August 22, 2013 – The Treasury of the Principality of Sealand, a manmade territory and self-proclaimed principality located in the North Sea has launched a commemorative memorial coin which pays tribute to the founder and first Sovereign Prince who died on the 9th October 2012 at the age of 91.
Sealand from above. Photo: Ryan Lackey / http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
Prince Roy, founder of the Principality of Sealand – a micro-nation which lies just 6 miles off the southeast coast of the UK was born Paddy Roy Bates in 1921 in the United Kingdom and came to world-wide prominence when in 1967, the former British Army Major and adventurer claimed as his own territory, a World War II-era disused platform & defense tower in International waters. The platform was declared sovereign territory and Roy proclaimed himself and his wife, Joan Bates as joint sovereign rulers on the 2nd September – his wife’s birthday. Prince Roy was succeeded by his only son, the Prince Regent – now Sovereign Prince Michael who heads the principality along with his mother Sovereign Princess Joan who continues to retain her rank and title as co-ruler.
Principality of Sealand / 25 Dollars / silver .925 / 28 g / 38.6 mm / Design: Michael Alexander / Mintage: 300.
The crown-size coin, which is the first such issue authorized by the Treasury since 1977, is designed by Michael Alexander and struck to proof quality at a private mint facility in Birmingham, England. The obverse design includes a detailed portrait of Prince Roy facing to the left and is based on a photograph taken by Mr. Alexander on the occasion of the Principality’s 35th anniversary of independence. The designer’s initials “MAA” are placed to the lower right of the portrait. The text included around the portrait reads “ROY SOVEREIGN PRINCE OF SEALAND 1967 – 2012 E MARE LIBERTAS” (Sea of Independence) the Principality’s official motto. The reverse depicts the princely or national coat of arms along with text above the crest that reads “PRINCIPALITY OF SEALAND” and the coin’s denomination “25 DOLLARS” just under the issuing authority. The text below the crest reads “IN MEMORIUM 1921 – 2012” The initials of the designer “MAA” are placed beside the crest to the right.
The coins are also individually numbered 001-300 and hallmarked using state of the art laser technology. This is placed on a smoothed portion of the coin’s reeded edge. Housed in a custom embossed presentation box and numbered certificate of authenticity corresponding to the coin’s actual number, the coin is being retailed directly by Sealand’s treasury. A gold version is also being planned and will be made available to interested collectors on a reserve-only basis (at a later date) that will reflect the final mintage.
For more information on the commemorative coin, please visit the website of the Treasury department, Principality of Sealand.
For a look at the Principality of Sealand’s official website, please click here.
To the Principality’s national anthem you can listen here.
And this is an interview on YouTube from 2007 with Prince Michael.