Bishop of St Asaph designs the UK’s first official Christmas coin

The Bishop of St Asaph has designed the UK’s first official Christmas coin produced by The Royal Mint.

The Christmas Nativity Story 2016 UK £20 Fine Silver Coin depicts the nativity story and features the visit of the wise men shortly after the birth of Jesus.

It is the second coin displaying the artwork of the Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron, who also created the design for the commemorative ‘Last Round Pound’ launched by The Royal Mint in the summer.

Bishop Gregory said:

“The coin shows a young Christ child opening his arms to the world, and standing on the knees of his mother, the Virgin Mary.  Before her are the wise men, also known in legend as the three kings, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, kneeling with their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

“The style of the design is deliberately childlike, because the scene is familiar, being performed as a play in schools up and down the country.  There are also echoes of the very early pictures of this event shown in Byzantine mosaics, carved Norman sculptures and mediaeval manuscripts.

“The story of the nativity is as much a story for all times as an historic event which took place in a particular time and place.”

Rt Revd Gregory Cameron

Anne Jessopp, Director of Commemorative Coin for The Royal Mint, said:

“Coins have had a place in Christmas customs for centuries: think of families stirring a sixpence into the Christmas pudding, or the placing of coins in the toes of Christmas stockings – a tradition said to have been started by Saint Nicholas.

“The Royal Mint has continued the tradition by striking the UK’s first official Christmas coin, a fine silver £20 piece, bearing Bishop Gregory’s delightful nativity scene.”

The new Christmas coin is designed as a commemorative coin, which is generally treasured for its aesthetic and collectable value, but which is still legal tender and has been approved by the Palace.

Just 30,000 have been struck by the Royal Mint and are available at www.royalmint.com