Prince George gets a new birthday coin

The new coin, top left, is being released for Prince George's second birthday. A coin for Princess Charlotte, bottom, was released for her christening. Photos / Getty Images, Royal Mint

To commemorate Prince George's second birthday next week the Royal Mint will release a limited edition sterling silver £5 coin featuring the legend of St George and the dragon.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son will turn two on July 22 and the silver £5 (about NZ$10) coin has been struck to mark the event.

The coin features a contemporary re-imagining of the St George and the dragon legend by artist Christopher Le Brun while the other side features the current portrait of the Queen by Jody Clark.

Priced at £80 and limited to just 7,500 coins, its design has been approved by proud parents William and Kate, the Queen and Chancellor George Osborne.

St George is a familiar figure on British coinage, first appearing on certain gold coins issued during the reign of Henry VIII.

Shane Bissett, director of commemorative coin and bullion at the Royal Mint said: "The choice of the St George design to honour Prince George's birthday is an apt one - the name George has long had links with the British monarchy and its coinage, there having been six kings of that name during the Royal Mint's 1,000 year history.

"The choice of a silver £5 coin is significant too as the tradition of crossing the palm of a new born baby with silver is a way to wish them wealth and good health throughout their life."

Both George's birth, his christening and his first birthday were marked with commemorative coins.

Earlier this month the Royal Mint unveiled a special commemorative coin to mark the christening of his little sister, Princess Charlotte.

Featuring two harp-playing cherubs surrounded by swags of lilies, the £5 silver coin was the second made for the two-month-old princess.

That coin was the work of engraver John Bergdahl, who also created Prince George's commemorative christening coin in October 2013.

More than 2,000 commemorative silver pennies were given to babies born on the same day as the little princess.

The silver £5 coin issued by The Royal Mint to mark the birth of Prince George in 2013 was so popular that its mintage of 10,000 coins sold out within days.

- Daily Mail