Posts Tagged ‘Coin Collecting’
All aboard! The UK Hogwarts Express 50p has entered the station!
Introducing the second coin in the UK Harry Potter 50p series, the Hogwarts Express 50p.
This spellbinding new UK 50p features a design of the iconic Hogwarts Express train, taken directly from the cover of Jim Kay’s 2015 illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosophers stone.
Set to sell out
The first 50p in the series, featuring Harry Potter himself, was incredibly popular, with all key limited specifications selling out within just 2 hours of release, not surprising as it was the first ever UK Harry Potter 50p and it featured that special lenticular feature.
This unique feature returns on the Hogwarts Express UK 50p, showing the trademark Harry Potter lightning bolt and the number 25, celebrating 25 years since the publication of the first book.
The FINAL individual collectable 50p featuring Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait
It’s been confirmed that the Hogwarts Express 50p will be the last individual collectable 50p to feature Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait on the obverse. This means that any future UK collectable 50ps issued will bear the new King Charles III effigy.
The FIRST UK 50p series with dual monarchs
Importantly, the Hogwarts Express 50p will be the last Harry Potter 50p to feature Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait. The other coins in the series will feature King Charles III’s portrait, making this the first ever UK 50p series to feature two different obverse monarchs.
Feel Harry’s excitement at the station
The Silver Proof Hogwarts Express 50p is struck from .925 silver to a pristine proof finish, and uses vivid colour to breathe life into the design. You can almost imagine standing on the platform waiting to board the train, feeling the excitement Harry must have felt.
You can, of course, also own the Hogwarts Express 50p in brilliant uncirculated quality.
And for something extra special, you can secure the most limited specification, gold proof.
The silver proof specification of this brand new 50p is strictly limited to just 15,000, so you’ll have to act fast to get your hands on one.
Browse the Hogwarts Express 50p range and pre-order the others in the series >>
Watch our video to learn more
ONLY 50 collectors can own a genuine piece of HMS Victory…
A few years back, one of my contacts at HMS Victory presented me with a very special opportunity. It was the chance to secure genuine wood from HMS Victory, removed during restoration.
What an incredible opportunity to own such a fascinating piece of history.
This was real wood from the most famous ship from possibly the most important naval victory in British history.
Of course, I had to say yes!
Since then I’ve wanted to create a really special collector item with this piece of history. But I’ve never found a coin issue I considered worthy of including such a treasured artefact.
Until now.
Introducing the Masterpiece Silver 5oz 50p Coin
This limited edition Silver Antique Finish 5oz 50p coin celebrates the history of HMS Victory and Admiral Nelson.
And 50 of these brand-new coins include an actual piece of wood from HMS Victory.
This British Isles 50p has been struck from five ounces of .999 Pure Silver to an Antique finish and features a glorious depiction of HMS Victory with selective gold plating.
Also, it spans a huge diameter of 54.60mm and weighs a hefty 5oz. That’s twice the size of a standard 50p and more than 17 times heavier.
Collecting opportunity – strictly limited to only 50 pieces
What’s more, alongside this Silver Antique Finish 5oz 50p is a genuine piece of wood from HMS Victory — sealed in a tamper-proof capsule to preserve it forever.
This is an incredible opportunity, but you’ll need to act now as 95% of these limited edition pieces have already sold.
You can secure yours today with an initial payment of just £69.50 followed by 9 interest-free instalments of £69.50.
PS. By owning one of only 50 of these unique presentations you will be helping to maintain HMS Victory. £41.66 from each coin sold will be donated to the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
You can watch our unveiling of the HMS Victory Masterpiece Silver 5oz 50p coin in our video below.
You may also be interested in our blog on the HMS Victory Silver Proof 50ps, taken on board HMS Victory as we explore the famous ship.
Unearth the Terracotta Warriors with Smartminting technology
In 1974 a Chinese farmer came across a discovery that would captivate the world … they unearthed the 2,000-year-old Terracotta Warriors.
While digging a well in Xian, China, local farmers came across pieces of a terracotta figure. These shards turned out to be part of the 8,000-warrior-strong Terracotta Army, whose purpose was to stand guard for the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, for all of his eternal afterlife.
Qin Shi Huang – The First Emperor of China
Qin Shi Huang was the founder of the Qin dynasty and reigned as the first emperor of China between 221-210 BCE.
The emperor longed to find himself an elixir of immortality and summoned magicians and alchemists to his court to discover life-prolonging elixirs.
When his magicians were unable to find a way to make him immortal, the emperor decided to create an impressive tomb for himself. Rulers in ancient China typically had two or three statues to guard them in the afterlife, but Qin Shi Huang demanded a whole army be built to protect him.
The Terracotta Warriors
What makes these warriors so impressive is that each life-sized statue has been individually created with its own unique features, thought to represent some of the actual soldiers of the day. It is estimated that it took 720,000 artisans over 40 years to complete this incredible army.
It is no surprise that this impressive find is praised as the eighth wonder of the world and was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
Along with the army, many other figures have been found, these include entertainers, animals, and a pair of intricately detailed, ten-foot-long bronze chariots drawn by four bronze horses.
To honour this legendary discovery, a palace-approved coin has been issued featuring 3 of the warriors, each recreated in stunning detail using the most advanced minting technology available.
Extraordinary Smartminting technology
This BRAND NEW Terracotta Warrior coin has been made using innovative smartminting technology, which provides an unprecedented level of intricate detail with extraordinary high relief. This means that the warriors and carriage on BOTH sides of the coin can be seen in 3-dimensions to a high-quality proof-like finish.
You can see this impressive craftsmanship in the video below.
Only a small number of mints across the world are able to use smartminting technology due to its extreme complexity, this means that limited ranges using this technique have been released.
And fittingly, they have been struck from a rarely used coin material, copper, complimenting the Terracotta colour of the warriors themselves.
I have only been able to secure 250 of these magnificent coins, so you’ll have to act quickly if you want to add one to your collection.