The Royal Mint has launched their latest holiday-themed coin, which is the second year that sees a specially designed crown coin minted with a holiday (or Christmas) theme, well in time to add this unique gift to your holiday list.
The Brilliant Uncirculated crown coin is presented in a Christmas card, which simply makes it ideal for those who are ardent coin collectors.
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The reverse design is created by artist Harry Brockway and is inspired by the Christmas classic The Nutcracker, which includes four beautifully illustrated toy soldiers and four dancing ballerinas alternating around the coin. The text THE NUTCRACKER and CHRISTMAS 2018 are also included and placed around the design.
The obverse includes the fifth effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II designed by Royal Mint Engraver Jody Clark and has been in use on British circulation and commemorative coins since 2015. The coin’s face value of 5 POUNDS is seen on the obverse and is included in the legend around the Queen’s portrait.
| Denom. | Metal | Weight | Diameter | Quality | Maximum Mintage |
| Five pounds | Cupro-nickel | 28.2 g | 38.6 mm | Brilliant Unc. | Unlimited |
Aside from the coin being included in Christmas-card format which has space to write personalised messages, the coin is also included in the 2018 advent calendar. This alternative format tells The Nutcracker story and includes a chocolate coin behind each window. Hidden behind the final window is the official Nutcracker Christmas £5 coin.
A third option is a super soft festive stocking with a special pocket in which the 2018 Nutcracker Christmas coin is placed. Manufactured in red fleece, the stocking is lined and comes with a ribbon loop to hang it from a fireplace, door handle, or on a bedpost. The stocking is embroidered with gold, silver, and green colours to create a festive look. For additional information about this coin and other coins available from the Royal Mint, please visit their website.
The Tradition of the Christmas Stocking
St. Nicholas — who is today associated with the jolly man in red that we refer to as Santa Claus — was, in fact, a fourth-century Greek saint. The story about the gifts found in a stocking is based on St. Nicholas hearing of a bride-to-be whose father couldn’t provide a dowry, so she would not be able to marry. Legend has it that St. Nicholas came down a chimney and put a bag of coins in her stocking hung by the fireplace. The following night he came back and left more coins to the second daughter, and the next night to the third daughter. It is from this story that the custom of hanging a stocking up at Christmas above the fireplace was started.
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