Just six years after the end of the Second World War, the Festival of Britain, was intended as a 'tonic for the nation'. A huge spectacular cultural event raising the spirits of a country still undergoing austerity and rationing, and seeing severe social and economic reform. It highlighted, might and fortitude on a national scale, showcasing the best of British manufacturing and design. Running from 3 May to 30 September 1951, it provided light-relief to 8.5 million people who visited the main Festival site on London's South Bank, and events held in cities and towns across the country. Also commemorating exactly one hundred years since the famous Great Exhibition of 1851 – the first international exhibition of manufactured products – it acted as a catalyst for a new design aesthetic, launching the career of British designers working in the fields of textiles, furniture, ceramics and graphic design and the products created that are still hugely popular and much sought after. As with any major event memorabilia of all types and in all materials were produced as keepsakes, one such item was the Festival of Britain Crown piece. In this case presented in a dark green faux leather box with the guilded coat of arms of the Royal Mint on the lid. The box is overall very good condition with minimal wear. Inside the crown, with the head of King George VI, is in pristine untarnished condition. It is accompanied with a small paper leaflet providing information about the coin. A great piece for a coin collector, as part of a historical display or perhaps for somone who visited the event at the time.