Leave Royal coin for the collectors
10:05am Monday 14th April 2008
THE latest batch of junk mail includes an offer from the Royal Mint to buy a Prince of Wales 60th Birthday Brilliant Uncirculated £5 coin for just £5 (normal price £9.95) plus £1.95 for postage and packaging.
Each commemorative coin is displayed in an informative folder richly illustrated with images of His Royal Highness and it has been minted to a higher quality than the coins in our pockets.
That's what Brilliant Uncirculated means, apparently.
Although these coins will be legal tender they are unlikely to be handed over at the Dog and Duck to buy a couple of pints, even if you can find a pint at £2.50 in tourist areas.
Instead collectors will look at them dreamily while the rest of us get on with our lives.
I have nothing against His Royal Highness - but I doubt whether I need one of his coins.
Perhaps I will get the chance to wish him a happy birthday when we take a free ride together on a Gloucestershire bus some time.