British History
Britain in Europe – a story of debates, delays and COLLECTABLE 50ps!
At the end of the month Britain will be leaving the European Union and HM Treasury have already announced a special commemorative 50p will enter circulation to mark the significant moment.
And if you want to be kept up to date with information about this new UK Brexit 50p, click here to register your interest.
But this won’t be the first time Britain’s relationship with the EU has been commemorated on coins. Whatever your feelings on our upcoming departure from the EU, our relationship with the continent has certainly produced some of the most iconic and important 50p releases ever from The Royal Mint!
Here are the coins that tell the story of Britain in the EU…
1973 European Economic Community 50p – the FIRST commemorative 50p!
After over a decade of debate and discussion, in 1973 Britain was finally successful in its attempts to join the European Economic Community, known as the EEC. And to mark this important moment, The Royal Mint issued a brand new 50p to celebrate the UK’s accession. It features nine hands clasping each other in a circle, symbolising the nine member states of the community.
This coin now stands as a hugely significant issue in British history, but it also stands as an extremely important numismatic release. That’s because it was the FIRST EVER commemorative 50p! This was the coin that started what has become the world’s most popular coin collecting craze and paved the way for the Olympic, Beatrix Potter and Kew Gardens 50ps we’re now so familiar with.
1992/3 UK European Community Presidency – the RAREST ever 50p!
The 1992/3 50p celebrates the UK’s presidency of the European Council of Ministers, and the completion of the Single Market. The design by Mary Milner Dickens features a conference table seen from above, around which are the 12 chairs for the Council of Ministers with the UK at the head of the table.
This 50p was released at a difficult time in the UK’s relationship with Europe. A strong Eurosceptic voice began to be heard in Parliament, with Thatcher having recently stepped down as Prime Minister and the formation of the UK Independence Party.
But most collectors will be aware of this 50p as being one of the most sought-after coins ever issued by The Royal Mint. There have been some extremely scarce 50ps issued since its introduction over 50p years ago, but with a mintage of just 109,000 (around half of the Kew Gardens 50p) the EC Presidency is the rarest UK 50p coin to enter circulation!
1998 UK entry to EEC 25th Anniversary 50p – the FIRST new-sized 50p!
In 1998 a new 50p was issued to commemorate 25 years of the UK in the EEC. The previous decade had been occupied with much debate and discussion over Britain’s membership of the European Union, playing a part in the decline of the Conservative Party and the landslide election victory by Tony Blair’s Labour Party.
This 50p marked a key change in the 50p – it was the FIRST to be released in the smaller sized specification we know today. The old larger coins were removed from circulation and it’s this new sized 50p that has featured some of the UK’s most iconic coin designs.
2020 Brexit 50p – the MOST IMPORTANT coin release of the decade!
To mark the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, it has been announced that a brand new 50p will be released into circulation on 31st January along with special commemorative Gold, Silver Proof, and Brilliant Uncirculated editions available to order from that date.
The final design features the inscription ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’ and the historic date 31st January 2020 – the date the UK will officially leave the European Union.
The three previous 50ps issued to mark the UK’s relationship with the EU have all become iconic releases in their own right, and I have a feeling this brand new coin may just stand as the most collectable of them all!
If you want to be kept up to date with information about the new UK Brexit 50p, then register your interest below.
If you’re interested…
Britain’s departure from the EU at the end of the month is sure to be one of the most important historic moments of our lifetime. And to mark the occasion you can own one of a limited number of Silver Britannias alongside the original 1973 EEC 50p, specially preserved in a one-day-only DateStamp™ issue to mark Britain leaving the European Union.
Our top VE Day 75th Anniversary Coins revealed in special new show
This year we mark a landmark anniversary, the 75th Anniversary of VE Day.
And in our new anniversary show, Adam is joined by our coin expert, Yasmin, to tell you all about the very best new coins that have been released to commemorate this important occasion in our history.
From a sovereign that’s 15 times rarer than the UK’s most recent Gold Proof Sovereign, a Silver Coin available to just 250 collectors worldwide, and a special introductory offer that can save you £30, it really is a show you can’t afford to miss.
As seen on the show…
The 75th Anniversary of VE Day Silver £5 Coin
JUST 2020 AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE
The VE Day St. Paul’s Cathedral Silver 5oz
JUST 250 AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE
The Gold VE Day Sovereign
15 X RARER THAN THE UK’S MOST RECENT GOLD PROOF SOVEREIGN
The 75th Anniversary of VE Day Gold Proof Penny
JUST 795 AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE
The Winston Churchill Victory
Gold-Plated Coin
EXCLUSIVE £30.00 SAVING
If you’re interested
Click here to see the full VE Day 75th Anniversary collection >>
When all three elements of a coin are right, you can’t go wrong…
Introducing the brand new British Isles Gold Proof Sovereign released to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day!
Over the years, the popularity of various coins have come and gone. But none have stayed as unrivalled as the Gold Sovereign.
Quite simply, the Sovereign is without a doubt the world’s premier Gold Coin. Struck from 22 Carat Gold to the exact same specification since 1817, it epitomises all that is British.
Traded across the world during the 19th Century and early 20th Century, it became known as “The Chief Coin of the World”, whilst today’s modern Proof Sovereigns show consistent collector interest and regular sell-outs.
Most importantly for the thousands of Sovereign collectors around the world, it’s a coin that demands attention and the intricate detail and sell-out status remains unrivalled.
FIFTEEN TIMES more limited than the UK’s most recent Proof Sovereign
Serious collectors tend to look at three key things when choosing a coin to add to their collection.
When all three elements are right, you can’t go wrong. And that’s definitely the case with the BRAND NEW British Isles Gold Proof Sovereign that has just been issued by the Isle of Man for 2020.
1. The edition limit
2. The country of issue
3. The subject and design
Let’s take each of the three key elements in turn…
1. The edition limit
This is simple. The coin is limited to just 495 pieces. This is more than 15 times RARER than the UK’s recent Gold Proof Sovereign.
Let me give you a few comparisons of recently issued Sovereigns:
495 coins is a tiny edition limit for a gold Sovereign-specification coin such as this.
2. The country of issue
Importantly this is a British Isles issue, authorised by the Government of Isle of Man. That means that it benefits from a sterling denomination, as well as the associated interest for British Isles coins within the UK.
3. The subject and design
This is the BIGGEST of all the ticks, especially when combined with the edition limit.
This year we mark the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. The day which signalled the end of World War II in Europe and brought long-awaited peace to our nation.
Here are just some of the national plans to celebrate:
- The May Bank Holiday has changed from Monday to Friday for the VE Day anniversary.
- Bells in churches and cathedrals across the country will take part in a Ringing out for Peace celebration.
- Street parties and celebrations at pubs, clubs, hotels, village greens and halls have been planned up and down the country.
- A national service of commemoration and celebration.
As I mentioned previously, when all three elements of a coin are right, you just can’t go wrong. And I am certain that demand will exceed availability. Especially when a strike of just 495 coins have been authorised for release.
And that’s before you consider the design…
The reverse is very fitting. The Union Flag fills up the complete surface of the coin while the text ‘VE DAY’ is displayed up large at the centre.
So I am sure you can now understand why serious collectors will want to own the remarkable new VE Day 75th Anniversary Gold Proof Sovereign. It’s the perfect coin to mark 75 years since our country rejoiced as Allied victory swept across Europe and our nation’s soldiers, sailors and airmen began their journey home.
I know it’s easy to sing the praises of every new coin. But, this one REALLY DOES tick all three key collecting boxes. All of the elements of this latest Gold Sovereign lend themselves to a complete sell-out.
Given the symbolic anniversary, the fact it carries a sterling denomination, and a strike of just 495 coins have been authorised, I am certain that demand will exceed availability.
