The Royal Mint have announced (1st July) that a new commemorative crown coin will be issued to mark the christening of HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, daughter of HRH Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, and HRH Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. The little Princess was born in London on May 2nd of this year to great cheers from the British public. The Princess is the couple’s first daughter and second child after her older brother HRH Prince George, born in July 2013. Princess Charlotte is also the first granddaughter to HRH Charles, Prince of Wales, and father of Prince William.
She is named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana in full–her first name being a favourite royal name more notably used with the birth of the only daughter of King George IV in 1796, herself declared Princess of Wales and named after her grandmother, Charlotte of Mecklenburg, wife of King George III. The name of Elizabeth is for her great-grandmother, the present Queen, who in September of this year becomes the longest reigning sovereign in English and British history. Diana is for her late Grandmother Diana, Princess of Wales, who tragically passed away in an auto accident in August of 1997. This name is of particular, sentimental importance and had been hoped for by many admirers of the late Princess.
The christening date has been set for the 5th July and will be held at St. Mary Magdalene Church at Her Majesty the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The coin, designed by veteran artist for the Royal Mint, John Bergdhal, is decorated with harp-playing cherubs encircled by swags of lilies – design elements shared with the christening coin for Prince George of Cambridge, also designed by Bergdahl, which symbolise the link between the royal siblings. A baroque-style oval frame, or ‘cartouche’, at the centre of the new coin bears the inscription “To celebrate the Christening of Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge 2015” The obverse includes the effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II as designed by the Royal Mint’s own artist & engraver Jody Clark. Introduced on British coinage in March of this year, it is the third time this effigy has been used on a single issue crown coin in 2015.
| Denomination | Metal | Weight | Diameter | Quality | Mintage |
| 5 Pounds | .925 silver | 28 grams | 38.6 mm. | Proof | 5000 pieces |
| 5 Pounds | .916.7 Gold | 39.94 grams | 38.6 mm. | Proof | 350 pieces |
The new coin will be available in silver and gold—silver to keep with the long-established tradition of “crossing a newborn baby’s palm with silver,” conferring good health and prosperity, and gold to mark the royal celebration. For more information on this and other coins offered by the Royal Mint, please visit their website at:http://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/royal-christening. Information offered in English. International orders dispatched where applicable.
When I clicked on the link in the above article, it redirected to “Microsoft Outlook Web App Security Exchange”. ????
Hello bob,
apologies, I may have provided an incorrect link… try this: http://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/royal-christening as the ordering information is indeed on-line.