The first English silver crown piece was made in 1551. Four hundred years later, on the occasion of the Festival of Britain, the Royal Mint issued this Crown piece, bearing on its edge the date 1851 - 1951 in Roman numerals, and a Latin inscription - CIVUM INDUSTRIA FLORET CIVITAS which translates, 'By the industry of its people the state flourishes'. The Festival of Britain marked the centenary of The Great Exhibition in 1851, and was also the first major national event after the end of the Second World War. It came at a time when wartime austerity was begining to relax and Britain was begining to recover economically. (Mrs DM Walls)
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