Prince strikes all the right notes at Mint and museum
THE Prince of Wales has struck a commemorative coin to mark the Duke of Edinburgh’s retirement from public duties.
One side of the £5 coin bears the image of Prince Philip and the phrase “Non sibi sed patriae” – meaning “not for self, but country”, while the other features an image of the Queen.
Charles struck the coin during a visit to the Royal Mint’s factory and visitor centre in Llantrisant in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
He pressed a gold button before examining the coin, which will be made in silver and gold.
Prince Philip has personally approved the design.
Gordon Summers, chief engraver for the Royal Mint, then explained the process of creating the coin, as well as one to mark Charles’ 70th birthday next year.
“The image of the Duke of Edinburgh was taken from a prize medal from the 1970s,” Mr Summers said.
“We are already working on a coin for Prince Charles’ 70th birthday, and I showed him the design for it.
“He asked what references we had used. We had a photography session with him about a year ago.
“We did not alter the image of his father, so his father looks younger than him on the coins.
“He did say, ‘my father got to choose a younger portrait’.”
Mr Summers said the coins were created using a combination of state-of-the-art and traditional technologies.
During the visit Charles toured the factory and £9m visitor centre, speaking to staff including apprentices and graduates.
He viewed examples of medals made for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London in 2012, remarking, “they are very heavy”.
A gold medal weighs 412g. Each of the 4,700 medals took ten hours to produce – involving 22 traditional stages and hand-stitching.
After his visit, Charles – on the third day of his Welsh summer tour – was presented with the coin he had struck.
“Is that the one I made?” he asked. “I am very grateful.”
The Royal Mint, which was first housed in the Tower of London, produces five billion coins each year for more than 60 countries.
Its headquarters in Llantrisant was officially opened by the Queen in 1968 in readiness for the introduction of decimal coinage.
Earlier, Charles met the Royal Welsh’s regimental goat, Shenkin III, during a visit to the Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh.
Goat Major Sgt Mark Jackson revealed that Shenkin is a fan of cabbage, and cheese and onion crisps, when Charles asked what he likes to eat.
The heir to the throne met Elliot Ngubane, a Zulu in traditional dress complete with battle shield and weapons, at the museum.
He petted Welsh mountain pony Trooper Emrys Forlan Jones, who is mascot of the Dragoon Guards, as he left to speak to schoolchildren learning about the regiment’s history.
Charles also came face to face with a historical actor playing King Charles I during a visit to Llancaiach Fawr Manor House in Trelewis.
He met staff – each in full character – as well as gardeners and volunteers at the 16th-century house and gardens.
His tour of Wales will continue on Friday, when the Prince will attend RAF Valley in his role as Honorary Air Commodore.