Pobjoy Mint is honoured to produce and release a commemorative coin from the Administration of the British Indian Ocean Territory celebrating the Royal Engagement.
It was on the 16th November 2010 following a great deal of public speculation that an announcement was made by Clarence House confirming that Prince William, oldest son of Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales had become engaged to his long time girl friend Miss Catherine Middleton.
Prince William had actually ‘popped the question’ in October whilst the couple had been on holiday in the remote Rutundu Log Cabin in Laikipia in Kenya but had not made any public announcement until family and friends were advised and decisions could be made about the actual wedding itself.
William and Catherine were both 28 years old when the announcement was made and met whilst students at the University of St Andrews. Until the announcement was made, Catherine, a Fine Arts Graduate worked for her parents company whilst in 2010 William graduated as a Helicopter Pilot. As Flight Lieutenant Windsor he has joined RAF Search and Rescue which celebrates its 70th Anniversary in 2011 and will co-pilot Sea King helicopters as part of a four-man crew based at RAF Valley in Anglesey on the north west coast of Wales.
As second in line to the British Throne and eldest son of Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales this engagement has attracted significant interest throughout the world. To add to the Fairy Tale Romance, the engagement took place in the Kenya, where his grandmother was staying on the day that she became Queen whilst William gave Catherine the engagement ring first given by his father to Diana.
The wedding itself which will not be a full State Ceremony as both parents will contribute towards the cost, but it will be held at Westminster Abbey, site of many well remembered royal events on 29th April 2011 and that date has been declared a public holiday in the UK.
Approved by both Clarence House and Buckingham Palace this superb coin carries a perfectly sculpted image of the profiles of HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton. The obverse of this carries a fine effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS FSNAD and is available in Unc. Cupro Nickel and Proof Sterling Silver. To view these coins and others in the range please visit www.pobjoy.com.
The British Indian Ocean Territory is an Overseas Territory governed by the United Kingdom and has for many years issued its own stamps. The first coin issued under the British Indian Ocean Territory Coin Ordinance 2008 depicts the Coat of Arms of the Territory which was formally granted in 1990 on the 25th Anniversary of the Territory’s Establishment.
Although this is only the third coin to be issued by the Territory, the second coin depicting the Life Cycle of the Turtle has already won a prestigious Award in Russia, has been voted Most Innovative Coin issued in 2009 and currently awaits the results of the voting for Overall International Coin of the Year. The Royal Engagement coin is a worthy new addition to the range.
Royal Engagement Coin Specifications:
| Metal | Diameter | Weight | Issue limit |
| Unc. Cupro Nickel £2 | 38.60mm | 28.28gms | unlimited |
| Proof Sterling Silver £2 | 38.60mm | 28.28gms | 10,000 |
About Pobjoy Mint Ltd.
The Pobjoy family have been associated with fine metalwork since the Middle Ages. The Company was recently granted permission to use the family Coat of Arms in which the Medieval Popinjay is the central motif.
Over the past three centuries, the Company has been involved in many diverse fields, but they have always been involved in metal, both base and precious.
For the past 100 years the Company has been deeply involved in the development and manufacture of coins, medals and tokens.
