The Royal Mint produced the United Kingdom’s first official Christmas coin, which is now being sold at face value.
Struck in about a half ounce of .999 fine silver to a brilliant uncirculated finish, the £20 for £20 coin features a nativity scene designed by Gregory Kenneth Cameron, a Bishop of the Anglican Church in North East Wales. Cameron also designed the last commemorative ’round pound’.
The Christmas coin’s reverse depicts the Magi bringing gifts to baby Jesus. To the right of the scene are inscriptions THE NATIVITY and CHIRSTMAS 2016. To the left in smaller font is GKC for the bishop’s initials.
Obverses show Jody Clark’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with surrounding inscriptions of 20 POUNDS, ELIZABETH II, D G REG F D and the artist’s initials of JC.
Specifications for the coin include:
- Mintage: 30,000
- Composition: 99.9% pure silver
- Finish: brilliant uncirculated
- Weight (g): 15.71
- Diameter (mm): 27.00
- Edge: milled
- Face value: £20
- Reverse Artist: Gregory Cameron
- Obverse Artist: Jody Clark
Each coin comes in a specially designed booklet with space to write a message and wishes for the coming year.
Ordering
The Christmas Nativity Story 2016 UK £20 Fine Silver Coin is available from the Royal Mint at www.royalmint.com. A link to the coin’s product page is right here. There is a limit of three coins per household.
I ordered the Royal Mint’s QEII 90th birthday 20 for 20 pound silver coin earlier this year with the Shakespeare silver coin & ringed bimetallic 3-coin set & they are all nice coins.
Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the Anglican Church (also known as the Church of England) & all UK royal marriages must be to a member of the official state church of England. The letters F D on the coin stands for “Defender of the Faith” in Latin. As a long-time official Christian tradition, I am surprised that this is their first official Christmas coin.
-NumisDudeTX
Where is Saint Joseph.
The Royal Mint seems to be following lead with the RCM. Great idea for new collectors or old alike. Its nice to have choice…especially price. Opens the door to a larger market.