The British Royal Mint has announced the latest series of commemorative coins celebrating Prince Charles’ 60th birthday. The design is rather unusual in that both sides of the coin bear a prominent head portrait — Prince Charles and his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, making it a “two-headed” coin.
In early 2008, the Royal Mint released a nickel version for £9.95 as well as a silver version within sets. Today, single coins in proof silver and proof gold are available for the price of £39.95 and £875.00, respectively. (See International Currency Converter.)
According to the Mint, the cupro-nickel coins have a limited mintage of 500,000, while the silver coins are limited to 20,000, and the gold coins to an extremely low issue of 1,500.
Prince Charles birthday
Born at Buckingham Palace on 14 November 1948, Prince Charles Philip Arthur George was the first son of Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh. The Queen declared her eldest son and heir apparent Prince of Wales in 1958 and in 1969 his Investiture took place at Caernarfon Castle.
Coin designs and specifications
The obverse or heads side of the commemorative coin has an image of Her Majesty The Queen and the reverse or tails side the portrait of Prince Charles. Both were designed by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.
The reverse inscription surrounding Prince Charles includes the words “ICH DIEN”, which means ‘I serve’, and is taken from the Badge of the Prince of Wales. The dates of 1948 and 2008 also appear as well as his royal title “THE PRINCE OF WALES.”
There is an edge inscription of "SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY."
Prince Charles commemorative silver, gold and nickel coin specifications
The following specifications were provided for each coin type:
| Cupro-Nickel | Silver | Gold | |
| Condition: | Brilliant Uncirculated | Proof | Proof |
| Composition: | Cupro-Nickel | .925 sterling silver | 22 carat gold |
| Weight: | 28.28 gms | 28.28 gms | 39.94 gms |
| Diameter: | 38.61 mm | 38.61 mm | 38.61 mm |
| Mintage: | 500,000 | 20,000 | 1,500 |
| Price: | £9.95 | £39.95 | £875.00 |
Online orders
The coins may be ordered online through the following Royal Mint product pages:
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The 2008 United Kingdom HRH The Prince of Wales £5 Coin Presentation Folder
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The 2008 United Kingdom HRH The Prince of Wales £5 Silver Proof Coin
- The 2008 United Kingdom HRH The Prince of Wales £5 Gold Proof Coin
Phone orders
Customers may also place orders by calling the Royal Mint directly at 0845 60 88 222. North America residents should use these contact details.
About the Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is a department of government and its primary responsibility remains the provision of the United Kingdom coinage. Its reputation, however, extends beyond this and internationally it has a reputation for making some fascinating coins for over 100 countries.
The history of the Royal Mint itself stretches back over 1100 years. There is an unbroken link from the scattered workshops of the moneyers of Anglo-Saxon London to a single mint within the Tower of London, from a purpose-built premises at Tower Hill to the huge modern coining plant in South Wales.
In April 1975 the Mint was established as a Government Trading Fund, operationally very similar to a government-owned company.
