(PRESS RELEASE) In the series “Platinum Beyond the Bench,” PGI USA shares stories with the goal of shining a light on platinum’s many uses beyond the realm of jewelry. Information for ‘Platinum Beyond the Bench’ is provided by the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC).
In the year of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the coins to be used in the Wimbledon Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s singles finals coin toss will be made of platinum for the first time in the event’s history. The coins are being presented to The Championships by the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC).
Made of 70g of 95% fine platinum – each gram representing a year of service from Her Majesty – the coins have been specially designed to commemorate both Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the centenary of Wimbledon’s Centre Court at its current location.
The obverse, ‘heads’, side of each coin carries the official emblem of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and has been inspired by the themes of service, endurance and strength. The design incorporates a quotation from Her Majesty’s famous speech made on her 21st birthday on April 21st, 1947, ‘My whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service’, as well as an oak leaf motif inspired by the Royal Badge of the House of Windsor.
The reverse, ‘tails’, side of each coin is inscribed with the famous Wimbledon Roundel, as well as its centenary mark. The Centre Court reference continues with the use of the inspirational Rudyard Kipling quote, ‘If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two impostors just the same’; words that are famously inscribed above the players’ entrance to Centre Court.
The coins have been designed by bespoke jeweler Heirloom London in collaboration with Wimbledon.
Precious Platinum
The act of flipping a coin to determine an outcome is a practice that has taken place for centuries. The coin toss is a long-established feature of the traditional pre-match ceremonies that take place before the Wimbledon finals.
In many cultures, platinum is the precious metal of choice synonymous with the commemoration of special occasions, especially when symbolizing a 70th anniversary.