Royal Mint unveils coin ahead of Duke of Cambridge’s birthday
‘A three-quarter angle creates a more dynamic portrait rather than a traditional side-on profile’
THE Duke of Cambridge’s 40th birthday will be celebrated with a £5 coin featuring his portrait, The Royal Mint has announced.
The UK’S official coin producer has unveiled the coin ahead of the Duke of Cambridge’s milestone birthday on June 21.
It is the first time the Duke, who is second in line to the throne, will appear alone on an official UK coin struck by The Royal Mint.
The coin’s depiction of him appears to be based on a photo taken at the Queen’s Birthday Party in June 2018, at the UK Ambassador’s residence in Amman, Jordan.
The commemorative piece has been crafted by engraver Thomas T Docherty, and shows the Duke in three-quarter profile gazing up to the top right of the coin, with the number 40 to his left and his royal cypher “W” to his right.
Queen Elizabeth II’S image, engraved by Jody Clark, will be struck on the other side of the coin. There will also be an inscription on the edge reading: “HRH The Duke of Cambridge”.
Alongside the new £5 coin, a limitededition two-coin set will be released, featuring a 0.25oz gold celebration coin and a 1982 sovereign coin – the year the Duke was born. The collection will also include a limited edition coin to mark the special occasion, with laser technology creating a “high relief finish”, giving his portrait an enhanced 3D appearance. The Duke has previously only appeared on an official UK coin accompanied by Kate Middleton, issued in 2011 to commemorate the couple’s marriage.
Clare Maclennan, director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, said that the 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”.
She added: “Marking this extra special occasion, we have also struck a limited-edition gold coin made with 5oz of fine gold and struck in high relief to elevate the artistry of the design.”
Speaking of the design, Mr Docherty said: “The design 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. Using technology, we can now produce designs and sculptures with better efficiency compared to when I began my career 17 years ago.
“There’s a high level of skills and craftsmanship needed to sculpt designs – the tools are different but the principles remain the same.”