Posts Tagged ‘numismatics’
Happy New Year and Happy New Coins! 2024 Annual Coins
Each year, collectors eagerly anticipate the arrival of The Royal Mint’s Annual Set.
These coins commemorate some of the key anniversaries of the year ahead and it means we get treated to FIVE brand new coin designs!
The 2024 Annual Coin Set is the second to feature King Charles III on the obverse of each of the coins. And excitingly, it follows the release of the UK’s New Coinage in October last year, in which we saw His Majesty feature on all key circulating coin denominations for the first time.
So let’s take a look at the 2024 Annual Coin Set…
RNLI 50p
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, better known as the RNLI, was founded by Sir William Hillary in 1824 and has been saving lives at sea ever since. To mark the 200th anniversary of the charity, the RNLI is now being celebrated on a UK 50p.
The reverse design incorporates key symbols of the RNLI, with the flag in the centre, surrounded by a life ring and rope. Inscribed on the life rings are the years of the charity 1824-2024 as well as ‘200 years’.
British Olympians and Paralympians 50p
This year, the Olympic Games will take place in Paris, France – exactly 100 years since the city last hosted the games. The Paralympics will also be held in France for the first time, making the games the biggest event ever held in France.
This British Olympians and Paralympians 50p represents TeamGB and ParalympicsGB in their efforts in the games and inspiring the nation through the power of sport.
On the reverse are 2 geometric athletes in action set against the Union flag. If you look closely, you’ll also see the Eiffel Tower at the bottom, a nod to the city where the games will take place.
Sir Winston Churchill £2
The first of the £2 coins in the Annual Set features one of the most memorable figures in British politics – Winston Churchill, but perhaps not quite how we remember him.
Churchill led Britain to victory during the Second World War, and served as Prime Minster twice, but the design on this UK £2 takes us back to an earlier time, depicting him as a young man during his time in the Cavalry army.
This year marks 150 years since the birth of Winston Churchill, and so the years of his life 1874-1965 can be seen either side of his portrait on the coin. You’ll also find the inscription ‘PAVE THE WAY FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM’ around the edge.
National Gallery £2
Also celebrating its 200th anniversary this year is the National Gallery. Originally founded in 1824, the gallery was initially based in financier John Julius Angerstein’s house, until a dedicated building was commissioned to be built in Trafalgar Square in London in 1838.
The gallery now holds over 2,300 paintings by a variety of famous artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Michelangelo. And the best part, it’s free to the public!
The iconic gallery building features on this £2 coin along with the inscription ‘200 years of the National Gallery’.
Buckingham Palace £5
One of the most recognisable buildings in the world, Buckingham Palace, has been home to British monarchs since Queen Victoria, and today, acts as His Majesty King Charles III’s administrative headquarters.
Many a state visit and national celebration have taken place at the Palace, most recently The King’s Coronation celebrations and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The reverse design of this £5 coin pays tribute to a building with so much history with a beautifully detailed depiction of the front of Buckingham Palace with the Royal Standard flying, encircled by a floral ring.
So there you have it, the 2024 Annual Coin Set – and what an excellent selection of coins from the year to come!
These coins will of course all be individually released later in the year, however considering the popular themes and important anniversaries they celebrate, there’s no doubt they’ll be in high demand with collectors.
Securing the 2024 Annual Set guarantees these brand new coins for your collection, before anyone else has the chance to get them individually.
Your favourite design
We asked you to vote for your favourite design from the 2024 Annual Coin Set, and the results are in…
Secure this year’s Annual Set!
To ensure you don’t miss out on adding all FIVE new coins to your collection for JUST £42 (+postage), click here >>
Each coin has been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality and is protectively encapsulated in official Change Checker packaging, housed in a display page ready to slot into your Change Checker Album.
Myths and Legends: BRAND NEW 2024 Dated Robin Hood £5
Famed for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, the tale of Robin Hood is perhaps one of the best-known tales from English Folklore. So, it’s only fitting that this hero features on the latest coin in the UK’s Myths & Legends £5 series.
And what makes this new addition even more exciting, is that it’ll be the first 2024 coin in the Myths and Legends series!
Following on from the previous coins in The Royal Mint’s Myths and Legends £5 series, the 2024 UK Robin Hood £5 coin is the latest legendary figure to appear on a UK £5 coin.
A Legendary Design
The reverse design features Robin Hood himself, poised amongst the trees in Sherwood Forest, at-the-ready with a bow and arrow in hand. The design, by Jody Clark, captures the detail of every branch, leaf and every feather in each arrow.
You may recognise Jody Clark’s work from other UK coinage, such as the 2014 Britannia, and most importantly, the fifth and final coin portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Who is Robin Hood?
Whispered from the woods since the 13th century, is the tale of Robin Hood – an outlaw who lived in Sherwood Forest, in Yorkshire, alongside his Merry Men. The ‘Merry Men’ helped Hood to steal from the rich and help give back to the poor.
Not to forget his faithful companion, Maid Marian, who most of us will know as Robin Hood’s partner, who helps aid Robin and Little John in giving back to the poor.
The tale of Robin Hood has been adapted for ballads, plays, books, and films alike – he even has a statue made after him, which you can go and visit in Nottingham. So, a new UK coin really does feel fitting!
Credit: Nottingham311, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Previous Coins
The 2024 Robin Hood £5 coin follows on from the past three coins in the series, which focused on Arthurian Legends. However, with this exciting new release, comes an even more exciting new chapter – the tales of Robin Hood.
The last coin in the series was of shapeshifter and witch, Morgan Le Fay, and just before her, was the mythical wizard, Merlin. Each part of the Arthurian Legends part of the Myths and Legends series, following the initial first coin, King Arthur.
What do you think of BRAND NEW UK 2024 Robin Hood £5? And, what Myths and Legends would you like to see appear next on a UK coin?
The 2024 Robin Hood £5 Coin
Secure the Robin Hood £5 Coin, as part of the Myths and Legends £5 series.
Arriving to you in superior, Brilliant Uncirculated quality and encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging – preserving the quality for years to come…
Click here to secure your 2024 UK Robin Hood £5 Coin today >>
Canada’s King Charles III Coin Effigy Revealed!
More than a year after His Majesty King Charles III was officially proclaimed Head of State and Sovereign of Canada, The Royal Canadian Mint have announced the release of their official King Charles III coin effigy.
Credit: Royal Canadian Mint
The news was shared on the 14th November – making for a wonderful birthday treat for His Majesty, who celebrated his 75th birthday that day.
SELL OUT Canada King Charles III 50 cent Coin Roll
The brand new Canadian effigy of His Majesty features on the 50 cent coin, which has been issued in a highly sought-after special collector’s edition Wrap Roll.
Each of the Wrap Rolls include 25 brand new 2023 dated Canada 50 cent coins, which feature a design of the Canadian Coat of Arms on the reverse and – for the first time in seventy years – a new monarch’s portrait on the obverse.
A Special Presentation
The coins are packaged in special, themed illustrated paper wrapping, featuring the official Royal Canadian Mint logo and a stylised band of Fleur-de-lis – a traditional Royal symbol of Canada.
You might not have heard of coin rolls before, but they’re a big deal across the pond, and a highly collectable way to own Canadian coins. Previously, Canadian coin rolls have proved incredibly popular with UK collectors, and we’ve even seen sell outs of our initial allocations of these rolls in the past.
A Canadian Collecting Frenzy
These Canadian 50 cent Coin Rolls are part of the first wave of Canadian coinage that features the new obverse of King Charles III, so it’s currently the only way to secure them for your collection. There were also only 25,000 rolls available worldwide – making them highly sought-after by collectors. So sought-after in fact, that they SOLD OUT at The Royal Canadian Mint within just four days!
We’ve been lucky enough to secure just 500 Canada 50 cent Wrap Rolls for UK collectors, and once they’re gone, they’re gone! So don’t miss out – add these coins to your collection now for just £29.99 (+£3.99 postage) >>
A Major Change for Canadian Coinage
During her incredible 70 year reign, there have been four different obverse portraits of Queen Elizabeth II used on Canadian coinage. The latest portrait change was in 2003 when Susanna Blunt’s effigy of Her Late Majesty made its way onto Canadian coins.
Considering that the obverse of Canadian coinage hasn’t changed in over 20 years, and the fact that we haven’t seen a King on Canadian coins in 7 decades, the introduction of King Charles III’s effigy is sure to cause a stir in the coin collecting world.
The Process of Creating an Effigy
As you might imagine, there are a lot of steps behind the scenes that go into creating a new effigy…
Canada’s new coin effigy was created from Steven Rosati’s winning design, following an invitation to more than 350 artists and engravers.
The process involved each artist/engraver submitting a portfolio of portrait work to be evaluated. These were then shortlisted before a brief outlining mandatory design requirements was given out.
An internal Mint review panel judged submissions based on aesthetics, technical requirements and mass-production suitability before the winning design was submitted for approval from the government and Buckingham Palace.
Once the design was ready, the Mint could begin the engraving and tooling process – producing dies to strike the coins.
Only 500 available for Change Checkers
Click here to secure your Canada King Charles III 50 cent Coin Roll >>