Posts Tagged ‘Royal Mint’
BRAND-NEW UK Snowman™ 50p released!
Today, the Royal Mint have launched their brand-new SnowmanTM 50p coin, just in time for Christmas.
It’s safe to say this coin is destined for sell-outs, given that in the last five years EVERY edition has sold out in record time.
Read on to find out more about this year’s designs, and those tiny edition limits…
Designed by Robin Shaw
This years design features ‘The Boy’, James, and the Snowman dancing in a snowy forest in front of the Northern Lights.
It has been carefully illustrated by Robin Shaw, a renowned animator who has famously produced all of the images that have appeared on the Snowman UK 50p coins. The design is especially eye-catching in Silver, due to the advance colour-application that brings the Northern Lights to life.
Although the design may be stunning , it’s the edition limits that will be catching the eye of collectors…
Sell-outs expected…
The limited-edition Silver Proof coin has an edition limit of just 5,000.
To put that into context, the 2018 SnowmanTM Silver 50p sold out an edition limit of 15,000.
That means this year’s coin is three times as limited. When you think about it, should every collector who secured the first coin want this latest release, we are already 10,000 short.
And that’s not all, the Gold Proof coin has had a drastic edition limit cut from 300 coins last year, to a minute 100. Again, this coin has sold-out year on year and the small numbers wont be enough to satisfy demand.
How to secure yours
This UK 50p coin is available in three specifications: Gold Proof, Colour-Printed Silver Proof, and Brilliant Uncirculated Quality. A specification for every collector. Click here to secure the perfect christmas present before it’s too late >
The UK’s NEW Coinage
The coins that we use every day are changing.
From the 1p to the £2, eight new coins will soon be entering our pockets and our piggy banks.
So, as we welcome the new era of King Charles III, both the ‘heads’ and ‘tails’ of our circulating coins will have brand new designs.
Read on to unveil The Royal Mint’s brand-new designs, learn about the history of Definitive coins and why this is the biggest change for British coins in 15 years…
The Coins of a New ‘Carolean’ Era
The coins, each designed by The Royal Mint, have been authorised by HM treasury and approved by King Charles III himself.
Over the past seven decades, our circulating coinage has undergone many changes, showcasing five different portraits of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, and two distinct reverse designs.
And even though we have seen His Majesty’s effigy on the obverse of several commemorative issues, this will be the first time we’ll see his portrait on the coins we find in our everyday change.
All reverse designs share a unique feature, setting each denomination against a stylised logo with 3 interlocking ‘Cs’, representing King Charles III.
Before they gradually enter circulation, The Royal Mint have introduced the first strike of these coins in commemorative quality – with a special Privy Mark…
Inspired by Our Natural World
What’s more, each coin embodies King Charles III’s passion for nature & sustainability, presenting various symbols of Britain’s vast wildlife on the reverse designs. Having been a Patron of The Wildlife Trust since 1977, Charles’ affiliation for the natural world was a key inspiration for the designs of the UK’s new coinage.
The new £2 coin design represents the union of the United Kingdom with intermingling flowers from the four nations of the UK: the Rose, the Thistle, the Daffodil, and the Shamrock.
For the £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 2p, and 1p, The Royal Mint have thoughtfully translated various wildlife creatures into innovative reverse designs.
For example, the £1 coin presents a pair of Bees, the 50p showcases a Salmon in water, the 20p a Puffin, the 10p a Scottish Capercaillie, 2p a Red Squirrel, and the 1p a sleeping Dormouse.
Finally, the 5p coin features a stunning combination of oak leaves and acorns – a perfect tribute to our natural world and England’s national tree.
The History of ‘Definitive’ Coinage
The eight different coin denominations which make up our everyday change (1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2) began circulating in 1971. This followed Britain’s shift towards Decimalisation, a plan which had been in the making for over 10 years.
Multiple artists participated in a private design competition, and among them was Christopher Ironside, the chosen designer of the decimal coins. Ironside’s designs remained on the reverse of the definitive coins for 40 years, until Matt Dent proposed the idea of spreading the Shield of the Royal Arms over the definitive coins in 2005.
“This piecing together of the elements of the Royal Arms to form one design had a satisfying symbolism – that of unity, four countries of Britain under a single monarch.” – Matt Dent
A Special Touch for Collectors…
The best part is, you can now secure the commemorative editions of the UK’s new coinage.
And in addition to new designs on both faces, these coins also feature a distinctive ‘Privy Mark’ on the obverse, a unique and sought-after element.
Designed to distinguish these coins from the ones you’ll eventually find in circulation, the first commemorative strikes display a delicate crown positioned alongside the effigy of His Majesty.
From the official Brilliant Uncirculated pack, to the prestigious Proof Set, or the strictly limited DateStampTM, you can click here to view the range with prices starting from £33 (+p&p) and secure yours before it’s too late >
Celebrating the Women Who Shaped History: The Suffragettes
The 19th century saw many political changes, but there was always one constant: women were not allowed to vote in national elections.
It took decades and many different campaign groups to raise awareness of the inequality. In fact, it wasn’t until 1918 that women over thirty were granted the right to vote.
But now, over 100 years later, we can reflect on the brave work of the Suffragettes who have shaped the modern world into what is today.
Read on to learn about the importance of the Suffragettes movement and how you can preserve their story for generations to come with this Historic Collection…
Who were the Suffragettes and What Did They Do?
Following the 1867 vote, the London Society for Women’s Suffrage was formed to peacefully protest for the right for women’s votes. In 1897, their group expanded to form the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). This campaign group was led by Millicent Fawcett, the sister of Elizabeth Garrett-Anderson, the first female doctor in the UK.
After little success from both groups, Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Christabel and Sylvie, formed the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1903. They became known as the Suffragettes, as they used harsher, more direct tactics to raise awareness.
The movement saw great success, granting women over thirty the right to vote as part of the Representation of the People Act in 1918.
The SELL-OUT Royal Mint Coins
In 2003, The Royal Mint issued a Silver Proof 50p coin to commemorate the centenary of the establishment of the Women’s Social and Political Union.
Even with an edition limit of 15,000, they all swiftly sold-out at The Mint.
Following this success, The Royal Mint issued a new UK 50p in 2018, this time marking 100 years since the passing of the Representation of the People Act, and it was just as popular.
In fact, all of the 2018 Representation of the People Act 50p coin specifications are no longer available at The Mint.
But today, you can secure BOTH coins in a complete Suffragettes collection alongside an extra special historic coin…
The Historic 1918 Half Crown
Also included in this Suffragettes Historic Collection is a genuine UK 1918 Half Crown. Struck from Sterling Silver, this coin was issued in the year that the Representation of the People Act was passed.
But, considering this coin was also struck in the final year of World War One, they are extremely scarce and rarely appear on the secondary market.
Suffragettes Memorabilia
But this collection doesn’t stop there, as this historic set also houses replicas of Suffragettes memorabilia, truly transporting you back to the time when women made history.
Whether it’s a 1915 Votes for Women newspaper, Suffragettes Membership card, jail letter, a relic of Emily Davidson’s tragic demise at Epsom, or even the flyer of the Buckingham Palace protest – these replicas capture the most poignant moments of the Suffragettes movement.
Secure yours Suffragettes Collection NOW!
Considering these coins are either no longer available to buy from the Mint or extremely hard to source on the secondary market, this collection was nearly impossible to create.
And with just 41 remaining, this is one you don’t want to miss out on.