09 Apr 2015

To celebrate the arrival of the new addition to the Royal Family, The Royal Mint is to gift 2,015 babies born on the same day with a special Lucky Silver Penny struck with the year of their birth.

It is a fitting gesture to welcome the eagerly anticipated future Prince or Princess and also in keeping with an age-old tradition to mark a new birth with a gift of silver for good luck.

The 2015 Lucky Silver Pennies will also be struck with the new effigy of Her Majesty the Queen, unveiled in March, meaning these will be amongst the first coins to bear the latest Royal portrait.

A present of silver to mark the arrival of a new baby is now generally considered to be a symbolic keepsake rather than a practical gift. However, throughout history, crossing the palm of a new born baby with silver, or offering them a silver penny, was also seen as a way to wish them wealth and good health throughout their life.

The Royal Mint has a long tradition of making coins for the kings and queens of this country, marking important historical events and special occasions for over 1,000 years. To mark the birth of His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge on 22nd July 2013, The Royal Mint gifted 2,013 Lucky Silver Pennies to babies born on the same day and also struck a limited edition £5 coin in his honour.

A second £5 coin was created in celebration of Prince George’s Christening in October 2013 -the first time a UK coin had been struck to commemorate the Christening of a royal baby. The Royal Mint also struck a £5 coin to mark the first birthday of Prince George in 2014.

Shane Bissett, Director of Commemorative Coin at the Royal Mint said:  “The birth of the new royal baby will be a joyous occasion not just for Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge but also for the whole nation, as we prepare to celebrate another remarkable milestone in their life journey together. However, it will also be a special day for many mothers and fathers across the country as they too welcome the arrival of their new babies, hence why we wanted to extend this historical moment to them with a unique and timeless gift that can be treasured for years to come.”

The Silver Penny, which is beautifully presented in elegant, contemporary packaging and finished with a suitably regal purple ribbon, is a special gift that’s perfect for both girls and boys.

Each penny will be struck with the new fifth portrait of Her Majesty the Queen and displays the same part of Matthew Dent’s Royal Shield design which features on the British circulating penny.

The Royal Arms are divided into four parts, England being represented by the three lions passant guardant in the first and fourth quarters, Scotland by the Scottish lion rampant in the second with the harp of Ireland in the third.

Parents wishing to claim their Silver Penny simply need to visit Facebook.com/theroyalmint and register the birth of their child.  Parents have sixty days following the birth to obtain one of the 2,015 coins that are to be made available by The Royal Mint.

Please share your stories about silver lucky pennies with us at www.facebook.com/theroyalmint or at Twitter.com/royalmintuk