An engraving of the Duke of Cambridge, firm of gaze and strong of jaw, will appear on a new £5 coin struck by the Royal Mint to mark his 40th birthday.
The design, unveiled ahead of his milestone on 21 June, also incorporates his royal cypher featuring the letter W and the number 40, created by designer and engraver Thomas T Docherty.
An inscription on the edge reads: “HRH The Duke of Cambridge.”
It is the first time the second in line to the throne will appear alone on an official coin. He previously appeared on a £5 coin with the Duchess of Cambridge to celebrate their wedding in 2011.
An image of the Queen, designed by Jody Clark, will be struck on the other side of the coin.
Alongside the new £5 coin, a limited edition souvenir two-coin set will be released, featuring a 0.25oz gold celebration coin and a 1982 sovereign coin – the year the duke was born. The collection will also include a limited edition coin made of 5oz of fine gold quality to mark the special occasion, with laser technology creating a “high relief finish”, giving William’s portrait an enhanced 3D appearance.
Clare Maclennan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said the “elegant” design “pays homage to the maturity and grace of the prince who has become a senior member of the royal family, a devoted husband and a loving father of three, through the eyes of the world”.
Docherty said: “The design strikes a balance between the fresh energy of His Royal Highness being a young dad with the ceremonial nature of his royal position. A three-quarter angle of the portrait creates a more dynamic portrait rather than a traditional side-on profile … I used certain clay sculpting techniques on a digital platform to achieve the style needed for the design, to translate effectively from two to three dimensions.”
