Royal Mint issues William and Kate coins

Screengrab taken from www.royalmint.com.

And we thought Britain's currency only showed the monarch! Apparently, being the enormously popular second-in-line to the throne and his fiancee is good enough.

The Royal Mint has issued its "first ever Royal Engagement coins." All the engagement items on its Web site are listed as awaiting stock, but at some point collectors will have their choice of a 5-pound coin in its usual material (for 9.99 in its commemorative folder), silver-plated (55.50), gold-plated (85) or solid gold (1550.00).

I love The Telegraph's take:

"The £5 coin may excite collectors of Royal memorabilia but the reproduction of Miss Middleton's face is perhaps unlikely to be praised by critics for faithfully reflecting her beauty."

The engraving, The Telegraph reports, "was based on a photograph taken of the couple at a polo match a few years ago." The design is said to have been approved by Prince William and the queen.

I guess the official china has competition!