[bustergutt]

Thanks both for the information. Much appreciated.

[kettledrum]

I failed to say that the year 1851 was the year of The Great Exhibition ( of Works of Industry of All Nations). It was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park; after the Exhibition was over The Crystal Palace was relocated to Sydenham.
On reconsideration ....your coin is obviously commemorating the centenary of The Great Exhibition and the fact that 1951 was 400 years after minting the first silver crown is probably a red herring! Sorry if I misled you.

[kempie]

There were two issues of crowns during the reign of George VI. The first George VI crown was struck for the Coronation in 1937 (418,699 coins minted), while the other was struck to celebrate the Festival of Britain in 1951 (1,983,540 coins minted), and indeed many were struck at the Festival, although such coins cannot be distinguished from those struck at the Royal Mint.