UK Coin Issues
Myths and Legends: King Arthur £5 JUST ISSUED!
Legendary British king and wielder of sword Excalibur, King Arthur features on brand new UK £5 coin!
The 2023 UK King Arthur £5 coin has been issued as part of a new coin series of Myths and Legends. And, as one of the first King Charles III coin series, it’s sure to get collectors talking!
The design
David Lawrence, renowned for detailed £5 coin designs, shows King Arthur poised with the Excalibur sword in hand – the perfect tribute to a legendary figure!
The design has previously been struck on a 2023 1oz Silver coin, pictured below. But, can you spot the differences?
Not only do the metal, denomination and inscription differ, but the 1oz Silver coin also features Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy! A dual portrait pair such as this is exciting news for both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III collectors!
Start your Myths and Legends £5 collection by securing the 2023 UK King Arthur CERTIFIED BU £5 here >>
The mythology of King Arthur
So, why have The Royal Mint dedicated a new £5 coin to King Arthur? Well, Arthurian mythology is still a topic of interest in the 21st century, despite the legend originating in the 9th-10th centuries!
Many historians have tried to prove whether or not the legend of Arthur was king of England, with history professor Ronald Hutton speaking to BBC’s History Extra in 2020 about how we can be certain of one thing. ‘[T]he battle of Mount Badon, which is recorded in both of our earliest texts as one of Arthur’s greatest victories.’
But, even if King Arthur is just a myth, his legendary tale is nothing short of entertaining!
He has been portrayed as a noble knight who wielded a magical sword, Excalibur. The sword itself is surrounded by mythology, with the a 15th century text (Le Morte d’Arthur) stating that whoever pulls the sword out of a stone is the rightful king of England!
And in 1938, author T. H. White wrote a much-loved children’s novel titled The Sword in the Stone! White’s story also features mythological wizard, Merlin, who guides young Arthur along his journey to becoming England’s rightful king.
Therefore, with the legend of King Arthur engrained in British history, it’s only fitting that The Royal Mint have struck a brand new coin to celebrate him!
Add the 2023 UK King Arthur CERTIFIED BU £5 to your collection >>
2023 UK King Arthur CERTIFIED BU £5
Kickstart your King Charles III £5 collection with the brand new King Arthur £5, struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated quality! Simply click here to order yours for £13.99 (+p&p) >>
First Harry Potter 50p featuring King Charles III just issued!
The Royal Mint have struck a brand new UK Harry Potter 50p, featuring the wise headmaster of Hogwarts: Professor Dumbledore!
Featuring King Charles III for the first time
But Dumbledore is not the only figure to feature for the first time. Unlike the two previous 50p coins in the series, King Charles III’s portrait also appears on the coin!
This is the FIRST TIME we’ve seen both effigies of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III feature in a UK 50p series! Therefore, collectors of both monarch portraits are likely to secure all four for their collections…
With this unusual collecting story making these 50p coins even more collectable, you’ll need to act fast to get your hands on one! Click here to secure yours now for just £4.99 (+p&p) >>
The Professor Dumbledore design
The detailed design of Professor Dumbledore is an illustration by artist Jim Kay, which can be found within the pages of the 2015 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone book!
And, as with the other coins in the series, the 2023 UK Professor Dumbledore 50p features a special lenticular feature. By moving the coin back and forth, you can see the lenticular area show two different symbols: a lightning bolt, and the number 25!
The lightning bolt is an iconic symbol in the Harry Potter series, as it is the shape of Harry’s scar. Meanwhile, the number 25 features to mark 25 years since the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone!
First UK Harry Potter 50p
In 2022, The Royal Mint struck the first UK Harry Potter 50p. It’s design depicts Harry himself, and saw incredible demand from both Harry Potter fans and 50p collectors alike.
If you’d like to get your hands on the 2022 UK Harry Potter 50p, simply click here >>
Hogwarts Express 50p
Soon after, the Hogwarts Express 50p was issued as the second coin in the series! It features Jim Kay’s illustration of the iconic train that takes Hogwarts students to the wizarding school.
As the last coin in the series to feature Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy, collectors were eager to get their hands on the Hogwarts Express 50p!
If you’d like to order your 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p, simply click here >>
2023 UK Professor Dumbledore 50p
As the first Harry Potter 50p featuring King Charles III, the 2023 UK Professor Dumbledore 50p is sure to cause a stir amongst 50p collectors. Especially those starting their King Charles III coin collection!
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 50p
We are yet to see the launch of the fourth and final 50p coin in the series. But, we do know it will feature another of Jim Kay’s wonderful illustrations. In particular, the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
Collectors will surely be racing to complete their Harry Potter 50p collections, especially after the unusual dual-portrait reveal…
Get ahead of the crowd and pre-order the final UK Harry Potter 50p today >>
First individual King Charles III £2 coin featuring Edward Jenner!
The incredible life and legacy of British physician, Edward Jenner, has been celebrated on a brand new UK £2 coin!
Plus, this brand new coin release becomes the first individual King Charles III £2 to be issued in the UK!
Secure yours here for £9.99 (+p&p) >>
Edward Jenner celebrated on new UK £2
Physician to King George, Jenner pioneered the creation of vaccines and created the smallpox vaccine – the world’s first vaccine! His incredible work led to the worldwide eradication of smallpox, a huge feat in Britain’s history.
Credit: John Raphael Smith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
This UK issue also marks 200 years since his passing, and becomes the second £2 coin in The Royal Mint’s Innovation in Science series.
On the reverse of the coin, Henry Gray’s unique design represents Edward Jenner’s crucial contribution to the world of vaccines. Plus, personally approved by His Majesty the King, Martin Jennings’ King Charles III effigy adorns the obverse.
What’s more, as this is the first individual UK £2 coin to feature King Charles III’s portrait, it’s likely to be increasingly sought-after by collectors…
So don’t miss out on adding the 2023 UK Edward Jenner £2 to your collection! Order yours today in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for £9.99 (+p&p) – click here to order yours >>
Alexander Graham Bell £2
This new release follows the Alexander Graham Bell £2 coin in The Royal Mint’s science series. Initially released in the 2022 Annual Coin Set, this issue saw huge popularity – find out more here >>
And, with a design depicting buttons of a telephone with a message hidden amongst the keypad letters, it’s no surprise that it was voted Change Checker’s favourite 2022 Annual Coin Design!
Stephen Hawking 50p
But the Alexander Graham Bell £2 wasn’t the first UK science coin to capture collectors’ attention. The Stephen Hawking 50p, issued in 2019, saw worldwide interest and SOLD OUT at The Royal Mint within mere hours of release!
And, not only was this popular science 50p rumoured to be a favourite of the Queen’s, but it’s no longer available at The Royal Mint. Find out more on the blog here >>
If you’d like to get your hands on the fascinating coins in the Innovation in Science series, make sure you check out the range on our shop >>
UK 2023 Edward Jenner £2
Not only are we excited to see a brand new Innovation in Science £2 added to the popular series, but the FIRST EVER individually released £2 to feature King Charles III’s effigy!
To add this £2 coin to your collection for just £9.99 (+p&p), simply click here >>
