Commemorative £5 coin launched to mark Prince George’s first birthday
The Royal Mint is honouring the Prince’s first birthday with a limited edition £5 coin. But it will cost you £80 to get it!
A commemorative £5 coin will be struck by The Royal Mint to honour Prince George’s first birthday.
The future King, who is third-in-line to the throne, turns one on 22nd July.
To mark the occasion 7,500 sterling silver limited edition £5 coins will be minted and available to buy for £80 each.
This is the first time new UK coins have been produced to mark the first birthday of a member of the Royal family.
The coins have been approved by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Queen and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
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Old design
The commemorative £5 coin features the heraldic Royal Arms set out in a cruciform pattern, divided by the floral emblems of the UK (a rose, a thistle, a leek and a sprig of shamrock).
The design was originally created for Prince George’s great grandmother Queen Elizabeth II in her coronation year.
But it’s not been used in over 50 years since it was featured on a £5 coin struck for the British Exhibition in New York 1960.
Shane Bissett, Director of Commemorative Coin and Bullion at The Royal Mint, said: "We felt there could be no more fitting design to mark the first birthday of our future king than the Royal Arms - the arms of the monarch - minted in honour of the future heir to the throne.
"The choice of a silver coin is significant too as the precious metal is closely associated with new born babies, as crossing the palm of a new born baby with silver is a way to wish them wealth and good health throughout their life.”
Building a collection
Prince George has had both his birth and his christening honoured with commemorative £5 coins.
10,000 Royal Birth 2013 coins were minted, also priced at £80 each, and sold out within a matter of days. 12,500 Royal Christening 2013 coins were struck, priced at £13, but are still available.
If you want to start or complete a collection you can pre-order the new £5 commemorative First Birthday of Prince George 2014 coin from the Royal Mint’s website.
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