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Royal Mint casts coins to mark Queen's Sapphire Jubilee

A range of specially designed Sapphire Jubilee commemorative coins have gone into production at the Royal Mint to mark the 65th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.

The coins have been struck in a range of metals and denominations from £5, £10 and £500 to £1,000 to celebrate the milestone, which falls on 6 February and is a first for a reigning monarch.

The recommended retail prices for the coins range from £13 for the £5 piece to £49,995 for the £1,000 UK gold proof kilo coin.

All the coins feature the Queen's image in profile on the main side but the £5 range has the imperial state crown on the reverse, and an excerpt from Princess Elizabeth's famous speech where she dedicates herself to her future role as Queen.

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It reads: "My whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service."

Glyn Davies, designer of the £5 range, said: "I drew inspiration from the regalia associated with the Queen's coronation.

"As opposed to many traditional designs, I've rotated the crown to make a feature of the Stuart sapphire.

"I have also included a quotation from Her Majesty's 21st birthday speech, which makes the design more personal. I used computer-aided design to create the inscription, but sculpted elements of the crown in clay."

Gregory Cameron, a Bishop of the Anglican Church in Wales, serving the Diocese of St Asaph, designed the £10, £500 and £1,000 coins which feature the royal coat of arms on the reverse.

Bishop Cameron, who is also a keen artist and coin collector, said: "The arms in my design are shown in an oval cartouche, surrounded by flourishes that reflect the celebratory mood of the coin.

"The shield is supported by two branches. On the left, as we look at the shield, is the olive branch, a symbol of faithfulness and reconciliation, and on the right, a branch of oak, representing stability and loyalty in service.

"These are all qualities that we can associate with Her Majesty."