On 10 April 1912 RMS Titanic, the largest passenger steamship in the world, set sail from Southampton bound for New York. Tragically, after just four days, the luxury liner hit the infamous iceberg and sank, causing 1,517 souls to perish. Interest in the event and the stories of the passengers has never waned. A century later the story still stirs us and is the subject of countless films and documentaries.
The £5 Brilliant Uncirculated coin has been designed to commemorate this maritime legend. The reverse, by Royal Mint engraver Lee Robert Jones, features a highly accurate depiction of the magnificent vessel as she sails from Southampton. Behind Titanic is the silhouette of ‘Thane’ the memorial statue carved by Sir Thomas Brock, which was erected in Belfast in 1920. The contrast of the proud ship sailing out to sea and the ghostly figure suggesting the fate that awaits dramatically captures the essence of the story.
The obverse shows the timeless portrait of The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS and indicates that the coin is issued under the authority of the Channel Island of Alderney.
To add to the interest, the Titanic 100th anniversary coin is mounted in a presentation folder, full of pictures, facts and stories about the glamorous ship and her passengers. The coin itself is struck to a higher quality than everyday coinage, and has a brilliant finish. It is supplied in a protective casing to preserve the coin’s sparkling condition for posterity.
