Prince William coins

The Royal Mint issued its first coin of Prince William - an Alderney £5 crown - which went on sale on his birthday on 21st June 2003. It is available for less than four months, with the last day of sale on 30th September. Alderney is one of the Channel Islands, the group of British crown dependencies to the west of the French town of Cherbourg.

The £5 crown bears a portrait of Prince William and has the words HRH Prince William of Wales. In the background is his personal coat of arms given to him on his 18th birthday. On the reverse side of the coin is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth.

The coin has been struck to "brilliant uncirculated" quality, a higher quality than standard coins. The Alderney £5 crown is available in a presentation pack, costing £9.95.

Limited edition coins are also on sale. A gold three-coin set incorporating crowns from Jersey, Guernsey and the Channel Island has an issue limit of 200 and costs £1,745. A silver three coin set with an issue limit of 5,000, costs £99 and an Alderney silver kilo coin with an issue limit of 500 costs £695.

Historically crowns were worth 25 pence or a quarter of a British pound. It is assumed the coins will have a legal tender value of 25 pence despite the price charged by the Royal Mint. Crowns sold to celebrate the wedding of the Prince and Princess of wales were sold at face value.

Further information on the new stamps is available on the Royal Mint website.