In 2021 we celebrate the 1150th anniversary of the coronation of Alfred the Great, therefore, the UK The Royal Mint minted a thematic commemorative coin.

In the 9th century AD, the territory of England was divided into several independent Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The most important and wealthiest of these was Wessex, which was situated in the south-west and was ruled by Alfred the Great. The king did not acquire his surname by chance - he was a symbol of English defiance against the savage Vikings who plundered the country. At first it seemed impossible to defeat the Scandinavian invaders - they even managed to kill King Aella of Northumbria and King Edmund of East Anglia - but Alfred persevered and triumphed over the army of bloodthirsty pagans. His other deeds, however, have also gone down in history: he promoted education, trade and crafts. He became the father of the English navy. He improved the legal system, helped establish the Anglo-Saxon language and translated important Latin works. He founded merchant settlements that became centres of culture and education - such as Oxford, which is still the home of the world-famous University…

The reverse side of the coin, which was designed by sculptor John Bergdahl, is inspired by the so-called Alfred Jewel, a unique example of the skill of Anglo-Saxon jewellers in the 9th century. The inscription bears the king's name ALFRED THE GREAT and the annual years 871-2021. The obverse side of the coin is then dedicated to the attributes of the issuer - i.e. the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the text ELIZABETH II D G REG FID DEF (Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith) and the nominal value of 5 POUNDS (GBP).

The commemorative coin, minted from base metal, is stored in a special packaging that conveys the significance of Alfred the Great in words and pictures (in English).