Prince William's 40th birthday marked with commemorative coin: Here's where to buy it
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Prince William's 40th birthday will be celebrated with a £5 coin featuring his portrait, the Royal Mint has announced.
The UK's official coin producer has unveiled the coin ahead of the Duke of Cambridge's milestone birthday on June 21.
It is the first time the duke, who is second in line to the throne, will appear alone on an official UK coin struck by the Royal Mint.
The coin’s depiction of Prince William appears to be based on a photo taken at a birthday party for the Queen in June 2018, at the UK Ambassador's residence in Amman, Jordan.
The commemorative piece has been crafted by engraver Thomas T Docherty and shows the duke in a three-quarter profile gazing up to the top right of the coin, with the number 40 to his left and his royal cypher "W" to his right.
Buy it: The 40th Birthday of HRH The Duke of Cambridge 2022 UK £5 Brilliant Uncirculated Coin | £13 from The Royal Mint
Shop the full HRH The Duke of Cambridge coin collection
Queen Elizabeth II's image, engraved by Jody Clark, will be struck on the other side of the coin.
Alongside the new £5 coin, a limited edition two-coin set will be released, featuring a 0.25oz gold celebration coin and a 1982 sovereign coin - the year the Duke was born. The coin collection ranges in price from £13 to £4,775 for a super limited edition 2oz Gold Proof Coin.
Prince William has previously only appeared on an official UK coin accompanied by the Duchess of Cambridge, issued in 2011 to commemorate the couple's marriage.
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A statement on the Royal Mint website explained: "Growing up during the eighties and nineties as a popular prince, His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge has evolved into his senior royal role with seamless confidence.
"In addition to his ceremonial duties, which include supporting his grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness works tirelessly to make an impact on progressive causes that remain close to his heart – whether it’s tackling the issue of climate change or the stigma attached to mental health issues.
"As a devoted husband to Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge and a loving father to their three young children, this year The Duke of Cambridge celebrates his milestone 40th birthday. Join The Royal Mint in marking the occasion with a special commemorative coin."
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Speaking of the design, Royal Mint designer Thomas T. Docherty said: “The design strikes a balance between the fresh energy of His Royal Highness being a young dad with the ceremonial nature of his Royal position.
"A three-quarter angle of the portrait creates a more dynamic portrait rather than a traditional side-on profile. I used certain clay sculpting techniques on a digital platform to achieve the style needed for the design, to translate effectively from two to three dimensions. Using technology, we can now produce designs and sculptures with better efficiency compared to when I began my career 17 years ago. There’s a high level of skills and craftsmanship needed to sculpt designs – the tools are different but the principles remain the same.”
The project has been a labour of love for the 40-year-old father-of-two from Glasgow who moved to South Wales to study at Cardiff Metropolitan University twenty years ago. The experienced coin designer joined The Royal Mint in 2005 and his works include the 2008 £2 coin commemorating the centenary of the 1908 London Olympics, the Remembrance Day 2016 Alderney £5 coin and the 2018 Bicentenary of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein £2 coin.
Thomas added: “Even though our lives are a million miles apart, I understand how it feels to have just turned 40 and to have a young family of my own, so I wanted to ensure I captured His Royal Highness accurately at this stage in his life. I am incredibly proud to have designed and sculpted this coin, it will forever stand as a major achievement and highlight in my career.”
