The Royal Mint has today issued its first ever platinum coin to mark a century of Entente Cordiale between England and France.

A £5 coin commemorating the anniversary has been produced to coincide with the Queen's visit to France.

Designed by artist David Gentleman, the coin depicts Britannia and Marianne conjoined, in a symbol of the bond between Britain and France. On the other side is a portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley.

The coin itself is a piedfort issue, which is more than three times the weight and double the thickness of a standard crown-sized coin.

Gerald Sheehan, chief executive of the Royal Mint, said the coin "is a lasting memento of a special relationship".

The entente cordiale was signed in London back in April 1904, bringing an end to centuries of conflict between the two nations.