For Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the Royal Mint (www.royalmint.com) has unveiled the only official UK £5 coin struck to mark the historic occasion, featuring two new and exclusive portraits of the monarch.
Designed by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS to celebrate a remarkable royal milestone, the portraits encapsulate The Queen’s 60 years on the throne, a regal achievement matched only by the reign of Queen Victoria, the Queen’s great-great grandmother.
"Working with some of the finest artists in Britain, the Royal Mint has captured The Queen’s likeness on the coinage for almost 60 years and in her Diamond Jubilee year we wanted to honour her remarkable achievements with a remarkable coin," said Kevin Clancy, Director of the Royal Mint Museum.
The first of the new portraits shows a contemporary image of Her Majesty dressed in formal Garter Robes, captured with gravitas and stately bearing. The other portrait, inspired by the first portrait of The Queen to appear on coins from 1953, features a young monarch classically depicted, wearing a laurel crown alongside the Latin words Dirige Deus Gressus Meos — May God Guide My Steps.
"Ian’s new portraits tell the story of The Queen’s long reign with beauty and elegance, dignity and character, evoking the spirit of The Queen as only a truly gifted artist can," said Clancy
Combined, both portraits tell a celebratory story of a rich, historical reign, from the fresh and optimistic beginning of a new Elizabethan era to the gravitas of an assured and dignified Head of State, 60 years on.
All UK coins must be approved by Buckingham Palace and the official Queen’s Diamond Jubilee £5 coin is no exception. Because of the fact the new portraits will appear together on this one coin celebrating this landmark event, the Royal Mint is anticipating significant demand from around the world.
The UK £5 coin is the ideal choice for people wishing to mark the Diamond Jubilee with a permanent and treasured souvenir that can be passed from one generation to the next.
The Official Queen’s Diamond Jubilee UK £5 coin is available now from the Royal Mint’s website (www.royalmint.com).
The newly released Queen’s Diamond Jubilee £5 Coin sells for £12.99 because it is a commemorative not circulating coin. They are designed to last forever as special mementos of historic British occasions. Its retail value is determined not according to its denomination, but by the quality of its finish, which is finer and of a higher standard than a circulating coin, retaining all of its original mint luster. The commemorative coin comes in a specially designed and informative presentation pack. Precious metal versions of the £5 coin will be available in January 2012.
About the UK Royal Mint
The Royal Mint has a history dating back over 1,000 years. By the late thirteenth century the organization was based in the Tower of London, and remained there for over 500 years. By 1812, the Royal Mint had moved out of the Tower to premises on London’s Tower Hill. In 1967 the building of a new Royal Mint began on its current site in Llantrisant, South Wales.
