On Monday 11th July, The Prince of Wales made a visit to The Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant in South Wales as part of his Welsh summer tour. The Royal Mint has been situated in the current location since 1968 and produces coins for around 60 countries per year. Prince Charles’s trip to the visitor’s centre of The Royal Mint was made in order to strike a special coin in honour of his father The Duke of Edinburgh.
The Duke of Edinburgh announced earlier this year that he planned to retire from his public duties due to his age and has since been passing roles on to his family members. The Royal Mint decided to produce a commemorative five-pound coin featuring Prince Philip on one side and The Queen on the other to pay homage to Prince Philip who has dedicated his life to charitable works.
The picture of Prince Philip used on the gold and silver coin is from a prize medal created in the 1970s and fits nicely with the smiling image of The Queen. The Latin phrase which surrounds the Prince’s image is very fitting; the words “non sibi sed patriae” are usually seen on war memorials and mean “not for self, but for country.”
Prince Charles seemed pleased to have been the one to strike the first coin and was grateful to be given the one which he made to take away with him. When speaking to the BBC, Gordon Summers, the chief engraver, said that they were also working on a coin for Prince Charles’s 70th birthday and that His Royal Highness had seen the designs for it.
According to The Royal Mint, the Prince Philip retirement coin will be on sale at the start of August and will be available in gold or silver finishes for any collectors who are interested.
