Birmingham Mint Royal Wedding Medal

Birmingham Mint Royal Wedding Medal already start its production yesterday. The medal created by Birmingham Mint has no monetary value but is designed to be a souvenir of the ceremony on April 29. The medal features a picture of the engaged couple and on its reverse is the date of their marriage and the initials C and W. Around 50,000 are being produced at the Birmingham Mint in honour of the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton. They will hold no monetary value but the Mint is hoping that the coins, which cost £5, will be sold out by the time of the wedding.

Birmingham, which was established in 1794 and believes it is the world's oldest independent mint, is selling the medals for £5 but is offering them to schools and charities for just £3. Some 23,000 schools around Britain have already received the offer and it is hoped some will buy discounted medals and sell them on as a way of fundraising.

Product manager Phil Majevadia said: "With the country in the doldrums and a harsh economic climate, the Royal Wedding will lift everyone.

"We just wanted to add to the good-feel factor around the wedding and help to give everyone a lift."

This is a much better design then the official coin of Prince William and Kate Middleton by Royal Mint that has been receiving so many critics due to the poor design. Images of the couple on the memento bear little resemblance to either the prince or his 28-year-old betrothed. Middleton appears plump in the face and lips and has bags under her eyes. Some critics claim William looks like Al Gore.

Schools and charities can order the coins at the www.birmingham-mint.com website.

Source: BBC, The Press Association.