Five pounds are Britain's biggest gold coin, and as such would make an impressive addition to any collection.

Different Versions
With the issue of the start of the commemorative gold crowns, there are now two types of five pound coins issued, the traditional Sovereign or St. George and Dragon design, and the gold version of the commemorative five pound crowns, at least in the years in which these have been issued.
The St. George and the Dragon five pounds or quintuple sovereigns are produced in three different finishes; bullion, brilliant uncirculated and proof.

Uncirculated
A coin grade, a description of the condition of a coin. It can be taken literally as meaning a coin which has not been in circulation, and is therefore in mint condition. Because coins are mass produced, however, this does not necessarily mean absolutely perfect, and an uncirculated coin can be expected to have a few minor scuffs and marks.

Brilliant
Again this word means that it says, that the coin in bright and shiny with its original mint lustre. It is possible for coins which have not been circulated to have lost this lustre through less than perfect storage or handling. Most metal will tone or tarnish over a period of time, often due to atmospheric chemicals, although moisture undoubtedly speeds this process.

Brilliant Uncirculated
Means that the coin described is in mint, although not necessarily perfect condition with its original mint lustre.

The Royal Mint
We believe the British Royal Mint distorted the English language when it started issuing "B.U. (Brilliant Uncirculated)" gold £5 (quintuple sovereign) coins in 1984, but this potential confusion did not come to light until 2000 when it issued not only a B.U. £5, but also a "bullion" version.
These "Brilliant Uncirculated" gold five pound (quintuple sovereign) coins were struck to a superior but non-proof finish, and were issued in limited editions in boxes and with certificates, at a price over double their intrinsic gold content. When later in 2000 it then issued a "bullion" version of the same coin at only about 20% over gold, the error created some six years previously became exposed. This coin was brilliant (bright, shiny, and lustrous) and was also uncirculated (it had not been in circulation), although it was struck to a slightly lower production standard than the so-called "B.U." (Brilliant Uncirculated) version. When we expressed the opinion that people who had already bought the "B.U." version at £525 would be disappointed to find a brilliant uncirculated "bullion" version being issued at £325, a Mint official informed us that they were two different things, and that our criticism was quite incorrect. Perhaps the Mint should have added some extra description to its "Brilliant Uncirculated" products such as superior finish, specimen grade, monnaie-de-luxe, F.D.C., to differentiate these products clearly from those struck to a circulation grade of finish.
It remains our firm opinion that the Royal Mint has created confusion in its careless use of the term B.U. or Brilliant Uncirculated.

We also buy at fair and competitive prices.

B.U. Gold £5 Coins For Sale:-
Prices & Availability

Date	Type	Version	Issue Limit	Mintage	Issue £
1984	Second Portrait - St. George	B.U.	25,000	15,104	£
1985	Maklouf Portrait - St. George	B.U.	20,000?	13,626	£
1986	Maklouf Portrait - St. George	B.U.	17,500	7,723	£
1987	Uncouped Portrait - St. George	B.U.	15,000?	5,694	£
1988	Uncouped Portrait - St. George	B.U.	10,000	3,315	£
1989	Sovereign 500th Anniversary	B.U.	10,000	2,937	£525
1990	Maklouf Portrait - St. George	B.U.	3,500	1,226	£525
1991	Maklouf Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,500	976	£535
1992	St. George	B.U.	1,000	797	£535
1993	Maklouf Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000	906	£535
1994	Maklouf Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000	1,000	£535
1995	Maklouf Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000	1,000	£535
1996	Maklouf Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000	901	£575
1997	Maklouf Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000	802	£575
1998	Fourth Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000	825	£575
1999	Fourth Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000?	1,000	£575
2000	Fourth Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000?	1,000	£525
2001	Fourth Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000?	1,000	£525
2002	Fourth Portrait - Shield	B.U.	1,500?	1,370	£535
2003	Fourth Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000?	825	£575
2004	Fourth Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000?	825	£575
2005	Fourth Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,500	936	£535
2006	Fourth Portrait - St. George	B.U.		731	£
2007	Fourth Portrait - St. George	B.U.		768	£780
2008	Fourth Portrait - St. George	B.U.		750	£
2009	Fourth Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000	?	£
2010	Fourth Portrait - St. George	B.U.	1,000	?	£

Notes
All the above coins come complete with original box and certificate as originally issued unless marked *.
B.U. = Brilliant Uncirculated with box and certificate.

Please contact us prior to ordering for up to date prices and availability.

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Postage & Packing
UK Registered Post (Special Delivery) £9 per order, plus £1 per £1,000
EU Insured Post £10 per order, plus £1 per £1,000
USA Airmail $10,
Insured Shipping $20, plus $1 per $1,000
Canada Airmail $15,
Insured Shipping $30, plus $1 per $1,000