Many commemoratives
have been issued as crown-size coins, but other sizes have been used just as
frequently. Commemoratives have designs and legends that mark important
occasions, celebrate a historic anniversary, or glorify famous men.
Philatelists describe issues by several countries celebrating the same event as
omnibus issues. Most modern
commemoratives recall events of times past; they are frequently issued to
celebrate the anniversary of some political or military achievement. The
centennial of an event is perhaps most often celebrated.
Events commemorated on
recent coins are as far distant in time as 544 BC. Ceylon marked 2500 years of
Buddhism in 1957 with a set of coins. Commemoratives also pay respect to famous
men and mark events in the lives of people as well as of nations.
Births,
marriages and deaths, sporting events like the Olympic Games, anniversaries of
the reign-all have been celebrated with coins. Besides statesmen and rulers,
coins have recognized discoveries and explorers, builders, physicians and
scientists, writers and musicians, religious leaders and saints.
Countries with
monarchs often strike commemorative coins to celebrate coronations,
anniversaries of the reign, and occasionally to memorialize a whole dynasty.
Private events of monarchs’ lives such as birthdays and weddings are also
recorded on special commemorative coins.
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| Silver wedding anniversary |
Commemoratives are by
no means limited to royalty. However, it is unusual for a commoner, no matter
how deserving, to be memorialized during his lifetime. The honor went to
General Douglas MacArthur who was portrayed on coins of the Philippines.
The Churchill crown was issued in 1965 to commemorate the death in that year of
Sir Winston Churchill. The crown has a milled edge and is unusual for a modern
coin in that it does not bear any mark of value of denomination. Churchill was
the first commoner to appear on a British coin since Cromwell.
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| Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935 |
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| Reverse of King George Jubilee crown |
