Posts Tagged ‘Coins’
Could the 5p coin in your change be worth over £60?
The Kew Gardens 50p, Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland £2 and ANY of the A-Z 10ps are likely to be on your collecting wish-list, but have you ever considered that some of the 5p coins in your change might be worth holding on to?
The smallest of our UK coinage – weighing in at just 3.25g, with a diameter of only 18mm – is often overlooked when it comes to collecting. But what if I told you some of them have been known to sell for over £60 on the secondary market?!
What are the rarest 5p coins?
1977 5p
Unlike the Kew Gardens 50p (which has a mintage of just 210,000), 5p coins are often minted in the tens of millions, or even billions! However, the 1977 5p is the rarest with a mintage figure of 24,308,000. Compare this to the 1990 5p which had a circulating mintage of 1,634,976,005 and you’ll see why it’s pretty rare!
2008 First 5p with the shield design
In 2008, 40 years after the first decimal coins appeared in circulation, our UK definitive coins had a face lift, with brand new designs being released.
A competition was held, with people submitting their designs for the six key coin denominations, leaving out the £2 coin. Over 4,000 designs were submitted, but graphic designer Matthew Dent won the competition with his heraldic design of six coins, with the 1p-50p coins aligning to form the Royal Shield – shown as a complete design on the £1 coin.
As the first year definitive coins were issued with the shield design, 2008 dated 5ps are somewhat coveted by collectors. Although you’re unlikely to see the 2008 or 1977 5p coins fetch above face value, they are certainly interesting ones to collect.
But the real interest comes if you’re lucky enough to find the error 5p coins…
Spot These 5p Error Coins
Inverted effigy 2008 5p
Another reason to keep an eye out for a 2008 dated 5p coins is that an unknown number were released into circulation featuring the Queen’s head on the obverse upside down. These error coins are extremely rare and some have been listed on the secondary market for more than £60!
‘Struck twice’ 1979 5p ‘Error’
On this larger specification ‘New Five Pence’ which is no longer in circulation, but a suspected error was found, where it appeared to have been struck twice on the same side in error. This would mean both the Queen’s head from the obverse and the design on the obverse would be merged together on the same side of the coin.
This ‘error’ hasn’t been confirmed as genuine by The Royal Mint and with closer inspection, it looks as though the reverse design is from a 2p coin – suggesting it might have been tampered with after it was struck.
However one collector sold theirs for £73 on eBay, meaning it always worth looking out for any unusual coins you might have lying around! Just remember, you should always get your error coins confirmed by the mint to prove they are genuine.
The 5p Coins Not Intended for Circulation
From time to time, coins that were never intended for circulation find their way into our change.
They might have been issued in collector sets, broken open and accidentally spent before finding their way into your pocket!
There are two dates to look out for when it comes to 5p coin that shouldn’t be in your change – 1993 and 2018.
Prior to 1990, the 5p coins were issued in the larger specification and so these ones should also no longer be found in your change.
Have you come across any rare or error 5p coins in your change? Let us know in the comments below!
Complete the shield with the Royal Arms Shield Collector Card!
Designed to fit neatly into your Change Checker Album, this Collector’s card allows you to assemble the Royal Arms Shield by simply using your loose change.
Click here to secure yours and start your shield collection today >>
Which Star Wars™ 50p design is your favourite?
The UK Star Wars™ Character Duo 50p series is now complete, with the recent release of the Han Solo™ and Chewbacca™ 50p rounding off the 4 coin collection.
The series celebrates the iconic movie franchise, with designs featuring some fan favourite character duos like C-3PO & R2-D2, Luke Skywalker & Princess Leia and Han Solo & Chewbacca. One of the coins even featured deadly duo Darth Vader & Emperor Palpatine – taking us over to the dark side!
Your favourite Star Wars™ 50p design
We asked you to vote for your favourite design from the UK Star Wars™ Character Duo Series, and a whopping 550 people voted! The results are in…
The R2-D2™ & C-3PO™ 50p won by a landslide with 42.60% of the votes! The Han Solo™ and Chewbacca™ 50p came in second place with 26.51% of the votes, but it’s no surprise that the lovable droids took first place.
Secure the complete Star Wars™ Character Duo 50p set
Secure the complete Star Wars™ Character Duo 50p Set for just £19.99 (+postage) >>
Official UK Star Wars™ 50ps RELEASED!
For the first time, iconic characters from the original Star Wars™ trilogy feature on official UK coins in a four-coin collection celebrating 40 years since the release of Return of the Jedi™.
Han Solo™ and Chewbacca™ 50p
The fourth and final character duo coin in the UK Star Wars™ 50p series is here! It features Rebel Alliance hero, Han Solo™ and his trusty co-pilot and lovable Wookiee, Chewbacca™.
The two friends take centre stage on this brand new 50p coin. Stood side-by-side, the dynamic duo are seen in front of the ship Han Solo™ captains – the Millennium Falcon.
Special design feature
Like the past three coins in the series, the out-of-this-world Han Solo™ and Chewbacca™ 50p includes a special lenticular feature, which changes between the insignia of the Rebel Alliance and the Millennium Falcon.
Rarely seen on 50p coins, this special minting technique adds to the collectability of these already popular coins.
As two of the most popular Star Wars™ characters, and two of the galaxy’s closest of friends, it’s only fitting this pair deserve a place on a UK 50p coin together!
Bespoke packaging
What’s more, each coin in the UK Star Wars™ 50p series comes housed in new, bespoke packaging, which fits perfectly into your Change Checker Album.
Luke Skywalker™ & Princess Leia™ 50p
The third coin in the UK Star Wars™ 50p series has finally been released, and features none other than the galaxy’s most iconic brother-sister duo… Luke Skywalker™ and Princess Leia™
That’s right, the third coin in the UK Star Wars™ 50p series features the much-loved Jedi, Luke Skywalker™ and Rebel Alliance leader, Princess Leia™.
Special design feature
As we’ve come to expect with these extraordinary coins, a special lenticular feature appears above the iconic duo. On the Luke Skywalker™ and Princess Leia™ 50p coin, this unique feature shows the Winged Jedi Crest when tilted one way, and the Rebel Alliance Starbird when tilted the other way.
We rarely see this minting technology on UK 50p coins, which is bound to add to the collectability of these already popular coins.
Luke Skywalker™ can be seen holding his lightsabre in the foreground, whilst Princess Leia™ is seen stood to his right. Twins Luke and Leia are two of the Star Wars series’ most famed characters, so it’s no surprise they’re on a coin together!
Darth Vader™ & Emperor Palpatine™ 50p
The eagerly awaited second coin in the UK Star Wars™ 50p series has finally been released, and this one takes us over to the Dark Side…
That’s right, the latest coin in the UK Star Wars™ series features the deadly duo of Darth Vader™ and Emperor Palpatine™. A far cry from the loveable R2-D2™ and C-3PO™ who featured on the very first UK Star Wars™ coin.
This brand new UK 50p features enemies of the Rebel Alliance, Darth Vader™ and Emperor Palpatine™, as well as a special lenticular feature. On the Darth Vader™ and Emperor Palpatine™ 50p, this unique feature shows the symbol of the Galactic Empire when tilted one way, and the Death Star when tilted the other way.
We rarely see this minting technology on UK 50p coins, which is bound to add to the collectability of these already popular coins.
Darth Vader™ can be seen wielding his lightsaber in the foreground, whilst a cloaked Emperor Palpatine™ lurks in the background. In terms of villains in the Star Wars™ franchise, no duo is more memorable than Vader™ and Palpatine™, so it’s only fitting that they represent the Dark Side on this coin.
R2-D2™ & C-3PO™ 50p
The collection began with a design featuring R2-D2™ and C-3PO™, which appeared on the first official UK coin dedicated to the iconic movie franchise.
This lovable duo can be seen inside the famed Millennium Falcon, but eagle-eyed collectors will notice a special feature appearing on this new 50p…
The special lenticular feature on the R2-D2™ and C-3PO™ 50p changes between Tatooine and the Rebel Alliance Starbird when tilted in different ways.
Discover a new galaxy of coins
Created in partnership with the Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm, a total of four coins will be released in the Star Wars™ 50p series.
The remaining coin in the series will feature Han Solo™ & Chewbacca™, and can be pre-ordered now.
What’s more, each coin in the UK Star Wars™ 50p series comes housed in new, bespoke packaging, which fits perfectly into your Change Checker Album.
Find out how you can add these coins to your collection here >>
Huge demand expected
Many collectors will want to add these 50ps to their collection simply because they’re new UK releases.
But as they’re also the FIRST official UK coins celebrating Star Wars™ which is such a huge worldwide phenomenon, we’re expecting an additional surge in demand from enthusiasts all over the world!
And, as the Star Wars™ movie franchise has such strong ties right here in Britain, UK collectors will want to act fast to secure these coins.
Will you be adding the new Star Wars™ 50ps to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!
Own the complete UK Star Wars™ 50p collection!
Don’t miss the chance to own the complete UK Star Wars™ Character Duo 50p set for just £19.99 (+postage) >>