2015 Queen Elizabeth II Longest Reigning Monarch £5 Gold Proof NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo
£6,495.00
The 2015 Queen Elizabeth II Longest Reigning Monarch £5 Gold Proof commemorates the historic moment when Queen Elizabeth II became Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. Just 899 Gold Proof examples were issued, and this example is certified NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo – the highest numerical Proof grade – with an NGC population of just 49 at the time of checking.
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Description
2015 Queen Elizabeth II Longest Reigning Monarch £5 Gold Proof NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo
The 2015 Queen Elizabeth II Longest Reigning Monarch £5 Gold Proof was issued by The Royal Mint to commemorate one of the defining milestones of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
On 9 September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II surpassed the reign of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
The Royal Mint marked the historic occasion with a specially created £5 coin featuring both an obverse and reverse designed by renowned British sculptor James Butler MBE RA.
The Royal Mint’s official sales figures record just:
899 Gold Proof coins
for the 2015 Longest Reigning Monarch £5 issue.
This example has been independently authenticated and certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) as PF70 Ultra Cameo, the highest numerical Proof grade.
At the time of checking on 13 August 2026, the NGC certification record supplied for this coin shows 49 examples in PF70 Ultra Cameo, with zero graded numerically higher, making this an NGC Top Pop coin.
With just 899 issued, an historically significant subject, a specially commissioned commemorative portrait and a PF70 population of only 49, this is a highly collectable certified example of modern British commemorative gold coinage.
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Why This Coin Stands Out
The significance of this coin comes from the historic event it commemorates.
On 9 September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II’s reign surpassed that of Queen Victoria, who had previously held the record as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
The Royal Mint created a dedicated commemorative coin to mark the occasion.
Rather than simply combining a commemorative reverse with the standard definitive portrait of the monarch, sculptor James Butler designed both sides of the coin.
The reverse features the Coronation Crown, accompanied by the dates:
1952 – 2015
while the obverse carries a special commemorative effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Royal Mint specifically describes this as a rare alternative effigy that was not intended to appear on circulating coinage.
For the £5 Gold Proof specifically, The Royal Mint records sales of just:
899 coins
This example combines that low original issue with certification at NGC’s highest numerical Proof grade.
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Specifications
- Year: 2015
- Country of Issue: United Kingdom
- Denomination: £5
- Issuing Authority: The Royal Mint
- Metal: Gold
- Fineness: 22 carat / 916.7 gold
- Weight: 39.94g
- Fine Gold Content: Approximately 36.61g / 1.177 troy oz
- Diameter: 38.61mm
- Quality: Proof
- Gold Proof Issue/Sales: 899
- Obverse Designer: James Butler MBE RA
- Reverse Designer: James Butler MBE RA
- Grading Company: NGC
- Grade: PF70 Ultra Cameo
- NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo Population: 49
- Higher Grades: 0
- NGC Status: Top Pop
- Population Checked: 13 August 2026
The £5 Gold Proof specification is consistent with The Royal Mint’s contemporary £5 Gold Proof format: 22-carat gold, approximately 39.9g and 38.61mm diameter. The Royal Mint independently confirms James Butler as designer of both sides of the Longest Reigning Monarch issue.
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Just 899 Gold Proof Coins Issued
The Royal Mint’s official 2015 commemorative coin sales figures record:
The Longest Reigning Monarch 2015 UK £5 Gold Proof – 899
This makes the Gold Proof considerably scarcer than the standard versions of the same commemorative issue.
The Royal Mint records sales of 48,848 Brilliant Uncirculated £5 coins, 10,249 Silver Proof £5 coins, 3,171 Silver Proof Piedfort £5 coins, but only 899 £5 Gold Proof coins.
The 899 figure should also be considered separately from the NGC population.
The original issue tells us how many Gold Proof examples entered the market, while the NGC population records how many examples have subsequently been submitted to NGC and certified at a particular grade.
At the time of checking, only 49 examples were recorded in PF70 Ultra Cameo.
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Why NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo Matters
This example has been independently authenticated, encapsulated and graded by Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) as:
PF70 Ultra Cameo
PF70 represents the highest numerical Proof grade on NGC’s grading scale.
The Ultra Cameo designation identifies the strong visual contrast between the deeply mirrored fields and frosted design elements associated with high-quality Proof coinage.
On this particular coin, that contrast is especially apparent across James Butler’s large portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation Crown reverse.
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NGC Population
At the time of checking on 13 August 2026:
NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo: 49
Higher Grades: 0
NGC Top Pop
The NGC certification supplied for this coin identifies it as:
2015 G.Britain Queen Elizabeth II Longest Reigning Monarch G5PND
and confirms the grade:
PF70 ULTRA CAMEO
The associated NGC population display records 49 examples in PF70 Ultra Cameo, with none graded higher.
As PF70 is the highest numerical Proof grade, this example is NGC Top Pop.
Population figures can change as additional coins are submitted for certification, which is why Sterling Bullion Partners records the date on which each population figure is checked.
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Britain’s Longest-Reigning Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne on 6 February 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI.
On 9 September 2015, after more than 63 years on the throne, she surpassed Queen Victoria’s record and became Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
The Royal Mint described the occasion as a royal milestone and created this dedicated £5 coin specifically to commemorate it.
The significance of the milestone subsequently became even greater historically.
Queen Elizabeth II continued to reign until her death on 8 September 2022, completing a reign of more than 70 years and becoming the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
The 2015 coin therefore records the precise moment at which that historic record was first achieved.
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The Coronation Crown Reverse
The reverse was designed by renowned sculptor James Butler MBE RA.
At its centre is the Coronation Crown, representing the institution of monarchy and Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
Above the crown appear the dates:
1952 2015
and beneath it:
ONE CROWN
The use of “One Crown” recalls the traditional Crown denomination historically associated with British commemorative coinage, while the coin carries a modern legal-tender denomination of £5.
The design is deliberately restrained, placing the royal crown at the centre of the composition to mark the extraordinary duration of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
The Royal Mint confirms James Butler as the reverse designer and identifies the Coronation Crown as its principal motif.
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A Special Queen Elizabeth II Portrait
One of the most distinctive features of this issue appears on the obverse.
Rather than using the standard definitive coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the coin features a special commemorative effigy created by James Butler.
This is significant because 2015 was itself a transitional year for Queen Elizabeth II’s coinage.
Jody Clark’s fifth definitive portrait of the Queen was unveiled in 2015, replacing Ian Rank-Broadley’s fourth definitive portrait.
The Longest Reigning Monarch issue sits apart from both.
Its specially commissioned James Butler portrait was created specifically for this commemorative issue, and The Royal Mint describes it as a rare alternative effigy that would not appear on circulating coins.
That gives the coin an additional numismatic distinction beyond its low original issue.
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Designed Entirely by James Butler
Another unusual characteristic is that the same artist designed both sides of the coin.
James Butler MBE RA was a prominent British sculptor whose work included numerous public monuments and royal commissions.
For the Longest Reigning Monarch £5, Butler was responsible for both:
Obverse – Queen Elizabeth II commemorative portrait
and
Reverse – Coronation Crown design
The Royal Mint confirms both obverse and reverse as Butler’s work.
This creates a particularly coherent commemorative design, with both sides conceived specifically around the historic royal milestone.
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Struck in 22-Carat Gold
The £5 Gold Proof belongs to the traditional large-format British gold Crown family.
It is struck in 22-carat gold, with a total weight of approximately 39.94g.
That gives an approximate fine-gold content of:
36.61g
or approximately:
1.177 troy ounces of fine gold
Its specifications are:
Metal: Gold
Fineness: 916.7 / 22 carat
Weight: 39.94g
Fine Gold Content: approximately 36.61g / 1.177 troy oz
Diameter: 38.61mm
Denomination: £5
Quality: Proof
Gold Proof Issue/Sales: 899
The Royal Mint’s records for comparable 2015 £5 Gold Proof commemoratives confirm the 22-carat, approximately 39.90g and 38.61mm specification used for the format.
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Proof Coin Versus Bullion Coin
This coin should not be viewed simply in terms of its underlying gold content.
It was created specifically as a numismatic commemorative Proof coin marking a unique event in British royal history.
Proof coins are manufactured for collectors using specially prepared dies and blanks, producing the sharp detail and mirrored fields associated with the highest Royal Mint finish.
In this case, the numismatic characteristics include:
the 899-coin Gold Proof issue, the historic Longest Reigning Monarch subject, James Butler’s specially commissioned designs on both sides and certification at NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo.
Its approximately 1.177 troy ounces of fine gold therefore represent only one component of the coin’s overall collectable character.
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A Modern British Numismatic Gold Coin
The 2015 Longest Reigning Monarch £5 Gold Proof records an event that cannot be repeated within the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
It marks the precise year in which she surpassed Queen Victoria and became Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
For collectors of modern British Proof gold and royal commemorative coinage, this example brings together several particularly attractive characteristics:
899 Gold Proof coins issued
Only 49 currently recorded by NGC in PF70 Ultra Cameo
NGC Top Pop
Special James Butler portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
James Butler Coronation Crown reverse
Approximately 1.177 troy ounces of fine gold
A major milestone in British royal history
With fewer than 900 Gold Proof examples originally issued and only 49 recorded at NGC’s highest numerical Proof grade at the time of checking, this is a particularly strong certified example of modern British commemorative gold coinage.
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Image Information
The slab images shown are digitally produced representations for presentation purposes, with certification numbers, QR codes and barcodes omitted. The close-up coin photographs show the actual coin offered for sale.
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Why Buy from Sterling Bullion Partners?
Every certified coin offered by Sterling Bullion Partners is carefully selected for its quality, authenticity and collector appeal.
When purchasing from Sterling Bullion Partners, you benefit from:
- Carefully selected certified coins
- Independently authenticated and professionally graded examples
- Detailed close-up photographs of the actual coin offered for sale
- Fully insured UK delivery
- Secure protective packaging
- Experienced customer support
- A UK precious metals dealer committed to accuracy and transparency
With just 899 Gold Proof examples issued, a special James Butler design commemorating one of the defining moments of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and certification at NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo with a population of only 49, the 2015 Longest Reigning Monarch £5 Gold Proof represents an outstanding certified example of modern British commemorative gold.
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