2008 Queen Elizabeth I 450th Anniversary £5 Gold Proof NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo
£6,995.00
The 2008 Queen Elizabeth I £5 Gold Proof was issued by The Royal Mint to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Elizabeth I’s accession to the throne in 1558. Struck in 22-carat gold with an issue of just 1,500 coins, this example is certified NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo – the highest numerical Proof grade – with an NGC population of just 59 at the time of checking.
1 in stock
Description
2008 Queen Elizabeth I 450th Anniversary £5 Gold Proof NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo
The 2008 Queen Elizabeth I £5 Gold Proof is a limited-mintage British commemorative gold coin issued by The Royal Mint to mark 450 years since Elizabeth I’s accession to the throne in 1558.
Struck in 22-carat gold and weighing 39.94g, the coin features an intricately designed portrait of Elizabeth I by silversmith Rod Kelly, paired with Ian Rank-Broadley’s definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.
The Royal Mint’s official 2008 sales figures record the Queen Elizabeth I £5 Gold Proof as SOLD OUT, with an Issue Limit/Mintage of just 1,500 coins.
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 59 examples in PF70 Ultra Cameo, with none graded higher, making this an NGC Top Pop coin.
With an issue of only 1,500 coins, a significant Tudor commemorative subject and certification at the highest numerical NGC Proof grade, this is a highly collectable certified example of modern British numismatic gold.
Why This Coin Stands Out
The 2008 issue commemorates one of the defining events in British royal history.
Elizabeth I acceded to the throne in 1558, beginning a reign that would last for more than four decades and become one of the most recognisable periods in British history.
Four hundred and fifty years later, The Royal Mint commemorated her accession with this special £5 issue.
For the Gold Proof specifically, The Royal Mint records:
Issue Limit/Mintage: 1,500
Status: SOLD OUT
This particular example combines that low original issue with NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo certification and an NGC population of just 59 at the time of checking.
Specifications
- Year: 2008
- Country of Issue: United Kingdom
- Denomination: £5
- Issuing Authority: The Royal Mint
- Metal: Gold
- Fineness: 916.7 / 22 carat
- Weight: 39.94g
- Fine Gold Content: Approximately 36.61g / 1.177 troy oz
- Quality: Proof
- Issue Limit/Mintage: 1,500
- Obverse Designer: Ian Rank-Broadley
- Reverse Designer: Rod Kelly
- Edge Inscription: I HAVE REIGNED WITH YOUR LOVES
- Grading Company: NGC
- Grade: PF70 Ultra Cameo
- NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo Population: 59
- Higher Grades: 0
- NGC Status: Top Pop
- Population Checked: 13 August 2026
The Royal Mint confirms the coin’s 22-carat gold composition, 39.94g weight, Proof quality, Rod Kelly reverse, Ian Rank-Broadley obverse and edge inscription.
The Royal Mint’s official 2008 sales record confirms the 1,500 Issue Limit/Mintage and records the Gold Proof issue as sold out.
An Issue of Just 1,500 Coins
The Royal Mint officially records the 2008 Queen Elizabeth I £5 Gold Proof as:
SOLD OUT
Issue Limit/Mintage: 1,500
A Royal Mint auction record provides additional confirmation, describing the issue as 1,500 issued.
This makes the Gold Proof substantially scarcer by original issue than the standard base-metal and silver versions of the Elizabeth I commemorative £5 produced for the same anniversary.
The mintage should, however, be considered separately from the NGC population.
The original issue tells us how many Gold Proof coins were produced for the issue, while the NGC population tells us how many examples have subsequently been submitted to NGC and achieved a particular grade.
Why NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo Matters
This example has been independently authenticated, encapsulated and graded by Numismatic Guaranty Company as:
PF70 Ultra Cameo
PF70 represents the highest numerical Proof grade on NGC’s grading scale.
The Ultra Cameo designation identifies the strong contrast between the deeply mirrored fields and frosted design elements characteristic of high-quality modern Proof coinage.
Achieving PF70 Ultra Cameo therefore combines the highest numerical Proof grade with NGC’s designation for pronounced cameo contrast.
NGC Population
At the time of checking on 13 August 2026:
- NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo: 59
- Higher Grades: 0
- NGC Top Pop
The NGC certification record supplied for this coin shows 59 examples graded PF70 Ultra Cameo and none higher.
Because PF70 is the highest numerical Proof grade, this places the coin at the top of NGC’s grading scale.
Importantly, the 1,500 original issue and the 59-coin NGC PF70 population measure two different forms of scarcity.
The first establishes the original size of the Gold Proof issue. The second records how many examples have achieved this particular grade at NGC.
Population figures can change as further coins are submitted for certification, which is why Sterling Bullion Partners records the date on which each population figure is checked.
The Elizabeth I Reverse
The reverse was created by British silversmith Rod Kelly.
At its centre is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I surrounded by four Tudor roses positioned at the central points of connecting arches.
The surrounding inscription reads:
ELIZABETH REGINA
while the dates are represented in Roman numerals:
MDLVIII – 1558
MMVIII – 2008
These dates connect Elizabeth I’s accession in 1558 with the coin’s commemorative year of 2008.
The Royal Mint’s own auction description confirms the portrait, Tudor roses, inscriptions and Roman-numeral dates as elements of Rod Kelly’s design.
450 Years Since the Accession of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I became Queen in 1558.
The 2008 £5 was specifically issued to commemorate the 450th anniversary of her accession, rather than her birth – an important distinction when describing the coin.
Elizabeth I was the final Tudor monarch and reigned until 1603.
Her reign became associated with a period of enormous political and cultural significance, and the Elizabethan era remains one of the most recognisable periods of British history.
The 2008 £5 therefore commemorates the beginning of that reign rather than simply portraying a historical monarch.
The Queen Elizabeth II Obverse
The obverse features the fourth definitive coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley.
The portrait is accompanied by the denomination:
FIVE POUNDS
and the traditional abbreviated royal inscription.
The pairing is particularly appropriate to the subject of the coin: Britain’s reigning Queen Elizabeth at the time of issue appears on the obverse, while the first Queen Elizabeth forms the subject of the commemorative reverse.
The Royal Mint confirms Ian Rank-Broadley as the obverse designer.
The Edge Inscription
An additional feature of the coin is its lettered edge.
The inscription reads:
I HAVE REIGNED WITH YOUR LOVES
The wording derives from Elizabeth I and adds another direct historical reference to the commemorative design.
The Royal Mint officially records this as the edge inscription of the 2008 Elizabeth I £5 Gold Proof.
Struck in 22-Carat Gold
The 2008 Queen Elizabeth I £5 Gold Proof was struck in traditional 22-carat gold.
The Royal Mint specifies a total weight of:
39.94g
At approximately 91.67% gold purity, this equates to approximately:
36.61g of fine gold
or approximately:
1.177 troy ounces of fine gold
Independent specialist records also confirm approximately 1.177 troy ounces of fine gold.
The substantial gold content places the coin among the larger modern British commemorative gold issues.
Proof Coin Versus Bullion Coin
Although the coin contains approximately 1.177 troy ounces of fine gold, this example should not be viewed simply in terms of its underlying bullion value.
It was produced as a Proof commemorative coin, with an original issue of only 1,500.
Proof coins are specifically produced for collectors, using specially prepared dies and blanks to achieve the highly reflective fields and detailed relief associated with Proof coinage.
In this case, the combination of limited original issue, historical subject, Rod Kelly design and NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo certification gives the coin a clear numismatic dimension beyond its intrinsic gold content.
A Modern British Numismatic Gold Coin
The 2008 Queen Elizabeth I £5 Gold Proof brings together several characteristics relevant to collectors of modern British gold:
A 1,500-coin issue
A major British historical anniversary
A distinctive one-year commemorative design
Rod Kelly reverse artwork
22-carat gold composition
Substantial 39.94g weight
NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo certification
An NGC PF70 population of 59 at the time of checking
The coin therefore derives its collectability from more than its precious-metal content alone.
With only 1,500 issued and just 59 examples recorded by NGC in PF70 Ultra Cameo at the time of checking, this represents a particularly strong certified example of the 2008 Elizabeth I Gold Proof £5.
Image Information
The slab images shown are digitally produced representations for presentation purposes, with certification numbers and barcodes omitted.
The close-up coin photographs show the actual coin offered for sale.
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 an original issue of just 1,500, the historic Elizabeth I commemorative design, NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo certification and a PF70 population of only 59 at the time of checking, the 2008 Queen Elizabeth I £5 Gold Proof represents a highly collectable certified example of modern British numismatic gold.
Related Guides
You may also find these Sterling Bullion Partners guides useful:
Related products
