The average kid gets a cake and some presents for their birthday, but Prince George is no ordinary kid. Instead of the latest action figure, the young British royal, who is turning 5 years old on July 22, will receive an extraordinary present: A limited commemorative coin from the Royal Mint.
The sterling silver coin, embossed with the year 2018, will feature a striking interpretation of the myth of St. George and the dragon, which has been used by the Mint on royal coins for hundreds of years. According to the legend, St. George, a knight and patron saint of England, tamed and killed a dragon who tormented a nearby town.
The Royal Mint shared a sneak peek of Prince George’s special coin to its Twitter account, @RoyalMintUK. Check it out below:
It’s almost time to break out the cake and candles for HRH Prince George of Cambridge’s Fifth birthday! The young prince inspires a new interpretation of his namesake, St George and the dragon on a UK £5 #coin – find out more: https://t.co/UQk527gohI #SundayBlogShare pic.twitter.com/VGrtvMDREV
— The Royal Mint (@RoyalMintUK) July 15, 2018
The public can purchase the commemorative coin for £82.50 — about $107 — when it’s released on Sunday, July 22, just in time for the young prince’s 5th birthday celebration. Only 7,000 sterling silver pieces will be pressed, according to the Royal Mint.
The piece will be a part of the Royal Mint’s annual set, The Progress of a Prince, which also includes a booklet following the life of Prince George and his growing Cambridge family.
The Mint will also include Prince George’s official birthday coin in the 2018 UK Silver Proof Piedfort Coin Set, a set of five coins. There are only 1,000 of the sets, which can be purchased for £550.00 — or about $715 — each.
A limited gold coin honoring Prince George’s birthday will also be for sale for £500 — or $650. The Royal Mint will strike the 22-carat gold coin on Sunday, the prince’s birthday, and only 750 will be available. As with the sterling silver coin, the limited edition piece will feature an image of St. George and the dragon.
Now, that’s a pretty fancy way to celebrate a fifth birthday!