Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’
The Snowman™ and The Snowdog come to life on brand new UK 50p!
A brand-new UK 50p is now available, marking the 10th anniversary of the first premiere of ‘The Snowman™ and The Snowdog‘ film.
The critically acclaimed animated sequel, ‘The Snowman™ and The Snowdog‘, suitably premiered on Channel 4 on Christmas Eve, 2012.
It was created with the late Raymond Briggs’ blessing and subsequently, in 2015, a book of the film was published by Puffin, bringing words to the story for the first time.
And, for the first time ever The Snowdog joins The Snowman™ on a UK 50p!
Interestingly for collectors, The Snowman™ and The Snowdog 50p features a design by award-winning illustrator Robin Shaw.
As well as being an accredited designer, Shaw also acted as assistant director on the 2012 film!
You can get The Snowman™ and The Snowdog 50p today for JUST £4.99 (+p&p) by clicking here >>
2022 UK The Snowman™ and The Snowdog
Undeniably, Snowman™ coins are some of the most popular out there, with previous issues selling out remarkably fast.
Three out of the now five Snowman™ 50ps are also no longer available at The Royal Mint, meaning you need to act fast to get your hands on this new coin.
And considering the brand new UK Snowman™ and The Snowdog 50p is available the same year as Raymond Briggs’ passing, it is comparatively the most poignant yet.
It’s also guaranteed to be one of the last UK coins with Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait on the obverse. This is sure to drive demand for this brand new 50p…
As the UK’s only official Christmas coin, it is the perfect festive gift, that’s certainly going to warm the hearts of every collector (and every dog lover) out there!
In our video below, I talk you through Change Checker’s festive 50p range. Browse the range here >>
Get ahead this Christmas with Change Checker’s festive 50p range
Browse the Change Checker Christmas range here >>
Last year when the 2021 Snowman™ 50p was issued, I gave my top tips for building your own snowman! With the temperatures dropping, we can certainly hope for a white Christmas!
Isle of Man celebrate Christmas with brand new Nativity £2 coin!
Each year, I eagerly anticipate the Isle of Man‘s latest Christmas issue. From the popular 2018 Hunt the Wren £2 to the charming Santa £2 of 2019, the Isle of Man are one of the best when it comes to festive coins.
But this year, I’ve been left mesmerised by the design of their latest £2 coin. Taking influence from the origins of Christmas, the 2021 Isle of Man Christmas £2 depicts a design of the Nativity scene from the stained glass window found in the Kirk Christ Church on the Island.
2021 Isle of Man Christmas Nativity £2
Designed by Glen Davies, this £2 coin is a truly unique festive addition to any collection this Christmas season. With Christmas just a matter of weeks away, this stunning £2 coin makes for the perfect gift or stocking filler for a friend or relative!
Your coin has been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality – the standard favoured amongst collectors! Carefully encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging with that all-important security hologram guaranteeing its quality, your coin will be protected for generations to come.
To secure yours for JUST £8.99 (+p&p) simply click here >>
Following in the popularity of previous Isle of Man Christmas coins, this set is sure to be in high demand amongst collectors.
JUST 5,000 will be entering circulation on the Isle of Man, so this coin will be particularly hard to come by, as I’m sure collectors on the island will be quick to snap them up!
The island has released some truly beautiful coins in recent years, and as their mintage figures are typically much lower than UK coins, they are often highly sought-after by collectors…
2020 ‘A Christmas Carol’ £2 Coins
In 2020, to mark the 150th year since the passing of Charles Dickens, the Isle of Man issued three enchanting £2 coins, each inspired by his timeless Christmas tale, A Christmas Carol, including:
- Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present
- Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past and Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
- Scrooge with Tiny Tim as a representation of his redemption
A Christmas Carol, published in 1843, is arguably one of Charles Dickens’ most famous novels – teaching us to keep the spirit of Christmas and kindness in our hearts all year round.
We have limited stock remaining of these coins for Change Checkers. If you’re yet to secure these coins for your collection, simply click here >>
2019 Santa £2 Coin
Prior to 2019, the Isle of Man issued Christmas themed 50ps most years. However, this incredibly popular Santa £2 coin created a new tradition.
This magical design features an enchanting portrait of Old St. Nick and bears the inscription ‘Nollick Ghennal’ which is Manx for ‘Merry Christmas’.
At the top of the coin, the distinctive Isle of Man Triskelion (three armoured legs) can be seen. This coin was so popular that sadly some Change Checkers missed out on securing it for their collections!
2018 Hunt the Wren £2
Boxing day on the Isle of Man, is often reserved for a very special but unusual tradition.
Communities come together across the island to dance and sing in the streets around “the king of all birds” who is paraded around on a pole.
Hunt the Wren, as it is known on the island has become one of the most popular yet more unusual Manx traditions in practice today.
The practice dates back to Pagan times and is centred on the wren bird, which is hunted and then danced through the streets on a special pole.
This £2 coin was issued in 2018 by The Isle of Man to celebrate the Manx tradition.
With the Isle of Man having a history of remarkably popular coins, this latest £2 issue is SURE to be in high demand with collectors!
Are you a collector on the Isle of Man? Will you be checking your change for this brand new coin?
Celebrate the festive period with this brand new £2 coin!
Don’t miss out on your chance to own this BRAND NEW 2021 Christmas £2! Click here right now >>
The 2021 Isle of Man Christmas Nativity £2 coin is a truly unique festive addition to any collection this Christmas season, or could even make the perfect Christmas gift or stocking filler for a friend or relative!
This brand new festive £2 coin has been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality – the standard favoured amongst collectors – and has been carefully encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging with that all-important security hologram guaranteeing its quality.
Just like magic… The Snowman™ returns to UK 50p
For me, Christmas isn’t complete without The Snowman™. Every year, it’s guaranteed to put a smile on my face.
First published in 1978, the book has sold more than 5.5 million copies in 15 different languages! In 1982, the story was also adapted into an animated film by Channel 4.
Whichever version you prefer, it’s fair to say The Snowman™ has earned its title as one of the world’s greatest tales.
One of my favourite scenes from the tale, is when James is building his Snowman and we see him draw on a big smile.
So, this is why the 2021 UK Snowman™ 50p, is one of my favourite festive coins. This exact scene from the book can be seen on the design of this 50p and if you’re like me, it’s bound to warm your hearts this winter.
The new design by award winning illustrator and animator, Robin Shaw, continues the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of Raymond Briggs’ much-loved festive tale, The Snowman™.
It would be hard to find someone who doesn’t have fond memories of this magical festive tale, making this 50p the perfect Christmas gift for collectors and Snowman fans alike.
As you’d expect with such a special 50p, your coin has been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality and carefully encapsulated in Official Change Checker Packaging with the all-important security hologram, guaranteeing its quality.
Whether you’re treating yourself, or a loved one this Christmas, there’s snow way you’ll want to miss this 50p issue. To secure yours for JUST £4.50 (+p&p), simply click here >>
In the rest of this blog, I give you my top tips for building your own snowman and I invite you to discover the history of The Snowman™ on coins.
So, grab yourself a blanket, a cup of cocoa, and cosy up!
2020 UK The Snowman™ 50p
Issued in 2020 to continue the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of Raymond Briggs’ classic Christmas tale, Robin Shaw’s design of this 50p takes inspiration from the friendship between The Snowman™ and James.
This coin is no longer on sale at The Royal Mint, meaning it’s not as easy to get hold of. Luckily, Change Checker has some remaining stock of this charming 50p. To secure yours whilst stock lasts, click here >>
2019 The Snowman™ 50p
In 2019, The Snowman™ made his second UK 50p appearance, featuring alongside his friend James, set against the snowy mountains they famously fly over in the tale.
At the time of its release, it was the second Christmas 50p to be ever be released in the UK, with previous festive releases being dedicated to the £5 coin!
2018 The Snowman™ 50p
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Christmas classic, Natasha Ratcliffe’s design of this 2018 50p features The Snowman and James ‘walking in the air’…
This 50p was so popular that the Silver Proof version completely SOLD OUT on the first day of issue!
Whilst the 2018 release marked the first time that The Snowman™ appeared on a UK coin, it’s not the first time that this frosty friend has appeared on a 50p…
Isle of Man Snowman 50ps
Over the years, The Snowman has featured on a number of different 50ps from The Isle of Man, some of which are incredibly sought after.
One such coin from 2003 featuring James and The Snowman™ sold for over £250 on the secondary market in 2019 – not a bad return on a 50p coin!
Isle of Man coinage is particularly sought-after by collectors as mintages are significantly lower than in the UK, due to a population of around 85,000.
As these coins are very similar in appearance and specification to UK coins, they can sometimes find their way over here when people return from holidaying on the island.
As winter approaches and the weather gets even colder, it’s got me thinking about building my own snowman…
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Here are some helpful tips so you can build the best snowman this year!
- The best time to pack snow is when it approaches melting point and becomes moist and compact. This means you can build a big snowball by simply rolling it (which saves a lot of your energy!)
- A good time to build a snowman may be the next warm afternoon directly following a snowfall with a sufficient amount of snow. This ensures the snow has had time to approach melting point!
- Protect your snowman from the sun damage! Give your snowman the best shot at a long life by situating it someplace flat and shady and face it away from the sun.
- Help your snowman find its balance! Aim for a 3-2-1 snowball ratio and remember, the lower to the ground your snowman is, the more stable it will be.
- Jim Sysko, an expert snowman builder who worked on the largest snowman in the world, suggests flattening the top of each snowball before placing the next one on top. That way your snowman will have more stability.
- Personalise your snowman! Just because the process of building a snowman has remained unchanged for centuries, doesn’t mean you can’t add your own spin on things with decorations! Why not give it a funky cap or repurpose last year’s Christmas jumper?
I’d love to know in the comments if you’ve got any other tips for building a snowman!
The 2021 UK The Snowman™ 50p is definitely my favourite festive 50p of recent years. Which Snowman 50p is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
Secure the 2021 UK The Snowman™ 50p today!
Secure yours today for JUST £4.50 (+p&p) by simply clicking here >>
As you’d expect with such a special 50p, your coin has been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality and carefully encapsulated in Official Change Checker Packaging with the all-important security hologram, guaranteeing its quality.