The Royal Mint described the Churchill Crown as “one of the most difficult ever produced.” Each cupro-nickel crown had to be struck by two extremely heavy presses, one of 250 tons and the other 360 tons. 

The Royal Mint had to remove some details such as Nemon’s small initials to the left of the head. The relief was flatter than the sculptor had intended and Nemon was not at all happy with the result. The initials remain on the VIP Specimen.

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874–1965), was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955. 

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary 1926 – 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was head of state of 15 realms at the time of her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days was the longest of any British monarch and the longest verified reign of any female head of state in history.

OBVERSE: Young laureate bust of HM Queen Elizabeth II right, legend around, date below.

Lettering: ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F·D· 1965

Latin: Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensatrix

Translation: Elizabeth Second by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith

Engraver: Mary Gillick

REVERSE: A somber-looking portrait of Sir Winston Churchill, in a siren suit facing right.

Lettering: CHURCHILL

Engraver: Oscar Nemon

EDGE: Reeded

Designer : "M.G." - Mary Gaskell Gillick OBE (1881–1965) was British sculptor and medalist

Engraver : Oscar Nemon (born Oscar Neumann 1906–1985) was a Croatian borm sculptor settled in England, best known for public statues of Sir Winston Churchill.

Mint: The Royal Mint Limited, it is a limited company that is wholly owned by His Majesty's Treasury

Mintage in 1965 19 640 000

Country                   United Kingdom

Queen                    Elizabeth II (1952-2022)

Type                Circulating commemorative coin

Year                  1965

Value                       1 Crown 

Currency          Pound sterling (1158-1970)

Composition        Copper-nickel

Weight                  28.4 g

Diameter                38.61 mm

Thickness              3 mm

Shape                Round

Orientation        Medal alignment ↑↑

References        KM#910, Sp#4144