The Royal Mint has unveiled the coin ahead of Prince William’s milestone 40th birthday on the 21st of June.
The portrait of the Duke of Cambridge is based on a picture that has been taken at the UK Ambassador’s residence in Amman, Jordan during the Queen’s Birthday Party in June 2018.
The crafter of this special commemorative piece is engraver Thomas Docherty. The other side of the coin is reserved for a representation of Queen Elizabeth II, who is breaking virtually every record when it comes to the longevity of a monarch. The Queen’s image is engraved by Jody Clark.
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In addition to the £5 coin, a limited edition two-coin is also to be released, containing a 0.25oz gold celebration coin and a 1982 sovereign coin – the Duke’s year of birth.
The collection also includes a limited edition coin made of 5oz of excellent gold quality to mark the occasion. What’s more, the coin will be engraved with laser technology allowing what specialists in the matter call a “high relief finish„, giving William’s portrait an “enhanced 3D appearance”, as the Daily Telegraph reports.
The only time Prince William already appeared on an official UK coin dates back to 2011, when such a special coin was designed to commemorate the Duke’s marriage with Duchess of Cambridge Catherine Middleton.
According to the director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, the coin’s design „pays homage to the maturity and grace of the Prince who has become a senior member of the Royal family, a devoted husband and a loving father of three„.
Thomas Docherty told the media that his coin „strikes a balance between the fresh energy of His Royal Highness being a young dad with the ceremonial nature of his royal position„.
„A three-quarter angle of the portrait creates a more dynamic portrait rather than a traditional side-on profile […] I used certain clay sculpting techniques on a digital platform to achieve the style needed for the design, to translate effectively from two to three dimensions” – he added.
Image: The Royal Mint
Author: Sébastien Meuwissen
