Posts by Rachel
New 50p coin celebrating diversity in Britain enters circulation TODAY!
On Saturday 17th October, a surprise coin release made the headlines, as a brand new 50p was released to celebrate how diversity built Britain.
This new 50p is the first in a series to celebrate diversity across the whole of Britain and how our diverse culture has helped to shape the rich history and heritage of our nation.
Collectors will also be delighted to hear that 2.5 million Diversity in Britain 50ps are expected to enter circulation today, so now’s the time to get checking your change for this brand new release!
Designed by Dominque Evans, the new 50p features the words “DIVERSITY BUILT BRITAIN” against a network of interconnected triangles, symbolising the importance of connections between communities, and the strength of these connections cross the country.
Dominique Evans is one of the UK’s foremost coin designers and has reflected her own experience of diversity, growing up as a mixed-race woman, as inspiration for her design.
“When designing this coin, I began by thinking about the people who inspire me and what diversity has meant in my life. I believe that no matter where you are born, we all belong under the same sky and this was the starting point of the design,” Evans said.
Celebrating Diversity on UK Coins
Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Master of the Mint, unveiled the brand new UK 50p which celebrates British diversity and marks the profound contribution ethnic minority communities have made to our nation’s history.
He said, “For generations, ethnic minority groups have fought and died for this country we have built together; taught our children, nursed the sick, cared for the elderly; and through their enterprising spirit have started some of our most exciting and dynamic businesses, creating jobs and driving growth.”
The coin was commissioned earlier this year following discussions with the We Too Built Britain campaign and calls for BAME figures to appear on UK coins and banknotes.
Look out for the Diversity Built Britain 50p in your change!
This release really has come as a wonderful surprise for Change Checkers and I’m sure demand for the new issue will be high as collectors rush to secure one for their 50p collection.
Will you be adding the 2020 Diversity Built Britain 50p to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!
Secure your Diversity 50p in Collector Quality – JUST £4.50 (+p&p)
Get ahead of the crowd and secure this brand new 50p coin in superior collector quality!
Where are all the coins? US Covid-Driven Coin Shortage!
The United States are facing a nationwide coin shortage in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic – urging members of the public to use cash where possible to help ease the coin crisis.
As more people turn to online shopping and contactless payments and avoid using physical money due to the virus, the normal flow of currency has been severely interrupted.
Last year, third-party coin processors and retailers accounted for around 83% of coins in the US coin supply chain.
However, as many stores have been closed and with the US Mint briefly slowing production to implement safety measures, further interruptions to this supply chain have been caused.
The effects mean that as stores are reopening, retailers are quickly exhausting their cash inventories, with some now advising customers they may not be able to provide change in coins.
Solving the US coin supply problem
The US Mint is now asking people to return any coins they might have lying around and to use exact cash for purchases to help replenish the country’s supply.
The Fed have even convened a US Coin Task Force, working to restore the vital coin supply chain.
And what’s more, one particular bank has even started paying members of the public to return any spare change.
UK Coin Shortage?
With the UK public being urged to use contactless where possible during the pandemic, could we too being facing a similar issue soon?
In recent years demand for cash in the UK has dropped, not simply because card payments have increased, but also due to the introduction of the 12-sided £1 coin in 2017.
As members of the public were tasked with returning their old round pound coins to the bank, other denominations, loose change and unwanted coins were also returned, meaning a surplus of cash was injected into the system.
We’ve certainly felt the effects of this with the lack of new coins entering circulation in the last few years.
Secondary Market Coin Prices
We recently updated the Change Checker eBay Tracker, revealing the average selling prices for the top 10 UK coins and banknotes.
Amazingly, there’s been an 18% increase in the overall value of these issues – the biggest increase we’ve seen since the Tracker began!
With less cash being used in the past few months, it’s likely collectors are heading to the secondary market to get hold of certain coins, rather than waiting to find them in their change.
Additionally, with more time being spent at home and people seeking new hobbies to keep themselves entertained, new collectors are perhaps becoming more aware of rare and collectable coins that might be worth owning and as a result, are heading to the secondary market to get hold of one.
We’ve seen this increased demand on the secondary market driving up the prices, particularly for the more rare and sought-after coins.
Now, as more retailers open up shop in the UK and the country starts to head towards the ‘new normal’, will we start to see more cash exchanging hands once again? And will collectors be able to start hunting down coins in their change once more?
Perhaps one of the biggest questions on collector’s lips will be whether we’ll see an increase in demand, leading to new commemorative coins being released into circulation…
At Change Checker HQ we’ve certainly got our fingers crossed!
If you’re interested in coin collecting, our Change Checker web app is completely free to use and allows users to:
– Find and identify the coins in their pocket
– Collect and track the coins they have
– Swap their spare coins with other Change Checkers
Sign up today at: www.changechecker.org/app
Are you ready to return to Neverland? Peter Pan 50ps released!
I’m sure we could all use a bit of escapism right now, and so I invite you to join us on a trip far away as we return to Neverland for one last time…
In 2019, the collecting world experienced the magic of the world’s first Peter Pan 50ps, issued by the Isle of Man and developed in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
The unprecedented demand for these coins saw tens of thousands queuing to get their hands on the stunning new issues. And in just a matter of months, through the sales of these Peter Pan 50ps, collectors raised over £250,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
In 2020, the second and final collection of British Isles Peter Pan 50ps were issued.
LAST EVER Peter Pan 50p
The FINAL Peter Pan 50p has been issued by The Isle of Man, continuing the 90th anniversary celebrations of author JM Barrie gifting his rights in the story to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
This coin features an enchanting illustration of Peter Pan and Tinkerbell on the reverse design, created by David Wyatt and Matt Tindall.
The set was also available in .925 Sterling Silver Proof quality, featuring those beautiful coloured illustrations, as well as premium Gold Proof.
Can I find the Peter Pan 50ps in my change?
If you’re living on the Isle of Man, then yes!
25,000 of each coin entered circulation on the Isle of Man, but when you compare that to the mintage figures for UK coins (our rarest 50p in circulation has a mintage of 210,000) you’ll realise just how few of these coins are actually out there.
Coins issued on the Isle of Man typically have lower mintage figures due to the smaller population of just 84,000 which means that their coins are particularly sought-after amongst collectors.
As with the 2019 Peter Pan coins, each has been developed in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity). For every coin or set sold a donation will go directly to GOSH Charity to help support the hospital and the seriously ill children from across the UK who are cared for there.