Posts Tagged ‘gold proof coin’
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 >>
The most anticipated coin of the decade – the official UK Brexit 50p
It’s a coin story the UK, if not the world, has been watching now for several years. And finally we have reached its conclusion, as today the UK withdraws from the European Union. To mark the occasion a brand new official UK 50p has been released.
Plans to release special Brexit coins were first announced by former chancellor Philip Hammond in 2018. Years in the making, I suspect this will be one of the most eagerly anticipated issues we’ve ever seen – it’s surely the coin of the decade!
Regardless of how you voted back in the historic referendum in 2016, it goes without saying that the 31st January 2020 will go down as one of the most significant dates in the UK’s history. This new coin is both marking this important moment in time and acts as a symbol of the UK’s future.
The new 50p coin has been struck to a variety of specifications. Each one features the inscription “Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations”, as well as the withdrawal date.
A 50p coin was struck when the UK joined the European Economic Community in 1973 and when the UK held the presidency of the EU in 1998. So it only seems fitting one is released to mark the UK’s departure from the EU. And by marking such a pivotal event in our history, this coin is certain to be sought-after by collectors in years to come.
Simply read on to discover how you can be one of the first UK collectors to add this brand new UK 50p to your collection…
The Official UK Brexit 50p BU Pack
To give as many collectors as possible the chance to own this highly sought-after coin, The Royal Mint has issued it in Brilliant Uncirculated quality. This finish is coveted by collectors as it means each coin is free from any marks you would find on circulated coins.
Each coin is protectively encapsulated in its attractive original Royal Mint packaging to preserve its quality for generations to come. What’s more, you can secure this BU Pack at the Royal Mint issue price of just £10 (+p&p).
Click here to find out more >>
Limited Edition Silver Proof Brexit 50p
Whilst thousands, if not millions of these new coins will be struck, you can choose to own the official Withdrawal from the EU 50p coin in a far more limited way.
Just 47,000 coins have been issued worldwide in a superior specification, struck from .925 Sterling Silver to a Proof finish. Given how popular commemorative 50ps are, this exclusive precious metal version is sure to be an even bigger hit.
What’s more, there will surely not be enough coins to satisfy demand – especially if you consider that over 17 million people voted to leave the EU in the historic 2016 referendum . That’s 307 voters for every new coin issued!
You can secure one for your collection today for just £60 (+p&p) – that’s the Royal Mint issue price.
Click here to find out more >>
Extremely Rare Gold Proof Brexit 50p
Finally, the rarest version of all. Just 1,500 collectors worldwide will be able to own the Withdrawal from the EU 50p impeccably struck to the most superior specification of all, from 22 Carat Red Gold to a proof finish.
Gold Proof 50ps have some of the fastest sell-out rates around – previous issues, including the Snowman and the Gruffalo, have sold out within 24 hours of release. So this history-making issue is not expected to be available for long. You can reserve yours today with a deposit of just £99.50 (+p&p) followed by nine further interest-free instalments – clearly the most affordable way to own this superior issue.
Click here to find out more >>
Please note, collector demand is expected to be extremely high so it is advised that you act quickly to avoid disappointment.
You can view the full UK Brexit 50p range by clicking here >>
Why you have just days to secure the new 2020 Gold Proof Sovereign
The new 2020 Gold Proof Sovereign was released yesterday, but you may only have days to own one. Let me tell you why…
We’re in the golden age of the Proof Sovereign. As you may know, the Proof Sovereign has become the UK’s flagship annual release that’s highly sought-after worldwide.
As you can see, recent UK Gold Proof Sovereigns have an undisputed track record of completely selling out. Many with a matter of weeks.
Special one-year-only mint mark
In 2020 we mark the 200th anniversary of King George III’s death – the first monarch to appear on the modern Sovereign. To commemorate this, the Proof Sovereign features a special one-year-only royal cypher mint mark.
George III’s reign is one of the most important in the history of UK gold coins. That’s because it was in his reign that the iconic Sovereign was re-introduced, making him the first monarch to feature on the modern day sovereign, and one of the most famous gold coins in British numismatic history.
One-year-only mint marks are only applied to coins for the most significant events and anniversaries and this is certainly an important one. In fact, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see a combined Royal and numismatic anniversary as significant as this in our lifetimes.
‘22 Carat Gold Pedigree‘
The 2020 Sovereign is minted from 22 Carat Gold and it is this historical pedigree that makes the coin so admired and sought-after around the world.
It is also one of the finest examples of British craftsmanship. The exceptional ‘proof’ finish is the result of the coin being struck up to 4 times using specially polished dies.
The time and effort required to produce the frosted relief and mirrored background of the coin is why a proof finish is considered the pinnacle of the mint-masters art – and the most sought-after by collectors.
And with an edition limit of JUST 7,995 worldwide – a lower edition limit than the 2018 Sovereign that also featured a special mint mark and COMPLETELY SOLD OUT in a matter of weeks – this year’s Proof Sovereign has all the elements to be the most collectable gold coin of the year.
If you’re interested…
You can secure the 2020 Gold Proof Sovereign now, but you’ll have to act quickly. You can secure yours today for a down payment of JUST £59.50 followed by nine further interest-free instalments – the most affordable way to own the new coin.