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Prince Philip (1921 – 2021) – a Life in Coins
Over the coming days and weeks much will be written about Prince Philip. The dashing naval officer who married a Princess and has since provided steadfast support to the Queen as Britain’s longest serving Consort. But few of the many obituaries will dwell deeply on his key involvement in Britain’s coinage.
First Job – new coin designs
A new monarch means many things – one is a new coinage. On 21 March 1952, just weeks after the Queen’s accession to the throne, Prince Philip attended his first meeting as President of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee on the design of coins, medals, seals and decorations (RMAC); a role that he would hold for the next 47 years, until his retirement in 1999.
A keen artist himself, the Prince’s first job was to oversee the selection of the Queen’s portrait to ordain her new coins. An uncrowned Queen was chosen from a field of seventeen designs, giving Nottingham born sculptor, Mary Gillick, the honour of creating the most seen portrait of the new Queen. Equally importantly, the young Prince oversaw the design of the most important coin of the moment – the Coronation Crown, featuring Gilbert Ledward’s Queen on horseback on the obverse and Edgar Fuller’s reverse design containing the Coats of Arms of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom.
The UK’s biggest ever currency change
Gillick’s design remained on pre-decimal coinage until 1970, when Prince Philip was involved in another huge coinage milestone – the introduction of decimalisation. The process required a complete redesign of Britain’s coinage as well as an updated effigy of Her Majesty, designed to help the new denominations stand out. The RMAC selected Royal Academician Arnold Machin to sculpt the Queen, this time wearing a tiara. However, it was the reverse coin designs that were perhaps more significant.
A “monstrous piece of metal”
Under Prince Philip’s presidency, the RMAC started to work in top secret on designs as early as 1962, before there was any official government announcement confirming decimalisation. The final designs were created by Christopher Ironside and featured heraldic elements of the United Kingdom. But it was the new 50p coin – introduced to replace the 10/- note – that caused the greatest stir, with its unique heptagonal (7-sided) shape. Now Britain’s most popular coin with collectors, that was certainly not the case on its launch with one newspaper calling it a “monstrous piece of metal” and a retired colonel even starting Anti-Heptagonist movement.
In the 28 years that followed Decimalisation, Prince Philip guided the RMAC through two more effigies, Raphael Maklouf (1985 – 1997) and Ian Rank-Broadly (1998 – 2015), as well as the launch of 20p, £1 and £2 coins into circulation and numerous commemorative issues.
The five UK Coins that feature Prince Philip
Of course, Prince Philip has also featured on UK coins himself. The 1972 Crown issued to mark his Silver Wedding Anniversary was an understated affair. However, in 1997, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary, and Prince Philip featured on a UK coin for the very first time as part of a conjoined effigy on the obverse of the commemorative £5 coin. 2007 saw a similar conjoined portrait before the recent 2017 Platinum Wedding Anniversary design, which featured the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on horseback in what can only been seen as a nod to the original 1953 Coronation Crown as well as a third conjoined portrait.
Yet it was in 2011 that Prince Philip was finally granted the greatest privilege – his own £5 Coin to celebrate his 90th Birthday – a splendid close up portrait of the Duke by Mark Richards FRBS. This was followed in 2017, with a design of the young Prince Philip by Humphrey Paget to mark Prince Philip stepping down from public duties after 70 years of service. We will remember Prince Philip for many things – but among them, spare some room for the man who has had more influence over the nation’s coins than any other. Surely the nation will do just that with a final memorial £5 Coin, in the same way we paid tribute to Princess Diana and HM Queen Mother.
Click here to view a number of new and previously issued numismatic and philatelic tributes to HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Mr Benn to feature on BRAND NEW 50p Coins
From an Astronaut, Pirate or Knight we’re sure nobody will want to miss this upcoming release!
That’s because we’re delighted to confirm that a brand new collection of British Isles 50p coins are set to feature the bowler hatted everyman – Mr Benn!
Here’s what we know so far…
To celebrate Mr Benn’s 50th birthday this year, a number of official 50p coins will be released, authorised by Guernsey Treasury.
We can’t confirm any other details at the moment except there will be a single Mr Benn Anniversary coin with a design inspired by the logo. There will also be a collection of FIVE Silver Proof coins, featuring stunning colour print!
The coins are due for release in April so it isn’t long until we can see them for ourselves.
Fall down the rabbit hole and discover the BRAND NEW Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland 50ps…
Recently, we announced an exciting brand new collection of 50p coins celebrating Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Unsurprisingly, since their release, the coins have seen unprecedented demand as collectors and beloved fans alike race to get theirs.
The coins were released to celebrate over 150 years since author, Lewis Carroll first narrated his nonsense fairytale about a girl called Alice. Since then, the story has been adapted in many forms, from book to theatre to ballet and even a blockbuster Disney film. The story is undeniably one of the best-known and most popular works of English-language fiction. A first edition of the book once sold at auction for over $2 million, confirming Alice commemoratives would be highly sought-after.
The 50p has firmly established itself as the collector’s favourite coin, so it was only right the beloved characters from the fairytale feature on them. Authorised for release by Isle of Man Treasury and fully approved by Her Majesty the Queen, these coins could undoubtedly become one of the most popular numismatic releases of 2021!
Find out more about these new coins and how to order them below…
The COMPLETE Brilliant Uncirculated 50p Set
This stunning collection features all five new 50p coins, each struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated quality and featuring carefully curated designs by renowned illustrator Stephen Lee. These include:
- Alice “What a curious feeling! said Alice”
- Cheshire Cat “We’re all mad here”.
- Queen of Hearts “That’s enough! Off with their heads!”.
- The Mad Hatter “I am under no obligation to make sense to you.”
- The White Rabbit “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get”.
What’s more, the coins will come protectively housed in bespoke presentation pack that has also been designed by the coin designer. This set is one of the only ways you can own all FIVE coins and demand has already been extremely high.
If you’d like to secure one for your collection for JUST £31.25 (+p&p) then click here >>
The STRICTLY LIMITED Silver Proof 50p
The Silver Proof version of the stunning Alice 50p coin features a specially commissioned illustration of Alice, drinking the shrinking potion that allows her through the door to the Queens castle. ‘What a curious feeling’ said Alice…
The coin has been struck to a flawless Proof finish from .925 Sterling Silver with selective vivid colour printing to bring the design and Alice to life!
The Silver Proof editions are without a doubt the collector’s favourite and almost always acquire fast sell-outs. With an edition limit of JUST 4,995 coins time is short to secure one for your collection…
Click here to guarantee yours >>
The ULTIMATE Silver Proof 50p Collection
The Silver Proof set is by far one of the most limited and exclusive ways you can own all five new 50ps. With only 1,995 available to collectors worldwide, it is almost certain that they won’t be around for long.
Each coin is struck from .925 Silver, to a Proof finish, with the addition of colour and comes ready to present in case with numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Don’t miss out on yours… Click here >>
The SCARCE Gold Proof 50p – the most prestigious and limited coin within the range
The crème de la crème of the range you could say. If you’re looking for the most premium and limited way to own one of these brand new Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland 50p coins, then this is it.
Struck in .916 Gold to a flawless proof finish, this coin is guaranteed to popular with serious collectors. Though especially as this official new release has been given a strict edition limit of JUST 500 worldwide.
This is MUCH LOWER than other recent Gold Proof 50p releases that have completely sold out, so only a handful of lucky collectors will have the chance to own this prestigious coin.
If you’d like to find out more about this incredible new coin and how you can secure one for your collection, click here >>
The LIMITED EDITION Signed Print
This unique, celebratory print is 1 of JUST 495 limited-edition authentic prints to be signed and hand-numbered by renowned illustrator Stephen Lee.
This authentic print offers a closer look at the designs of the new 2021 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland 50p coins and is exclusively available from The Westminster Collection.
With such a small number available it is advised that you reserve your Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Framed Print today or you may miss out altogether. Click here >>
View the complete range of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland 50p coins here >>
