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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.
The Top 5 Silver Proof 50ps of 2019
2019 really was a BIG year for coin collectors, but there’s one coin that took the spotlight, the 50p.
And in today’s video Adam takes a look back at the top 5 Silver Proof 50ps of 2019 based on sell-out time compared to edition limit.
Does your favourite make an appearance? Watch our latest video to find out!
Remember you can find out all the latest coin news and information here: https://www.westminstercollection.com…
My TOP FIVE coins of the decade
We’re into a new decade so it’s the perfect time to take a look at the coin releases from the past 10 years, and what a time it’s been for coins!
There have been some incredible releases; from the record-breaking, to the poignant, and even coins that look nothing like coins.
I’ve decided to pick out my personal TOP FIVE coin releases of the decade. So without any further ado, here are the coins I believe deserve to be considered the greatest coins of the past 10 years. Drum roll please...
1. The London Olympic and Paralympic 50ps
They’re not just the coin series of the decade. These are the coins that transformed coin collecting.
Issued to mark London’s hosting of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this coin series played a huge part in transforming the 50p into world’s most popular collectable coin. In 2012, 29 50ps were released to commemorate the London Olympics and millions rose to the challenge of collecting them all.
The Royal Mint now estimates that as many as 75% of the Olympic 50p coins have been removed from circulation by collectors, which is a testament to their popularity.
It was the Olympic 50p series that paved the way to the 2010s becoming the decade of the 50p, so had to be included at the top of my list!
2. The Masterpiece Poppy
In terms of coins that push the boundaries of what is possible in coin design and production, there’s only one coin that deserves a mention – The Masterpiece Poppy issue.
Released to mark Remembrance Day, the 2018 Masterpiece Poppy was issued in support of the Royal British Legion. However, it’s not just the significant theme that makes this coin stand out for me.
The Golden colour poppy that adorns the coin was made from inert brass British artillery shell fuses recovered from First World War battlefields like The Somme.
And that’s not all. Each poppy features a central disc of red enamel which was mixed with earth recovered from several locations along the British Front Line of the Somme and Passenchendale.
These poppies are not only made of metal from WWI, but they also possess the very essence of the battlefield which the brave soldiers fought and died upon, and that many still lie at peace beneath.
As has been the case with all previous annual issues of the Masterpiece Poppy Coin, the 2018 issue has completely SOLD OUT. We do however have a tiny allocation left of the new 2019 Mother of Pearl Masterpiece Poppy Silver 5oz Coin. And this certainly doesn’t disappoint! If you’d like to find out more about this incredible coin, you can do so by clicking here >>
3. The Beatrix Potter 50ps
It would be a crime not to mention the Beatrix Potter series. I’m sure you, just like me, remember reading the fascinating tales of Peter Rabbit and co. as a child, and the 50ps certainly do justice to those memorable tales.
3 years, and 14 coins later, the Beatrix Potter 50p series is one of the public’s favourite ever coin series. Since The Royal Mint released the first Beatrix Potter 50ps in 2016, these charming coins have created a collecting frenzy, becoming increasingly sought-after to this day.
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that this is one of the stand-out coin releases of all time, let alone the decade!
Are you a Beatrix Potter 50p fan? Or are you missing some key characters from your collection? Then you’ll be pleased to know that we still have limited numbers available of the Complete 2017 UK Beatrix Potter 50p Collection. Click here to check out the details and secure yours today >>
4. Bicentenary Sovereign
But it’s certainly not all been about 50ps. In 2017 we saw The Royal Mint commemorate one of the UK’s oldest coin denominations, and it was an opportunity to see just what the Mint can do when it comes to high quality striking.
To mark the 200th anniversary of the UK’s premier gold coin, the Sovereign, The Royal Mint decided the remaster the 200 year old dies from the infamous designer Bennedito Pistrucci. And in doing so they created one of the most beautiful gold coins in the world.
This important release brought the Sovereign back to its glory days and reminded the world of why it’s known as the ‘Chief coin of the world’! Unsurprisingly this coin was snapped up by collectors and sold out in no time at all.
If you’re interested, we do still have limited numbers available of the brand new 2020 UK 2020 Gold Proof Sovereign. Though you’ll need to be quick if you’d like to secure one for your collection as demand has been extremely high. Click here to find out more >>
5. The Official Peter Pan 50p Coins
And last, but by no means least, I couldn’t leave out the stand-out 50p release from 2019 which might be the best of them all – The Peter Pan 50ps.
2019 marked the 90th anniversary of JM Barrie’s gift to Great Ormond Street Hospital of the rights to his creation, Peter Pan. And to commemorate this generous gift a brand new series of British Isles Peter Pan 50p coins were issued.
Not only do they look absolutely incredible, for every coin sold a donation is made to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity to help support the hospital and the seriously ill children from across the UK who are cared for there. Through the sales of Peter Pan 50p coins, collectors have helped raise over £250,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital and Children’s Charity a truly incredible amount.
The Silver Proof Peter Pan 50p Set pictured above SOLD OUT shortly after its release, but you can still own ALL 6 of the sought-after 50p coins in the complete Brilliant Uncirculated Set. Find out more by clicking here >>
It’s so hard to cram a decade of incredible coin releases into a top five (and there are so many other incredible releases I could have included) but for me these five coins have been my personal stand outs.
Let me know your top five in the comments – but feel free to make it a top ten if you can’t narrow it down to just five!