Princess Leonor’s unpublished photo shoot to create her first solo coin has been revealed.
The commemorative 40 euro silver piece will show the mature portrait of Leonor in her near coming of age.
Photo session for the Princess Leonor coin
The Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre-Real Casa de la Moneda has commissioned a limited mintage of one million coins to commemorate October 31, Leonor’s birthday, with images of the princess alone.
This is the first coin dedicated exclusively to the eldest daughter of Felipe VI and Letizia.
The Mint felt Leonor deserved a singular representation on the coin because of the significance of turning 18.
They also wanted to accurately reflect the evolution of the princess’s appearance, as previous coins were minted when she was younger.
To achieve a contemporary royal portrait, a photo shoot was held at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid during Leonor’s Easter vacations.
Twelve photos from the session were chosen to compose the updated profile of the princess for the coin design.
Unlike previous coins, in which Leonor appeared in profile, this image will portray her from the front, three-quarters.
The aim of the photo shoot was to capture Leonor’s natural radiance and her maturity as she comes of age.
This was revealed in the Spanish Television program ‘Audiencia Abierta’ which aired the unpublished images of Princess Leonor that have served as the basis for the new coin.
“Taking into account that she is a very young person, from five years ago until now, her appearance has changed radically, it was important to have that updated image,” said Isabel Valldecabres, president of the Royal Mint.
Made of silver with copper alloy, the 40-euro coin will measure 33 mm in diameter and weigh 18 grams.
The royal effigy of Leonor will adorn the obverse along with the inscriptions of her name, title, and the date 2023. The reverse will show the coat of arms of the princess in color.
Now, fans can own a piece of this historical view of Leonor’s growth on the majestic birthday coin.