The Royal Mint has just released a new £5 silver proof coin to mark the 75th birthday of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, and while it’s already turning heads among collectors, I have to be honest — it’s probably not one I’ll be adding to my own collection.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got a soft spot for £5 coins. I’ve picked up several over the years, both in silver and cupro-nickel, and I always enjoy how the Royal Mint uses this format to tell a story or mark a moment in British history. They’re bold, chunky, and often feature some of the most intricate designs of modern UK coinage.
This one certainly ticks those boxes. Struck in sterling silver with a brilliant proof finish, it features The Princess Royal’s official Coat of Arms on the reverse — a design personally approved by the Princess herself — and a portrait taken by Royal Photographic Society fellow, John Swannell. The presentation is top-notch too, complete with detailed packaging that charts her life of service, sport, and charity work.
But while I can appreciate the craftsmanship and design, I’ve never really been one for Royal Family memorabilia. It’s not that I don’t recognise her decades of public service — I absolutely do — but my stacking and collecting priorities lean more towards history, metal content, and aesthetic over royal pageantry. And, truthfully, at the current price point, it’s a bit of a stretch for something that doesn’t quite fit the tone of my collection.