Looks like today’s the day: The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton is in the hospital, and the royal baby is set to arrive.
And like the excitement that surrounds hospitals at midnight on New Year’s Eve, other families will be welcoming their own bundles of joy on this day. In celebration, the Royal Mint is giving silver pennies to all babies born in the United Kingdom on the same day as the future heir or heiress.
Those children born on the same day as the Royal Baby aren’t the only ones who can get their hands on baubles. The Royal Mint says it plans to sell a range of gifts for folks who want to buy coins, trinkets and goodies celebrating the royal birth.
According to the Royal Mint, marking a new birth with the gift of silver for good luck is an age-old tradition:
Giving a silver gift to mark the arrival of a new baby is now generally considered to be a keepsake rather than a practical gift for a baby. However, throughout history, crossing the palm of a new born baby with silver or offering them a silver penny was also seen as a way to wish them wealth and good health throughout their life.
The silver penny will feature a shield of the Royal Arms and come in special pouches — blue for a boy, pink for a girl.
For the children born on the same day as the Royal Baby, to receive their gift, parents will have to register through the Royal Mint’s Facebook page and upload a copy of their baby’s birth certificate as proof of sharing a birthdate with the Royal Baby.
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