Royal Mint gifts silver pennies to babies sharing Princess Charlotte’s birthday

2,015 babies born on 2 May 2015 to receive Lucky Silver Penny to celebrate arrival of HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge

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

The move is in keeping with an age-old tradition to mark a new birth with a gift of silver for good luck.

Shane Bissett, Director of Commemorative Coin at the Royal Mint said: “The birth of the new royal baby is a joyous occasion not just for Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge but also for the whole nation.

“However, it is also 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.”

A present of silver to mark the arrival of a new baby is considered to be a symbolic keepsake and 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 British kings and queens, marking important historical events and special occasions for over 1,000 years. For the birth of His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge on 22 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.

Each penny released to celebrate the birth of HRH Princess Charlotte 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.

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.

 

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