Posts Tagged ‘Change Checker Awards’
WINNERS of the 2018 Change Checker Awards announced!
In November we opened the 2018 Change Checker Awards to celebrate the very best people in the world of change collecting, and I must say that it’s been incredible to hear all of your stories from the last year.
In fact, it’s been a really tough job deciding on the winners, but with thanks to our panel of judges from the Change Checker team and Coin Collector magazine, our well deserved winners have now been selected…
Checker Checker of the Year
Winner:
Chris Goodman
Chris was nominated by his girlfriend, Chloe who has learnt so much about coins because of him. His passion for coins has grown since he was a child, spending hours in antique shops looking at all the old coins. When it comes to his own collection, Chris is very particular about keeping everything in order, which is why he uses his Change Checker album to store his proudest belongings – coins.
As he carefully researches every coin he owns, Chris takes great pleasure and satisfaction in passing on this knowledge to other collectors and explaining the meaning behind each of his coins to the people he meets. He also owns all of the Change Checker accessories to help him with his collection.
Congratulations Chris – keep up the great work!
Runners up:
Paula Treleaven
Paula was nominated by Garry Williams for helping members to send and swap their coins throughout the year. She is looking after her husband who has cancer and working, but still manages to find time to keep coin collectors happy and so has been put forward for this award as a thank you for everything that she has done this year.
Susan Walters
Susan was nominated by her husband Robert for her enthusiasm for coin collecting, which started with her collection of Elizabeth II coins and has since grown to encompass £2 and 50p coins as well. She has also led swapping sessions at work and home, sharing her passion for collecting with others, even as her mobility declines. Great work Susan, well done!
Junior Change Checker of the Year
Winner:
Isla MacDonald (10 years)
Isla has found a special interest in coin collecting which started after she discovered an unusual 50p, which her father helped her to research. After keeping on eye out for other coins, by the end of her first day as a Change Checker, she had found three more and from there her interest has continued to such an extent that she has collected 40 50p coins and 30 £2 coins.
The local shopkeepers now keep aside any special coins for Isla as she always asks for them in her change. This interest has become infectious with her family, and even family friends now actively look out for those special remaining coins to complete her collection.
Isla has recently been covering World War 1 in school and was delighted to take in the First World War £2 coin to show her teacher and the class. She will not spend any of ehr special coins, but will help others who are starting out by swapping her doubles for normal coins.
Well done Isla!
Runners up:
Sophie Welch (15 years)
Sophie started showing an interest in coins nearly two years ago after noticing the different £2 and 50p designs. She soon got her first Change Checker collectors album and since then her collection has grown. Her interest in Art led her to design a coin in 2018 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing. After contacting The Royal Mint to share her design, Sophie was invited to spend a day at the Royal Mint and was even featured in an article on their blog. Sophie is certain that she wants to design coins for The Royal Mint when she is older. Great work Sophie!
Esme Hurley (8 years)
Esme has been an avid coin collector since the release of the first Beatrix Potter coins back in 2016. She now collects all coin denominations and checks every bit of change she receives and has drawn many members of her family and close friends into her collection hobby to assist in completing her ever growing collection. Esme loves to use the swap app and has travelled to the Change Checker live events. Most recently, Esme did a small presentation to her fellow cub scouts all about her coin collection and earned the cub collector badge. Well done Esme!
Coin Design of the Year
It comes as no surprise that the 2018 Coin Design of the Year is awarded to The Snowman 50p.
Natasha Ratcliffe’s dynamic design knocks Aaron West off the top spot for the first time two years, and it’s clear to see why she is the deserving winner this year. This Christmas 50p issued to mark the 40th anniversary of the publication of Raymond Briggs’ much-loved festive tale The Snowman™ depicts the boy and the snowman flying through the night sky above Brighton Pier and has been the most sought-after 50p of the year.
Congratulations Natasha!
Coin Story of the Year
The winner of the 2018 Coin Story of the Year Award goes to Lee Boyce from This Money for his breaking news article covering this year’s biggest reveal – the A-Z 10p coins!

Lee Boyce from This is Money. Coin Story of the Year 2018
Lee said, “I’m delighted to receive the award for Coin Story of the Year – and it’s sound as a pound that This is Money has been recognised for our excellent coverage on all things numismatical.
We always like to get our two pennies across in stories, and to make sure that anything we write about coins is accurate – not using overhyped and inaccurate information.
Thanks to Change Checker for the award – we will endeavour to continue with our solid coin stories into 2019.”
A big thank you once again to Coin Collector for supporting us this year and of course a huge congratulations to all of our winners and all the fantastic entries we had this year. We’d like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support in 2018 and hope that 2019 is a fantastic year of Change Checking for you all!
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
Vote for the overall Coin Design of the Year 2018!
Since announcing the Coin Design of the Year category as part of our 2018 Change Checker Awards, the votes have been pouring in for your favourite 2018 coin from each nomination, and we now have our results!
You’ve shortlisted the top 4 coins, so we’ve been joined by Luke and Rowena in this video to reveal them to you and open up the vote for the overall Coin Design of the Year 2018:
So now it’s over to Change Checkers to pick the overall winner out of our shortlisted top 4 coins for 2018. Cast your vote using the poll below and let us know why you think your favourite coin deserves to be crowned the champion in the comments section at the bottom of this blog.
*** VOTE NOW CLOSED ***

Results
To find out more about the Change Checker Awards and to submit your nomination for the Change Checker of the Year or Junior Change Checker of the Year 2018, click here.
The lucky winners will be announced on the 7th of December, alongside the Coin Design of the Year and Coin Story of the Year.
Best of luck!
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
What’s your favourite £5 coin design of the year 2018?
We’re on the hunt for the best Coin Design of 2018 as part of the 2018 Change Checker Awards and we need your help! With over 50 new coins issued by The Royal Mint this year, we’ve decided to shortlist the coins by denomination and then determine one overall winner from the top 10p, 50p, £2 and £5 coins as voted by Change Checkers!
£5 Coins
The £5 is widely regarded as the UK’s flagship coin and are usually reserved to commemorate the most important Royal and historical anniversaries of the year. And there have certainly been a number of important events celebrated in 2018. In fact, TEN stunning £5 coins have been released this year, including three new additions to the Queen’s Beasts series, an incredibly poignant Remembrance Day £5 with colour printing and a beautifully festive Nutcracker £5 as we move towards the Christmas season.
But which 2018 £5 coin is your favourite?
Cast your vote now using the poll at the bottom of the page and find out more about the different £5 coins below!
Red Dragon of Wales £5
The Red Dragon of Wales is the third coin in the Queen’s Beasts series which started in 2017. The Queen’s Beasts collection will eventually include ten £5 coins, each representing the ten guard beast sculptures which were at the entrance to Westminster Abbey during Her Majesty the Queen’s coronation in 1953. This coin features a design of the fierce Red Dragon of Wales, by well-known designer Jody Clark.
Four Generations of Royalty £5
This Four Generations of Royalty £5 coin marks the first time ever that The Royal Mint has issued a coin to celebrate all four generations of royalty in line to the throne on a single coin. The reverse features an original design by much-loved calligrapher Timothy Noad, and ornately shows the initials of the current four generations, E, C, W, G, and represents the heritage of the House of Windsor.
Royal Academy of Arts £5
To celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the founding of The Royal Academy of Arts, The Royal Academy (RA) and The Royal Mint collaborated to issue this £5 coin. The reverse has been designed by celebrated architect Sir David Chipperfield RA, and features the historical facade of Burlington House, home to the Royal Academy since 1867.
Black Bull of Clarence £5
The Black Bull of Clarence is the fourth coin issued to celebrate the ten ancestral beasts of heraldry, myth, and legend that have watched over Her Majesty the Queen throughout her unprecedented reign. The reverse design by Jody Clark features the strong Black Bull in a rampant position with the shield displaying the coat of arms of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales.
Royal Wedding of Harry and Meghan £5
To celebrate the wedding of HRH Prince Harry of Wales and Ms Meghan Markle, The Royal Mint issued a brand new £5 coin designed by Jody Clark and based on a portrait of the couple taken from a private sitting as well as an inscription of the date of the wedding.
65th Coronation Anniversary £5
This £5 has been issued by The Royal Mint to mark the 65th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen’s Coronation on the 2nd June 1953, an unprecedented Royal milestone.The reverse design by Stephen Taylor depicts the Royal Standard, crowned with Her Majesty the Queen’s royal cypher to represent the Sovereign and the United Kingdom.
Falcon of the Plantagenets £5
This £5 features the magnificent Falcon of the Platagenets from the Queen’s Beasts series, but although the coin is 2019 dated, it was issued during 2018. The reverse features Jody Clark’s depiction of a Falcon perched on top of the shield with a partially open fetterlock in its grasp. Originally closed, the slightly open fetterlock supposedly refers to Edward IV claim to the throne.
Prince George 5th Birthday £5
The birth of HRH Prince George on 22nd July 2013 sparked celebration throughout the country and to celebrate his 5th Birthday, The Royal Mint issued this 2018 commemorative £5 coin. The reverse design by Royal Mint engraver Jody Clark features a modern depiction of Saint George slaying a dragon with a spear.
Remembrance Day £5
To honour the sacrifices of all those who have risked their lives to protect their country’s freedom The Royal Mint issued a 2018 Remembrance Day £5 coin which features vibrant red printing to highlight the symbolic poppy. It is an especially poignant coin this year which marks the 100th anniversary of Armistice, the end of WW1.
Nutcracker £5
The Nutcracker coin is the second Christmas £5 issued by The Royal Mint, featuring a magical design which depicts an enchanting Christmas Nutcracker scene by acclaimed engraver, Harry Brockway.
The winning £5 will then be entered into our Coin Design of the Year vote as part of the 2018 Change Checker Awards, alongside the top 10p, 50p and £2 coins from 2018 to determine which coin should be crowned the overall winner!
The voting has now closed and the results can be found below:
It’s now time for you to vote for your overall winner, shortlisted from Change Checker’s favourite A-Z 10p, 50p, £2 and £5 coin of the year.
View our full range of CERTIFIED BU £5 coins here >>