Royal Mint produces its largest ever coin for Platinum Jubilee
It weighs a whopping 15 kilograms
The Royal Mint has produced what it describes as its largest ever coin, to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
It's a £15,000 denomination coin, weighing 15 kilograms.
Technical teams at the site in Llantrisant, South Wales, took nearly 400 hours to craft it out of fine gold.
It was designed by coinage artist John Bergdahl, featuring a regal design on the reverse, with a 'crowned EIIR cypher surrounded by roses, daffodils, thistles and shamrocks, representing the United Kingdom.
The front features a commemorative design of the Queen on horseback, based on a 1953 coronation crown coin.
Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said: "This special-edition coin made of 15kilograms of fine gold is the masterpiece in the Platinum Jubilee collection, combining the finest craftsmanship and innovation rooted in our heritage as the original maker of coins for the monarchs and in celebration of Her Royal Majesty’s momentous 70 years on the throne.
"The largest coin ever made by The Royal Mint, it is a unique piece of art that will endure as a legacy of the occasion for generations to come. The one-off piece, commissioned by a private collector, represents our growth as the home of precious metals in the UK, making metals precious to our customers across all our collections."
The private UK collector, and owner of the commemorative Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen 15 kilogram gold coin, said: "As a long-standing customer of The Royal Mint, I have invested in unique and interesting coins marking moments throughout The Queen’s reign that will remain in my family for generations.
"The latest and greatest in my collection is the Platinum Jubilee coin, designed by John Bergdahl and brought to life in 15 kilograms of solid gold. The beautiful design stands apart as a fitting tribute to Her Majesty’s service to our nation and the craftsmanship is simply breath-taking, ensuring a once-in-a-lifetime moment will live on in history on UK coin."
Paul Morgan, Technical Manager at The Royal Mint, added: "As the largest UK coin to date, the scale and diameter of the piece has allowed us to push the boundaries of minting to produce an exceptional level of relief and detail.
"It is a true testament to the expertise and skills of our in-house design and production teams, and their ability to collaborate with the finest artists. The combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology has produced a truly one-of-a-kind piece of art."
The Royal Mint says 1.3 million 50p coins entered circulation to mark the anniversary of The Queen’s accession to the throne, with a limited mintage of 5,000,070. The commemorative 50p is also being gifted to 7,000 children completing the RFS Junior Forester Award in partnership with The Queen’s Green Canopy.
All the official celebrations planned for the Platinum Jubilee
Thursday 2nd June: Trooping the Colour
To mark the Queen's official birthday, over 1400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians are coming together in what the official Royal Family website describes as "a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare". The event will consist of a musical parade where soldiers will salute the Queen. The traditional march then closes with a fly-past by the Royal Air Force, which the Royal Family typically watch from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Thursday 2nd June: Platinum Jubilee Beacons
At Buckingham Palace, the Principal Beacon (which traditionally has been lit to mark the Queen's jubilee), will be 'lit' on Thursday. This jubilee beacon however is set to be a little different to previous jubilee celebrations, as a large living tree sculpture by British designer Thomas Heatherwick is being used. The lighting installation within this structure will act as the lighting of the principal beacon to reflect the Royal Family's commitment to environmental causes. A Palace spokeswoman has said on the sculpture: "It's 21 metres high – that's the height of three giraffes." Throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, other beacons are being lit in celebration.
Friday 3rd June: Service of Thanksgiving
A Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen's reign will be held at St Paul's Cathedral. This is in keeping with tradition as ever since 1897, the cathedral has hosted Jubilee services. St Paul's are also hosting an exhibition exploring the history of Jubilee celebrations at the cathedral across three centuries. This has been open to the public since May 25th.
Saturday 4th June: Platinum Party at the Palace
On Saturday, big names Diana Ross and George Ezra are set to perform at a concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the most significant moments from the Queen's reign. Live coverage will be broadcast on BBC One and will be hosted by Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp and co-presented by Huw Edwards, Clare Balding, AJ Odudu and Anita Rani.
Sunday 5th June: Big Jubilee Lunch
Street parties are being planned across the UK and neighbours are expected to join together for food and fun to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. This will mark the end of the bank holiday. It is also the day that pubs stop opening until 1am, giving everyone a reason to relax and have an early night.
Sunday 5th June: Platinum Jubilee Pageant
Performers will come together in London to tell the story of the Queen's reign through a pageant. This will include a "River of Hope" section made up of 200 silk flags that will make its way through The Mall, appearing like a moving river. In 2012, there was a similar parade of 670 boats on the Tideway of the River Thames in London as part of the celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
July: The Royal Collection Trust
Three displays marking the Queen's accession to the throne, the Coronation and Jubilees will be put on at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
12th-15th May: Platinum Jubilee Celebration Performance
In celebration of the Queen's 70 years on the throne, more than 500 horses and 1,000 performers took part in a 90-minute show taking the Windsor Castle audience through history right from Elizabeth I to the present day.