2015 £20 for £20: A Silver Tribute to Britain’s Longest Reigning Monarch

Every precious metals stacker remembers their early purchases—the ones that planted the seed of collecting and investing, even before it all began to make financial sense. For me, one of those early coins was the 2015 £20 for £20 Longest Reigning Monarch silver coin, issued by The Royal Mint to honour Queen Elizabeth II’s historic milestone. And what made this particular coin even more special? My son was born that year, an unforgettable moment in its own right, so I bought it with him in mind, a keepsake to pass down as part of a growing stack and legacy.

A milestone in modern monarchy

This 2015 silver coin marked a key moment in British royal history, when Queen Elizabeth II officially became the longest reigning monarch in UK history, surpassing Queen Victoria’s record.

The coin itself is struck in .999 fine silver, weighs 15.71 grams (half a troy ounce), and was sold for exactly £20 as part of The Royal Mint’s now-retired £20 for £20 face value series.

The design features a simple but striking portrait of Her Majesty on the obverse, while the reverse commemorates the milestone with a symbolic crown and laurel motif, an elegant nod to royal tradition.

A journey through time...

Since its release, the value of the coin has remained relatively stable. These pieces are only available now on the secondary market, and interestingly, they rarely exceed their original purchase price of £20. For collectors, that might seem unexciting, but for stackers with patience, there’s more to this story.

As silver begins to show signs of a long-term upward trend, there’s a decent chance that, with enough time—say 15 more years—I might actually break even on this coin. But honestly? That’s not why I bought it. This coin represents the early part of my stacking journey. It holds sentimental value, tied not just to a royal milestone, but to a personal one: the birth of my son.

Silver, sentiment, and slow gains

This coin may not be a high-premium collector’s item, and it certainly doesn’t attract the attention that some of the bullion giants do. But it’s a perfect example of how stacking isn’t always about instant profit, it’s about building slowly, meaningfully, and with intention.

With pieces like this, the story matters just as much as the metal.

The 2015 £20 Longest Reigning Monarch silver coin may not be rare or highly valuable on paper, but it’s rich in personal meaning and historical significance. It’s a coin I’ll hold onto, not just for its silver content, but for what it represents: the beginning of a journey, a nod to Britain’s history, and a small but meaningful legacy for my son to one day hold in his hands.