109) Celebrating the Birth of a Royal baby to Prince William and his wife Katherine in Britain with a gift of silver pennies and issue of a five-pound silver commemorative coin by the Royal Mint U.K.

109) Celebrating the Birth of a Royal baby to Prince William and his wife Katherine in Britain with a gift of silver pennies and issue of a five-pound silver commemorative coin by the Royal Mint U.K.

Prince William and his wife Katherine or Kate have been blessed with a baby boy on Monday the 22^nd of July 2013. The birth of this child who is third in the line of succession of the British monarchy, was a much sought after event with millions of people across the World following every titbit of news about the Baby’s birth as it trickled out.

Ten interesting traditions which were/are followed at the birth of a Royal Baby in U.K.:

1)   Home Birthing: Traditionally a Royal Baby was born at home. Queen Elizabeth II was born at 17 Bruton Street in London, a private family home, and her sons Charles, Andrew and Edward were born in Buckingham Palace. Her daughter Anne was born at Clarence House, also, a Royal property.

Change from tradition:

This tradition, however changed in the 1980s when Princes William and Harry were both born at the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in Central London. William and Kate’s first child has been born in the same wing.

2)   Home Schooling:

The British Royals are privately educated. The Queen received her education at home from her father, tutors and governesses.

Charles was the first Royal heir to have gone to school.

Change from tradition:

William and Kate were both educated at independent schools and it is expected that their son would be educated like-wise.

3)   Fathers in the Delivery Room:

When Charles was born to Queen Elizabeth, his father Prince Philip was off playing squash in the Buckingham Palace – perhaps out of nervousness. He stayed away from the delivery room, as per tradition followed by the Royals.

Change in tradition:

Charles changed this by staying besides Diana at William’s birth. William has now done likewise by being present with Kate.

4)  Official Intruders:

Custom dictated that Government officials be present when a Royal was born. When Queen Elizabeth II was born in 1926, the Home Secretary was present among the attending doctors. The official(s) were required to attend as witnesses for ensuring that it was really a Royal Birth and the baby had not been “smuggled in”. This custom gained currency because of the so-called “warming pan plot” of 1688, when it was believed that the supposed child “James II” had been smuggled into the delivery room in a long-handled bed warming pan, particularly as 40-60 persons had dropped into the Royal Chambers to witness the Royal Birth.

Change from Tradition:

George VI abolished this practice during his reign, as such no officials were required to be present when Kate delivered her baby.

5)  Naming the Royal Baby:

Most Royals have three to four first names, usually in combination that honours previous monarchs or relatives. The Queen’s full name is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, taken after mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and William’s full name is William Arthur Philip Louis.

It seems that all over U.K. the odds were on James or George for the new-born Royal Baby.
Change from Tradition:
The baby has been named George Alexander Louis on 24th July 2013 itself by his proud parents. If he takes over the monarchy at a future date, he will be known as George VII. 

6)  The Last Name:

The Royals do not require a surname. The correct title when referring to the new Prince would be His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge. Current members of the Royal household may use Mountbatten – Winsor, the surname adopted in 1960 for all of the Queen’s children. (This name combines Windsor, the family name adopted by King George in 1917 and Prince Philip’s family name Mountbatten). Prince William is known as the Prince of Wales and Flight Lt.Wales when he is on military duty. William has served as a search and rescue pilot at an air-base in a remote island off the coast of Wales.

7)  Christening:

Royal babies are officially christened several days, sometimes months after they are born at a few identified places.

For example, Queen Elizabeth II was christened in a private chapel at Buckingham Palace while Charles and William were christened in the palace’s Music Room.

8)  Traditional announcement on an  easel or Internet:

The traditional way to announce a Royal’s birth is to send a messenger by transport from the place of Birth to Buckingham palace carrying a piece of paper detailing the infant’ gender, weight and time of birth. The bulletin is then placed on a wooden easel on the palace’s forecourt for public information.

Change:

William and Kate’s baby was announced in both the traditional and modern ways:

Queen Elizabeth II, senior Royals and Chtherine’s parents were the first to be informed of the news.

A proclamation signed by royal doctors was displayed on an easel at Buckingham Palace. At the same time, it was announced by a press release and over the Internet on the monarchy’s Twitter and Facebook feeds for millions of followers to see.

9)   Nannies for Royal Babies:

Nannies are employed to bring up Royal babies. William and Kate have yet to announce their plans for their son.

10)  Gun Salute:

A 62-gun salute from the Tower of London and a 41 – gun salute from Green Park, near Buckingham Palace were carried out to welcome the baby into the World, as is the tradition when a Royal is born. Also, the Union Jack flag was flown from Government buildings across Britain.

Other tidbits:

-      The Royal baby will be given the official title of “His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales”.

-      He is the third in line to succeed his great grandmother Queen Elizabeth after Charles and William on the British throne.  

-      He is expected to become the Head of State of 16 countries, including Australia, Britain and Canada and head the Commonwealth which includes 54 nations.

-      He will also become supreme governor of the Church of England.

-      He represents a living link to Britain’s Imperial history, being the great-great great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria, who reigned at the peak of the British Empire.

-      Geneologists  have linked the baby as a distant relative of Count Dracula. They have also traced his family tree to an Islamic sultan who is believed to have descended from Prophet Mohammed.

Royal Mint U.K.’s commemoration of the Royal Birth with the gift of 2013 silver Pennies :

The Royal Mint announced in the first week of July 2013, that it will present a total of 2013 babies born United Kingdom on the date of birth of the Royal child, a silver penny on the occasion of their own Birth, as a memento.

These silver pennies have been specifically struck for this occasion, in keeping with an age-old tradition to mark a new birth with a gift of silver for good luck. After the birth of the Royal baby, these silver pennies struck with the year of their birth are being given to the lucky babies born on this day.

The silver penny comes in a beautiful pink pouch (for baby girls) and blue pouch (for baby boys)  and is marked with the year 2013 to commemorate the baby’s year of birth which is a gift to be cherished forever. Because of the silver on this penny it is also being sought after as a christening gift.

On the reverse, the traditional design of Matthew Dent shows shield of the Royal Arms, which is divided into four parts, England being represented by three Lions passant guardant in the first and fourth quarters, Scotland being represented by the Scottish Lion Rampant in the second quarter, the harp of Ireland in the third quarter.

On the obverse is the familiar portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right.

An Age old tradition of gifting silver:

Silver gifts are usually given to mark the arrival of a new-born baby, as a keepsake. Throughout history, “crossing the palm” of a new-born baby with silver ornaments, spoons, toys or offering them a silver coin was also taken to be a manner of wishing the new born child  with wealth and good health throughout their life. The silver penny has long been a symbol of good luck and prosperity

The official commemorative coin of the Royal Birth: Issue of a five pound Crown size silver coin with the traditional gold sovereign image of St. George slaying the Dragon:

The Royal Mint has issued a five pound crown sized coin for the first time in over 100 years to commemorate the birth of the Royal Baby. 

On the reverse, the coin features Benedetto Pistrucci’s almost 200 years old world famous design of St.George slaying the dragon which has figured on the gold Sovereign so far. (Apart from the Royal Mint U.K., the gold Sovereign was minted in several identified mints across the World during the height of British Power, including, the then Bombay Mint in 1918 and MMTC-PAMP in India have in 2013  got a franchise from the Royal Mint, U.K. to mint these gold sovereigns in India).

For the first time since the coronation of Edward VII, this design has been struck in silver as a tribute to the future monarch. The coin will have a limited mintage of about 10000 pieces.

Given below are the reverse and obverse images of a gold plated commemorative medallion  issued  by the London Mint Office in 2011 on the occasion of William and Kate's wedding.

 This medallion is from the collection of Dennis Ksing.

A miniature sheet of commemorative one pound stamps issued on behalf of the Isle of Man that says it all!!







Links:

British Crown Dependencies:

1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey

2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey

3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey

4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain

5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
  
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015

7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend

8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie

9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda

10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence 
Famous Battles: 

1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK) 

2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK

3) Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by issuing a 50 Pence coin by the Royal Mint UK

Gold Coins:
  
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013 & 2014 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark

2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark 

Silver Coins:

1) A 20 Pound Silver coin minted for the first timr by the royal Mint UK: reverse design carries the famous St. George slaying the dragon design found on Gold Sovereigns 

British India Coinage:

 1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835

2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress

3) Edward VII: King & Emperor  Coinage

4) George V King Emperor Coinage

5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage 

Other British Royalty: 

1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK

2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown

3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK

4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013

5) The British Empire:  A Case of Numismatic "segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)

6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark

 British Coinage:

1) The contribution of the Great British One-Pound coins in keeping alive the historical legends/emblems/heritage of the UK (1983 onwards)

2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin

3) Transformation of the Two Shilling Coin (Florin) Coin into the UK Ten Pence

4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone

 Commemorative British Coinage:

 1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era

 2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK

3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)

4) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel 

5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his" Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK 

6) 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta - the Universal Guidepost to Liberty and Freedom

Inspirations from Scottish History: 

1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes