Prince William to appear on £5 coin to mark his 40th birthday
The Duke of Cambridge'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 Prince William'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 the Queen's Birthday Party 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.
Queen Elizabeth II's image, engraved by Jody Clark, will be struck on the other side of the coin.
There will also be an inscription on the edge reading: "HRH The Duke of Cambridge."
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 collection will also include a limited edition coin made of 5oz of fine gold quality to mark the special occasion, with laser technology creating a "high relief finish", giving William's portrait an enhanced 3D appearance.
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.
Clare Maclennan, the director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said that the design "pays homage to the maturity and grace of the Prince who has become a senior member of the Royal family, a devoted husband and a loving father of three".
Mr Docherty said the coin's design "strikes a balance between the fresh energy of His Royal Highness being a young dad with the ceremonial nature of his royal position".
He added: "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."
