Roses adorn Royal Mint's £5 coin to mark Queen's 90th birthday

Updated

The Royal Mint has marked the Queen's forthcoming 90th birthday by producing a commemorative £5 coin.

The Queen has approved the special edition piece, which features a garland of roses in recognition of her fondness for flowers and nature, and was designed by acclaimed artist and sculptor Christopher Hobbs.

The Royal Mint is also offering a free £5 coin gift to pensioners who turn 90 on the same day as the Queen - April 21. They can be nominated by friends or relatives via the organisation's Facebook page.

Mr Hobbs said: "My design for Her Majesty's 90th birthday coin collection was inspired by the heraldic rose and the Queen's love of flowers.

"The central 'EIIR' is surrounded by a classical wreath of celebration. I have tried to make the roses more natural than heraldic, each one different from the other."

The Royal Mint has struck coins to mark the Queen's 70th and 80th birthdays and other significant dates during her 64-year reign.

In 1990 a £5 coin was released to commemorate the Queen Mother's 90th birthday, and a £5 coin was released to mark the moment the Queen became the longest reigning monarch last year.

Anne Jessopp, the Royal Mint's director of commemorative coin, said: "The Royal Mint has been making coinage for Britain's monarchs for over 1,000 years, so we are very proud to be celebrating this important occasion together with the nation, with a coin bearing Christopher Hobbs' strong yet feminine floral coin design.

"Coins produced to celebrate the Queen becoming Britain's longest reigning monarch in 2015 were very well received, with some ranges selling out completely.

"We anticipate that coins created for Her Majesty's 90th birthday will prove equally popular with members of the public wishing to mark this historic occasion."

The £5 coin has been issued in a variety of finishes and metals, from mint condition "brilliant uncirculated" coins, to editions struck in the Royal Mint's high quality "proof" finish in platinum, gold and silver.

The commemorative items are available from the Royal Mint's website.

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