Posts Tagged ‘Royal Mint’
“Do you own a scarce Olympic 50p?” UPDATE: Triathlon kicks Football off Olympic 50p top spot
In August last year, we reported the Football 50p to be the scarcest of the Olympic 50p designs according to our Olympic 50p Swap Centre data. So how have things changed over the last 6 months?
Triathlon is now the most in demand Olympic 50p
Well the news is that Triathlon has kicked Football off the top-spot with the latest information revealing the following are the top 5 most requested designs:
- Triathlon
- Wresting
- Judo
- Football
- Rowing
The Brownlee Effect?
Of course you might be forgiven for thinking that Brownlee brothers’ success at the Olympics boosted demand and perhaps it played a small part. However, the biggest influence is how the Royal Mint has released the coins into circulation.
Unfortunately, we are unlikely to know the final figures of how many of each coin was distributed for another 3 and a half years, when the Royal Mint releases mintage information but I am pretty sure top 5 most wanted will be amongst the lowest mintage numbers.
Of course, in the meantime, if you are looking to complete your Olympic 50p Collection you can register to find other collectors to swap with absolutely FREE at the Olympic 50p Swap Centre.
Will our Penny be next?
Last week Canada became the latest country to bid farewell to its penny or 1 cent coin. Australia, Brazil and Sweden have already ditched theirs – the question is will the UK be next?
With over 11 billion in circulation according to latest Royal Mint figures, the humble penny accounts for nearly 40% of all Britain’s circulating coins. It is in fact our most common coin but when it costs more than a penny to make a penny, surely its days must be numbered?
Facing an uncertain future – Britain’s most common coin
Opinion is divided
Those in favour of getting rid of it say you can’t buy anything for a penny these days. True – the penny chews of my youth have now gone from our sweet shops. You can’t even ‘spend a penny’ anymore (that’ll cost you as much as 30p for the privilege). Put simply, 1p coins have no other function but to weigh down our purses and pockets.
But, in these tough times, every penny counts. Those against the move say there are plenty of people that still need the 1p and other small denomination coins. How many of us pop our loose change in charity collecting boxes when we’re out and about? They may be small amounts but they all add up.
A future collector’s item?
So it is probably fair to say that keeping hold of your old pennies is unlikely to make you rich. However, when they do finally disappear from our change (as is almost certain at some point), they are certain to remain an important part of Britain’s numismatic heritage for centuries to come.
Penny for them
Ultimately the “Master of the Mint” Chancellor George Osborne will make the final decision but what are your thoughts – should the penny stay or go?
News from the World Money Fair – sell outs, baby coins, nano technology and much, much more…
9.00am. Friday 1 February 2013. Over 500 people are queuing in the lobby area of Berlin’s Hotel Estrel. All keen to be among the very first collectors to gain entry to the World Money Fair in search of a collector’s bargain, long sought-after coin or a glimpse at the latest issues from the world’s leading national mints.
There is no coin show quite like the World Fair of Money. That is why each year our team of buyers attend, meeting the Mint Masters and Sales Directors of the leading mints, like the Royal Mint, Royal Canadian Mint and the Royal Australian Mint as well as some of the most well-connected secondary market coin dealers.
Here are a few of the highlights from this year’s show that I can share with you.
Royal Mint at the World Money Fair
The Royal Canadian Mint will be issuing more $20 silver coins during 2013, continuing its trend as the world’s most popular silver coin. However, I also heard mention of something that I am pretty sure this could create even more of a storm than the $20 coins. I’m afraid I can’t say more until later this year!
I would also suggest that you look out for some very exciting and collectable issues to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Silver Maple.
I was excited to hear the Coronation Anniversary coins are also in the pipeline for Australia and New Zealand, which will prove historic issues with some serious collector demand.
New Zealand were also able to share with us the immense popularity of their Hobbit coins – guaranteeing that they will remain a collector favourite over the next 2 years of films.
Exciting Innovation
Elsewhere, continued innovation excited. Perhaps my favourite was the ability to in-bed a nano chip into a coin, containing detailed information, visible only under a microscope. There is already talk of how to use such technology to include the works of Shakespeare in a nano chip on a coin to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth in 2014.
Looking further ahead…
With almost 80% of you wanting a coin for a royal baby, there is some encouraging news. A number of the major national mints are having discussions with the Palace about issuing a coin with the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge’s baby this summer.
Looking further forward, I spent a considerable amount of time discussing plans to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of World War I. I think it is safe to say that this will be the major collecting theme of 2014 and beyond with coins expected from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and even many of the occupied countries.
We look forward to being able to tell you more about these and many more important issues over the coming months.