Babies born on the same day as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge that they have just over a week left to complete their online application and collect a ‘lucky’ silver coin for their child.
The Royal Mint will gift 2,015 babies born on 2 May 2015 with a special Lucky Silver Penny to celebrate the arrival of the new addition to the Royal Family in keeping with an age-old tradition to mark a new birth with a gift of silver for good luck.
More than 1,300 parents across the country have already applied for one of the limited edition coins, which are struck with the year of their baby’s birth and feature the new coinage portrait of Her Majesty the Queen.
A present of silver to mark the arrival of a new baby is now generally considered to be a symbolic keepsake, rather than a practical gift. However, 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.
New parents Chantal and Miguel Abel, from London, were among the first new parents to receive a Lucky Silver Penny from The Royal Mint after their baby daughter Sofia was born at 11.30am on 2 May 2015 at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in London.
Mr and Mrs Abel said: “We’re over the moon and want to thank The Royal Mint for their kind gesture. It’s a special day for us and we’re excited to be one of the first families to receive a Lucky Silver Penny and be part of the celebrations.”
This is the second time that The Royal Mint has gifted Lucky Silver Pennies to babies born on the same day as royalty, following on from the birth of His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge on 22 July 2013, when more than 1,700 babies sharing his birth day received one of the special coins from The Royal Mint.
Princess Charlotte’s safe arrival has also been commemorated on an official United Kingdom £5 coin by The Royal Mint.
Shane Bissett, Director of Commemorative Coin and Medals at The Royal Mint, said: “The birth of the new royal baby has been a joyous occasion not just for Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge but also for the whole nation. However, it was also a very special day for many mothers and fathers across the country who welcomed the arrival of their new babies, which is why we wanted to extend this historical moment to them with a unique and timeless gift that can be treasured for years to come. Silver is closely associated with birth, as crossing the palm of a new born baby with silver is a way to wish them wealth and good health throughout their life.”
Parents wishing to claim one of the 2,015 Lucky Silver Pennies simply need to visit Facebook.com/theroyalmint and register the birth of their child before 1 July 2015.