Coin marks Queen Mother's centenary

By THIS IS MONEY
Updated:

 

A special commemorative coin to celebrate the 100th year of the Queen Mother has gone on sale.

The £5 centenary crown, produced by the Royal Mint, features a portrait of the Queen Mother in profile, as well as her signature, the dates 1900 and 2000 and flag-waving crowds.

Ian Rank-Broadley, the coin's designer, said: 'I wanted to portray a realistic portrait which showed Her Majesty's dignified bearing of many years, but retained the elegance and grace for which she is so admired.

'Her life mirrors the century, which is why she is close to all our hearts.'

The design was chosen following a competition between eight portrait sculptors, working from photographs taken at a special sitting with the Queen Mother, who will be 100 on August 4.

Mr Rank-Broadley has the rare honour of having his designs on both sides of the coin, as the other side features his portrait of the Queen which was approved for all UK circulating coins from January 1998.

Roger Holmes, chief executive of the Royal Mint, said: 'We are delighted to celebrate Her Majesty's 100th year with this coin.

'The coin design captures the celebratory mood perfectly, down to the inclusion of the public who are very much a part of Her Majesty's birthday celebrations.'

The silver-coloured coin will initially be available in a presentation folder, priced £9.95, while limited editions in gold and silver will be available at the end of May and a circulating version will be available in August.

The Royal Mint produced coins for the Queen Mother's 80th and 90th birthdays.

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