The Royal Mint Reveals New Precious Metal Coins to Commemorate Diamond Jubilee

LONDON, March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The Royal Mint has unveiled five new precious metal variations of the only official UK £5 coin, struck to mark the occasion of Her Majesty the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Like the Brilliant Uncirculated version released a few months ago, the diamond jubilee coins have been designed by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS to celebrate a regal achievement matched only by Queen Victoria, The Queen's great-great- grandmother. The portraits encapsulate The Queen's 60 years on the throne, and will appear exclusively on the Diamond Jubilee £5 coins, now available in Silver Proof, Silver Piedfort, Gold-Plated Silver Proof, Gold Proof and Platinum Piedfort.                        

The first of the new portraits shows a contemporary image of Her Majesty dressed in formal Garter Robes with gravitas and stately bearing. The other portrait is a tribute to Mary Gillick's youthful 1953 effigy; a classical depiction of a young monarch wearing a laurel wreath alongside the Latin words 'Dirige Deus GressusMeos'-'May God Guide My Steps'.  

Combined, both portraits tell a celebratory story of a rich, historic reign, from the fresh and optimistic beginning of a new Elizabethan era to the gravitas of an assured and dignified Head of State 60 years on.

Commenting on the new coin, Kevin Clancy, Director of the Royal Mint Museum, said: "Ian's new portraits tell the story of The Queen's long reign with beauty and elegance and his artistry combines with the fine quality of these precious metals to create five beautiful coins that truly honour this remarkable occasion. The coins offer collectors a chance to mark this momentous achievement with an individual and treasured piece of history."

For those interested in coin collecting, the official UK £5 precious metal coins to commemorate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee are available now from The Royal Mint's website http://www.royalmint.com.

Note to editors:

On 1 January 2010, the assets of The Royal Mint Trading Fund were vested into a private company, called The Royal Mint Limited. HM Treasury remains 100% owner of the shares of the company. All assets of an historical nature have been vested into a separate company, The Royal Mint Museum, to preserve, protect and enhance them for future generations. With the exception of the assets separated into the Museum, all other assets and liabilities, including those of a contingent nature, were transferred into the new company effective 1 January 2010.

About the Royal Mint

The Royal Mint has a history dating back over 1,000 years. By the late thirteenth century the organisation was based in the Tower of London, and remained there for over 500 years. By 1812 The Royal Mint had moved out of the Tower to premises on London's Tower Hill. In 1967 the building of a new Royal Mint began on its current site in Llantrisant, South Wales.

There were estimated to be 28.6 billion UK coins in circulation at 31 March 2011, with a total face value of £3.8 billion - all manufactured by The Royal Mint. 1.1 billion UK coins were issued during 2010-11.

The Royal Mint's Llantrisant site was recently chosen to host the Prime Minister David Cameron's first government cabinet meeting in Wales.

PR Contact:
Porter Novelli
The Royal Mint Press Office
31 St Petersburgh Place
London
W2 4LA
+44(0)207-853-2390
http://www.royalmint.com