World's most expensive piggy bank costing £100,000 launched by Royal Mint
The Royal Mint has unveiled the world’s most expensive piggy bank – an 18-carat gold design that costs a mammoth £100,000.
The model is the first piggy bank in the Royal Mint’s 1,100-year history and forms part of the company’s new range of gifts and jewellery.
The design was created by Bristol-based silversmiths Phillip Kydd and his son James using traditional tools and skills.
The gold version is just one in a range of piggy banks, called Minty, with a sterling silver edition, retailing at £6,000, and ceramic designs, from £85, also available.
Helen Cooper, director of gifting at the company, said: “We’re renowned for our gold and silver coins, so it was a natural step to create an equally exquisite piggy bank.
“This 18-carat gold Minty will be made to order, and hand-crafted to ensure it is the most luxurious piggy bank in existence.”
Mr Kydd, who is based in Barrow Gurney, near Bristol, has been a silversmith for almost 40 years, while his son James started an apprenticeship under the Goldsmiths Company Apprenticeship Scheme with his father more than five years ago.
Speaking of the project, Mr Kydd revealed that creating the piggy bank alongside his son helped bring them closer together.
“My son and I were very much working as a team on this project and thoroughly enjoyed the challenges we faced to produce the end product we are sure customers will cherish,” he said.
“It is wonderful to see something that was made by father and son being sold by the Royal Mint.”
Both the gold and sterling silver editions of Minty, featuring the Royal Mint’s Tower hallmark, are available to buy now and will come with certificates of authenticity and an individual issue number.
Earlier this month, the Royal Mint launched a collection of limited edition 50p dinosaur coins.
The collection was produced in collaboration with the Natural History museum and included a silver proof 50p coin for £60 or a colour version of the silver proof coin for £65. Fans could also get their hands on a cheaper version for £10 each or £20 in colour.
The coins featured three different dinosaurs; the megalosaurus, iguanodon, and hylaeosaurus. Fossilised remains of all three creatures have been found in England.
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