A rare crystal and silver coin has been unveiled at the Pobjoy Mint, to commemorate the birth of the naturalist behind the book Born Free.

Etched into the coins are the lions beloved of Joy Adamson, who is best known for raising lioness Elsa from cub to independent female, before releasing her into the wild.

Actress Virginia McKenna, the founder of the Born Free Foundation, visited the Kingswood mint to unveil the coin on January 27.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Born Free, which was made into an Academy Award-winning film of the same name in 1966.

The coin is only the third in the world to feature real crystal in its design, and £1 from every one sold will go towards saving lions in Africa through the Born Free Foundation.

Mrs Adamson wrote further books about other animals she rehabilitated, including Pippa the cheetah and Penny the leopard, and spent the last ten years of her life using her public profile to raise awareness of animal welfare.

The foundation was set up four years after she was found murdered in the Shaba National Reserve, Kenya, in 1980, having dedicated her life to the animals of Africa.

The charity is committed to protecting threatened species and working with communities to help save native wildlife.

More information about the foundation’s work is available at bornfree.org.uk.