Prince Philip retirement coins struck
On May 4 this year, 96-year-old Prince Philip announced he would be retiring from royal duties as of August. To celebrate his almost 80-year contribution to Britain’s public life, the…
On May 4 this year, 96-year-old Prince Philip announced he would be retiring from royal duties as of August. To celebrate his almost 80-year contribution to Britain’s public life, the country’s Royal Mint will issue a series of £5 coins at the time of his retirement.
The reverse of the coin bears a portrait of the Prince based on a design by Humphrey Paget. The design was interpreted for use on the present coin by Lee Jones, Coin Designer at the British Royal Mint. It was then personally approved by Prince Philip.
The coin will be known as “The Prince Philip Retirement Coin” and will be available as gold and silver proofs plus a BU version. The specifications of the individual coins were not available at the time of writing.
The first coin was struck by Prince Charles on July 11 during a visit to the Royal Mint. This was a very special moment in British history with the coin bearing an effigy of his mother, the queen, on the obverse and the reverse the portrait of his father.
Prince Philip had a close connection with the Royal Mint. For 47 years, from 1952 until 1999, he served as President of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee. Every UK coin and medal produced by The Royal Mint over this time, including four portraits of the queen, had to be approved by the committee he chaired.
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