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The Westminster Collection raises £1.1 Million for The Royal British Legion!
Earlier this year we received some incredible news, something that we would have never anticipated so soon, we hit another incredible company milestone.
Through the sales of commemorative Remembrance and Poppy-themed coins, collectors have helped raise an incredible £1.1 Million for The Royal British Legion!
This is an achievement that everyone is immensely proud of, and we are hugely thankful to collectors for helping raise such an amazing amount.
£1.1 Million raised means you could have funded 45 specialist case workers dedicated to meeting the unique needs of the UK Armed Forces Community.
We are delighted to see that our 16 years partnership with The Royal British Legion has raised such an amazing amount to support the Armed Forces community and their families.
This of course is no doubt in-part due to the fantastic reception that the 2019 Remembrance Day coins received when they were issued last year, including the First Official Remembrance Poppy £2 Coin.
We are all excited to see our longstanding partnership continue later this year when we’ll launch our brand new range of Poppy commemorative coins. If you’re interested in finding out about when they go on sale then make sure you like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram, where we announce all of our latest release news!
If you’d like to find out more about the fantastic work that The Royal British Legion do and why we are so proud of this milestone £1.1 Million that has been raised for the charity, then read on…
The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. People need help for many different reasons. They may be facing employment issues or financial difficulties, or may need help related to housing, homelessness or living independently. They may face mental and physical health challenges, need care in later life or need help building local community connections. Whatever issues people face, the Legion’s staff and volunteers are trained so they can direct enquiries to the most appropriate service. And, if there is ever a reason that they can’t help, the Legion’s vast network of partner charities and organisations means that they will know someone who can.
To find out more about The Royal British Legion, please click here.
The name’s Bond, James Bond… secret agent 007 to feature on new UK coins!
I don’t know about you, but I’m counting down the days until James Bond – or better known by his MI6 codename 007 – will be returning later this year in the hotly-anticipated 25th Bond film, No Time To Die.
But what’s perhaps even more exciting is that the Royal Proclamation issued on 14th February 2020 confirmed a BRAND NEW coin series featuring the British secret agent will be issued – just in time for the release of the new movie!
Much like many of Bond’s missions, the details of these coins are a closely guarded secret. But your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to register your interest below, so that when the new coins are released you’ll be the first to know.
In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at the Royal Proclamation to see what is in store for this exciting new series…
007 to feature on THREE coins
According to the Proclamation there will be not one, not two, but three coins issued in the series. The designs have been confirmed to feature the following:
- The Bond car from Goldfinger set against the 007 logo with the inscription ‘Bond, James Bond‘.
- The Bond car from The Spy Who Loved Me set against part of the 007 logo and the inscription ‘Pay attention 007′.
- A depiction of James Bond’s torso in a dinner jacket and bow tie set against a part of the 007 logo with the inscription ‘Shaken not stirred’.
From this I think we can safely say that all three designs will feature iconic James Bond images that we’ve grown to know and love, and will instantly recognise from the films.
It also looks like this commemorative Bond coin will be issued in a variety of base and limited edition precious metal specifications and denominations. This includes a Brilliant Uncirculated £5 coin and a Silver £2 coin.
Not the first time Bond features on a UK coin…
However, eagle eyed collectors will know that this isn’t the first time the suave secret agent has featured on a UK coin. He made his debut appearance in the Royal Mint’s A-Z 10p coin series, taking the ‘B’ for ‘Bond’ spot.
Out of all the A-Z 10p designs, ‘Bond’ is widely considered to be the most popular. This makes me certain that this brand new James Bond series WILL to be a real hit with collectors!
If you’re interested…
It goes without saying that Bond has an unrivalled cult following with leagues of fans worldwide. So, I expect these new commemorative issues to be in high demand… Click here to see the full range!
Celebrating the most iconic coins of King George III’s reign
On 29th January 2020 we marked the milestone 200th anniversary of the end of King George III’s reign. And whilst some will remember him as the ‘Mad King’, there is no denying the coins issued during his reign are some of the most iconic to have ever graced the pockets of the British public.
To celebrate his legacy some of the world’s most renowned Mints have issued some remarkable coin issues.
I’ve picked out some of my favourite designs to share with you today so you, too, can have the joy of discovering the most beautiful coins issued during King George III’s rule.
2020 UK King George III £5 BU £5
In 2020, to mark the 200th anniversary of King George III’s death, The Royal Mint issued this £5 coin.
Struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated finish, this coin features a design by Dominique Evans which explores the multifaceted nature of Britain’s longest reigning king. The design incorporates an effigy of the king alongside the King’s Observatory and Windsor Castle.
King George III’s impressive 59-year reign was memorable for multiple military conflicts, including the end of the American War of Independence and the defeat of Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo. He oversaw great change in Britain as we emerged as a world power, and was even the first monarch to appear on the modern Sovereign!
I’m sure you’ll agree that this is a stunning issue. Do you have this coin in your collection? Let us know in the comments below.
St George and the Dragon
Designed by renowned engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, the St George and the Dragon design is probably one of the most instantly recognisable motifs in numismatic history. The design first appeared on the modern Sovereign in 1817, when it was struck to replace the gold Guinea following the Great Recoinage Act of 1816, and it still appears on today’s Sovereigns. This made King George III the first monarch to appear on the modern Sovereign, so it’s only fitting really that he is commemorated on a new range of Sovereign coins.
Pistrucci’s iconic design also appeared on King George III’s 1818 Crown, the first type of Crown or Five Shillings to be issued in his reign. This Crown was the first ‘new’ Crown coinage to be struck, and significantly only 155,000 were ever minted – making it highly sought-after amongst collectors today.
(Image courtesy of JN Coins, http://www.jncoins.co.uk/Shop/milled-crowns/702-george-iii-silver-crown-1818-lix.html)
The East India Company have struck a beautiful interpretation of this timeless design on the most prestigious Sovereign denomination – the Five Sovereign. The spectacular scene is framed by the Latin motto “hoit soit que mal y pense”, which translates to “shame on him who thinks evil of it” – the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter.
‘Counter Stamped’ Spanish Dollar
The cost of the French Revolutionary Wars, combined with the threat of invasion on the Welsh and Irish coasts, took its toll on the Bank of England resulting in members of the public demanding to withdraw large sums of cash. The result was a currency crisis, as the panicked public depleted the coin and bullion reserves of the Bank of England.
One thing was clear, a solution to the gold and silver coin shortage had to be found, and quickly. At the time most of the Bank’s reserves were held in the most popular coin of the time – Spanish Dollars. To fix the currency crisis King George III authorised the counter stamping of these Spanish Dollars with a ‘puncheon’ of the King’s head as part of the hallmarking. These modified dollars were released rapidly into the market, allaying the currency crisis.
(Image courtesy of coinweek.com, https://coinweek.com/dealers-companies/ma-shops/coinweek-sponsor-amazing-uk-coins-on-ma-shops/)
In tribute to this iconic coin, the East India Company has replicated the design on a Double Sovereign piece. The reverse features an effigy of King Charles III of Spain inset with the effigy of King George III to represent the same process as the original Spanish Dollar coins.
Spade Guinea
Under King George III’s reign Britain witnessed the Great Recoinage Act of 1816, following which the favoured gold coin of the time, the Guinea, was replaced by the Sovereign. This was a huge moment for Britain in terms of its currency as the Guinea had become the very foundation of the British Empire’s growth during the late 17th and 18th centuries. Had the Guinea remained in use it would have been circulating at the time of Wellington’s victory at Waterloo!
In its heyday several different motifs featured on Guineas, but none is as famous as the Spade Guinea. Nicknamed because of the spade-like shield on its reverse, this design featured on the last ever circulating Guinea during King George III’s reign.
(Image courtesy of JN Coins, http://www.jncoins.co.uk/Shop/milled-gold/118-george-iii-spade-guinea-1798.html)
In fact, this is the only Guinea to feature this distinctive reverse design, and the Half Guinea issued in the same era is the only Half Guinea to also feature it. This makes the Spade Guinea one of a kind. It is this fact which makes the coin fascinating to collectors and historians alike.
Although the Guinea is no longer in circulation you may still come across its name from time to time in classic horse racing. The longstanding tradition of livestock being traded in Guinea values still exists in some auction houses and horse racing organisations because the name ‘Guinea’ is so intrinsically linked with the ‘sport of kings’.
And now this iconic design has been faithfully replicated on a Sovereign, issued by the East India Company. It represents England, Scotland, France and Ireland, as well as the German possessions of the Hanoverian dynasty.
Secure the 2020 UK King George III £5 BU Pack
Available to own in official bespoke Royal Mint presentation packing, the 2020 UK King George III £5 coin has been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality.
Secure this bespoke presentation for your collection for just £13.00 (+p&p) by clicking here >>