Since the announcement of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton designers for the Mints' have been busy indeed designing and perfecting their designs for a coin to mark the occasion. One could speculate that these designs were already in the pipeline before any official announcement.
Whilst an issue for Australian coinage is imminent, a Royal Mint release for the occasion has been the first off the mark. Legal currency for Alderney (a British Crown Dependency of the Channel Islands), a £5 coin is being released commemorating the Wills and Kate engagement. Dated 2010 this is the first in a series of official designs which have received Royal approval from Prince William and Queen Elizabeth II.
The reverse by Royal Mint Chief Engraver Matt Bonaccorsi features the newly engaged couple with a legend of "Celebrating the Engagement of William and Catherine". The obverse is the standard Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II used on all Commonwealth currency with a "Alderney Five Pounds 2010 Elizabeth II" legend.
The coin is struck to brilliant uncirclalted quality which in Australia we would certainly call a specimen strike. Not a circulation strike but not as pristine as a proof strike. There will be no more than 50,000 pieces included in the special folder advertised but the fine print reads no more than 100,000 coins are to be struck so this coin will most certainly be included in another issue.
This release is cupro-nickel and 38.61mm in diameter. It weighs 28.28g. This issue has also been struck in silver, gold plated silver and fine gold. The Royal Mint's official issue price for the cupro nickel coin is £9.99.
For a different "spin" on things I think the Royal Mint website is pretty cool. Have a look at their listing for this coin and click on the 360 icon and drag your mouse across the coin and watch it spin!!
Posted by harrisk at December 10, 2010 6:26 PM
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