Posts by Katie Way
The first Sovereign of its kind: The UK 2023 Gold Proof Sovereign revealed!
Big news has come out of The Royal Mint today, as they have just issued the brand-new 2023 Gold Proof Sovereign!
Released to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III, this new Sovereign is certainly worth adding to your collection for several reasons…
Special Crowned Portrait
What makes this release so unique, is the fact that it features a special crowned portrait of King Charles III – the FIRST time we have ever seen a crowned King on a modern UK Sovereign!
That makes this issue entirely different to King Charles’ first Sovereign released in late 2022, which featured the standard portrait.
You may recognise this special crowned portrait from elsewhere, as it’s the same as the one seen on his Coronation range of coins that came out earlier this year.
To say that these were popular when they were issued back in April would be an understatement. In fact, all premium specifications of the Coronation range sold out in a matter of hours, as collectors made sure they were the first to snap them up.
And the portrait’s not the only thing that’s different about this new issue…
Surprise Release
This release is something of a surprise, because we already had a King Charles III Sovereign issued in late 2022 – this featured his new portrait on the obverse and a tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the reverse.
You therefore might have expected the next UK Sovereign to be issued later this year, but tradition has been bucked and a UK Proof Sovereign has been released in the month of June especially to commemorate King Charles III’s Coronation.
One thing that will surely remain the same though, is that this is a coin that will sell out.
High Demand
The Sovereign has been the sell-out coin for years now. In fact, the last 9 years have seen consecutive sell-outs, sometimes in a matter of days and even hours.
Struck to a proof finish from 22 Carat Gold, this Sovereign features the iconic Pistrucci design of St George slaying the dragon on the reverse – another first, as this will be the first time a King Charles III Sovereign has carried the 200+ year-old design.
It’s the one Sovereign that collectors simply must own, and there’s no doubt that it will sell out very quickly – especially as just 15,000 have been authorised.
The Coronation has been the most significant numismatic event in recent memory, even surpassing Her Late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
And one-year-only obverse designs are also very rare for the Sovereign, so when they have been released in the past, they have sold out quickly and become particularly hard to find.
However, we have managed to secure a small quantity of the brand-new Gold Proof Coronation Sovereigns for Westminster Collection customers – but you’ll have to be quick to make one yours!
Click here to view the brand-new 2023 Gold Proof Coronation Sovereign >>
Or, check out the full UK 2023 Coronation Sovereign range here >>
Celebrate 75 years of our NHS with The Royal Mint’s BRAND-NEW 50p coin range!
2023 marks the 75th anniversary of Britain’s National Health Service. And today, we celebrate the pivotal role that the NHS has played in our lives for decades with a brand-new coin range.
But first, let’s take a look back at the service which touches the lives of millions every day…
Britain, 1948
The National Health Service was founded in 1948 and was the first universal health system to be available to all, completely free of charge.
The Minister of Health at the time, Aneurin Bevan, introduced the service to the British people who had previously been unable to afford medical bills and had only ever known insurance-based schemes to cover the cost of healthcare.
But, the NHS offered healthcare to all for not a single penny, and revolutionised medial treatment as the people of Britain knew it…
Establishing the NHS
Since 1948, the NHS has grown into an incredible service, from Britain’s first heart transplant in 1958 to Europe’s first liver transplant in 1968.
Renowned for their large-scale vaccination programmes, the NHS protected children from whooping cough, measles and tuberculosis – and in 1999, the meningitis C vaccine was offered nationally as a global first.
The NHS has delivered huge advances in health care – not only have they carried out revolutionary liver, heart and lung transplants, but they were also the first health service in the world to begin Covid-19 vaccinations. They continue to strive to pioneer new treatments and technologies, such as bionic eyes and the world’s first rapid whole-genome sequencing service.
And following the shocking impact that Covid-19 had on our National Health Service, now is the perfect time to offer gratitude for decades of selfless, tireless and relentless work.
A Sentimental 50p
Therefore, to not only pay tribute to the 75th anniversary of the NHS, but to also offer appreciation for their care, compassion and devotion throughout the years, The Royal Mint have issued a new coin range.
Available in Brilliant Uncirculated Quality, Silver Proof and Gold Proof, your 50p coin features a design that showcases words of appreciation for our NHS workers, both past and present.
Breaking barriers on copper coins: The 2023 Sparta High-Relief Coin
Watch my video to witness a coin with an extraordinary double-sided high-relief Proof finish!
Unlike traditional minting where only one side of the coin is stamped, the 2023 Sparta 50g Copper Coin has been crafted using Smartminting technology – this allows for a three-dimensional design to be achieved on both sides of the coin, resulting in a stunning, proof-like finish…
This technology is particularly groundbreaking when applied to copper coins, which have traditionally been difficult to mint with high relief due to the softness of the metal.
Due to the risk of damaging the copper during the minting process, the coins have historically been restricted to flat or low-relief designs. However, smartminting has broken through these barriers and has made it possible to achieve unprecedented relief levels.
One of the most impressive aspects of smartminting on copper coins is the ability to achieve a high-relief, proof-like finish on BOTH sides…
This is a rare feat – most copper coins that have been made high-relief will have a proof finish on one side and a plain or textured background on the other. Smartminting has made it possible to achieve a uniform, high-relief, proof-like finish on both sides of the coin, resulting in a stunning piece of art that truly captures the beauty and detail of the design.
Of course, with such advanced technology comes a higher level of rarity and exclusivity. Smartminting on copper is still a relatively new and expensive process, making coins minted using this technique much rarer than traditional copper coins.
In fact, many smartminted copper coins are issued in limited quantities. This 2023 Sparta 50g Copper Coin is no exception – JUST 5,000 are available worldwide.
The coin’s intricate design and extraordinary high relief are a reflection of the Spartans’ attention to detail and their pursuit of perfection in all areas of life. A testament to the innovative spirit that drove the Spartans to greatness, it’s the perfect design to experience the power and strength of one of the most famous civilisations of all time.
With such a small quantity issued worldwide, this is a highly exclusive collector’s item and has proven difficult to source for our Westminster collectors. However, we have managed to secure a limited allocation for those who can act the fastest.