7 NEW UK Coins to be issued
7 legal tender coins have been authorised for 2016 by Royal Proclamation, including designs for Shakespeare and the Battle of Hastings.
Whilst images of the final designs are still strictly under wraps, the Proclamations give us insight into what we can expect to see:
2016 £2: The Great Fire of London 350th Anniversary
The Great Fire of London in 1666 was one of the worst disasters in British history and left a huge scar on the capital which will never be forgotten. Next year’s £2 coin to mark the 350th anniversary will feature: A view across the River Thames of the City of London in flames with boats fleeing the burning city.
2016 £2: First World War Centenary – The British Army
The third issue in the Royal Mint’s five-year commemorative series to mark commemorate the centenary of the First World War, this latest coin pays tribute to the role of the British Army. The design features: A stylised silhouette of the heads of three soldiers and references the English cubism movement prevalent around the time of the First World War.
2016 £2: 400th Anniversary of William Shakespeare’s Death (x 3 coins)
Britain’s greatest literary figure will be honoured next year for the first time on our circulating coins with three different designs set to pay tribute to the breadth of Shakespeare’s work. One design with a dagger through a crown will represent histories, the second with a cap, bells and jester’s stick will represent comedies and the final design with a skull next to a rose will represent tragedies.
2016 £1: A new design to represent the UK’s four constituent countries
With a brand new 12-sided £1 coin scheduled for 2017, this could very well be the last circular £1 coin. The reverse design of next year’s coin will feature a depiction of a lion, unicorn, stag and a dragon surrounding a crown in the centre.
2016 50p: 950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings
One of the most significant battles in British military history, the Battle of Hastings took place in October 1066 and next year the Royal Mint will commemorate its 950th anniversary on a new 50p coin. The reverse design depicts a scene from the Bayeux tapestry with King Harold and an arrow in his eye.
In addition to these £2, £1 and 50p coins, which we can expect to enter general circulation during 2016, the Royal Mint is also producing a commemorative £5 coin to mark the Queen’s 90th Birthday on 21 April 2016.
Own this year’s uncirculated definitive pair
Today you have the opportunity to add the very latest UK coins to your collection with our Definitive 2015 £1 and £2 Pair.
Preserved in special tamper-proof capsules, they are the first to bear the new effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark.
Click here for more details
I’ve heard the new £1 coin will not be entered into general circulation yet it is legal tender. Why is this?
I see on the Royal mint website the coins have been revealed. Do you know when the ID cards for 2016 will be available?
The new Change Checker ID cards will be available free of charge before the end of the year. Keep an eye out for more details!
Its a good thing that Scotland is being included in some of the things that UK does.
Wish the royal mint would do more design competitions
I would have thought a coin depicting 50 years since England won the world cup would have been a “sweet and fitting” choice for a commemorative coin!
And the fact that I turn fifty next year has nothing whatsoever to do with it. 😉
Seems like only yesterday when it was mentioned on some TV programme ah that’s right mentioned at least twice on a Saturday but only once every other day of the week for fifty years,and to think it was only West Germany not the unified Germany hmm.I remember supporting England in the 1966 world cup,but constantly getting reminded daily or it seems like daily turned a lot of people off of supporting a “home nation”
Hi Mark..nice to see new coins for 2016. BUT what has happened to the new coins for 2015, are they ever going into general circulation. The shops I use are getting fed up with me asking if they have seen any yet !!
Hi Jackie, unfortunately it is normal for the Royal Mint to release the commemorative coins so late in the year. The 2014 Trinity House £2, for example, didn’t start circulating until early this year. Let us know if you are lucky enough to find any!
Thanks for your reply…will let you know when I find any…will carry on asking staff at shops I use !!