Posts Tagged ‘50p coins’
The Gruffalo returns to UK coins
With the recent release of the 2024 The Gruffalo’s Child 50p, let’s take a closer look at why the previous Gruffalo 50ps were so popular!
Some of the most popular coins are often those that not only have captivating designs, but those that tell a story, and the 2019 Gruffalo® 50p and the 2019 Gruffalo and Mouse 50p coins are prime examples. These coins gained immense popularity among collectors, and it’s not hard to see why...
The story behind the coins
The Gruffalo, a beloved children’s book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, first hit the shelves in 1999 and has since sold a whopping 13.5 million copies! The story has enchanted both children and adults, with its whimsical tale of a clever mouse who outsmarts a host of woodland creatures, including the fearsome Gruffalo.
The Gruffalo has also become somewhat of a festive favourite, as it was adapted into a short film for BBC One in December 2009 by production company Magic Light Pictures.
2019 Gruffalo 50p
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this iconic story, The Royal Mint released two commemorative 50ps in 2019, the first featuring the Gruffalo himself.
The reverse design, created by Magic Light Pictures, features the Gruffalo smirking mischievously with all his distinctive features.
When it was first released in February 2019, the Gruffalo 50p sparked huge excitement across the UK, inspiring a whole new generation of collectors.
It became one of the most sought-after 50ps of recent years, with more than 239,000 Brilliant Uncirculated 50ps sold and all 25,500 Silver Proof Gruffalo 50ps selling out.
2019 Gruffalo and Mouse 50p
Following the success of the first release, The Royal Mint delighted collectors once again by issuing a second Gruffalo 50p in October 2019. This time, the design featured the Gruffalo alongside the cunning little mouse, capturing a key moment from the story.
The intricate detailing highlights the contrast between the imposing Gruffalo and the small but brave mouse.
Collectors had been eagerly awaiting the release of this coin since The Royal Mint teased a second Gruffalo coin a few months earlier. There was speculation about what might feature on the second coin, from the charming fox to the sly snake, but the clever little mouse was a welcome addition to the design.
Similarly to the first Gruffalo 50p, the Gruffalo and Mouse 50p was incredibly popular with collectors, and just shy of 100,000 Brilliant Uncirculated 50ps were sold!
2024 The Gruffalo’s Child 50p
The 2024 UK Gruffalo’s Child 50p celebrates 20 years since the release of the bestselling Gruffalo sequel, The Gruffalo’s Child. The design features the Gruffalo’s Child and the cunning mouse, bringing to life a pivotal moment in the story.
Secure your 2024 The Gruffalo’s Child 50p for just £8.99 (+p&p) >>
The UK’s FIRST Coronation 50p!
In anticipation for King Charles III’s Coronation on 6th May 2023, the Official UK Coronation coins were revealed – including the FIRST EVER UK Coronation 50p!
In this blog, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about these coins issued to mark a huge historical milestone.
2023 UK Coronation 50p
The most significant royal event of our generation was celebrated with a UK 50p coin, struck by The Royal Mint to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III.
This was the UK’s FIRST coronation 50p as Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 was marked with a Crown coin.
The design features the royal cypher set against Westminster Abbey, where the King was crowned.
But, what makes this coin particularly special is a feature you eagle eyed collectors will be sure to spot.
Simply take a look on the obverse of this 50p and you’ll notice it differs from other King Charles III coins…
That’s because The Royal Mint created a collector version of the coin with an unusual twist – showing a crowned effigy of the King!
Whilst we’ve all grown familiar with seeing a crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth on our coins, traditionally male monarchs do not wear crowns on UK coinage – which is why the standard King Charles coins show him uncrowned.
However, breaking from tradition to commemorate this remarkable royal event, the King Charles III Coronation 50p shows His Majesty wearing the Tudor Crown.
This special obverse design is only available in collector quality and can’t be found in your change – making for a unique addition to any collection.
Is the UK’s FIRST Coronation 50p the most sought-after coin EVER?
Collecting firsts are key for driving up demand – just think back to the worldwide popularity of the UK’s first royal 50p – the Platinum Jubilee 50p.
Within the first 24 hours of release, all limited edition presentations of the Platinum Jubilee 50p completely SOLD OUT!
In fact, even the Brilliant Uncirculated quality presentations of the Platinum Jubilee 50p and £5 coins are still selling for £26 on secondary market sites.
AND, the circulating version of the Platinum Jubilee 50p recently sold for £20 on eBay.
Coronation celebrated on UK’s flagship royal coin
Alongside the 50p coin, The Royal Mint also issued a brand new UK £5 – the flagship royal coin.
The reverse design by Timothy Noad features a depiction of St. Edward’s Crown, accompanied by the sovereign’s sceptre with dove and the sovereign’s sceptre with cross with the inscription “THE CORONATION OF KING CHARLES III 6 MAY 2023”.
The obverse also features the special crowned portrait of His Majesty, created especially for the Coronation Coin Range.
This £5 coin is the perfect pairing to the UK’s first coronation 50p. Get your hands on it in Brilliant Uncirculated quality >>
Don’t miss out on owning the 2023 Coronation £5
The 2023 Coronation 50p is no longer available, however you can still secure the Coronation £5 in Brilliant Uncirculated quality from Change Checker >>
Charles in your Change – where will you find a KCIII 50p and how much is it worth?
A new UK 50p has entered circulation featuring King Charles III’s portrait for the first time – but collectors are wondering, “how much is it worth?”
Special collector versions of the coins have already been issued and their limited edition presentations sold out within JUST HOURS!
4.9 million of these very 50ps will begin circulating from December.
You all know how many people will want this coin.
So, it could be tricky to get your hands on one.
How will you find the new KCIII 50p?
That’s why Change Checker is launching our Charles in your Change campaign – helping you collectors increase your chances of finding this 50p.
We’re asking the UK public to register where in the country they found it.
This will help us to update our collector map showing the best hot spots to find the new coin.
We’ll update this every week, so you can keep track of where, and how quickly these coins are moving around the country.
What will the King Charles III 50p be worth?
Any avid collectors knows the worth of a scarce coin.
A look at the Change Checker Scarcity Index will show you just how sought-after UK coins can be.
The coin at the top of the 50p Scarcity Index is the Kew Gardens 50p – just 210,000 entered circulation in 2009 and they still (over 13 years later) fetch around £100 on secondary market sites.
The value of the King Charles III 50p depends on what someone is prepared to pay in the future – that’s part of the joy of collecting.
But, you can be sure that if you find one in your change, you’ll own a small piece of history – the very first coin of King Charles III’s reign. And remember, it’ll never be worth less than its face value of 50p.
When will there be more coins?
Look out for a new £1 coin design next year.
It’ll be the first new £1 design since 2017 and excitingly, the very first £1 coin that could feature King Charles III’s portrait on the obverse. Find out more here >>
And of course, look out for those definitive coins – 1p – £2 coins. They will, inevitably, be redesigned in the future to have His Majesty’s portrait on them.
The first definitive coins of a new monarch’s reign mark a significant moment in numismatic history. Consequently, collectors will be racing to find a complete set of definitive coins.
Swap your coins with other collectors
Swapping your coins with other collectors will help you fill any gaps you may have in your coin collections.
If people are lucky enough to find more than one King Charles III 50p in their change, they could be prepared to swap one.
So, if you do struggle to find the 50p in your change you should head the Change Checker Community Group on Facebook. You can get tips, tricks, and even swap with other collectors – completely for free!
Or, you can list your coin collection online with the Change Checker Web App. It’s free to use and will take less than 60 seconds to sign-up!
Display your KCIII 50p in the First Effigy Collecting Pack
Get the King Charles III First Effigy Collecting Pack for JUST £15.99 (+p&p) here >>
As soon as you find the KCIII 50p in your change, you can slot it into your collecting pack, alongside the King Charles III £5 coin.