Posts Tagged ‘Coins’
17 Tips to Complete your Definitive 50p Collecting Challenge
On the 25th August we launched the Definitive 50p Collecting Challenge, starting the race to find every UK definitive 50p coin in circulation in time for the 50th anniversary of the 50p.
To help you with your collection, we’ve put together 17 top tips to hunt down those 50p coins…
Best of luck Change Checkers!
Have you joined the Definitive 50p Collecting Challenge?
The race is on to find and collect the definitive 50ps in your change in time for the 50th anniversary of the 50p!
What animal are you in the Chinese Zodiac? Brand new £5 coin released!
The Chinese Zodiac calendar can be tracked back as far as the 14th Century B.C and has fascinated the imaginations of millions of people since.
As part of the eternal twelve-year cycle, an animal and its reputed attributes are assigned to each year.
Credit: cafeastrology
Like so many ancient traditions, the origin stories of the Chinese Zodiac vary. Some say that the Buddha called on animals to help mankind and only 12 responded. Others say a Great Race was held to determine which animal would be placed in the zodiac for eternity.
The Royal Mint are celebrating each animal on the Zodiac calendar with their Lunar Year Shēngxiào Collection £5 series.
2025 UK Lunar Year of the Snake £5
The latest coin in The Royal Mint’s Lunar series has just been issued, celebrating the Year of the Snake!
In Chinese culture, the Snake is a symbol of intelligence and adaptability and is regarded as the wisest of the 12 zodiac animals. Those born in the Year of the Snake are known for their cleverness, determination, and strategic thinking.
Chris Costello’s design on the reverse of this coin seamlessly blends traditional Chinese culture with British artistry, beautifully capturing the intricate details of the Snake’s scales as it slithers across the grass.
The 2025 UK Lunar Year of the Snake £5 would make the perfect gift for anyone born in the Year of the Snake, secure yours for just £13.99 (+p&p) >>
2024 UK Lunar Year of the Dragon £5
The eleventh coin in The Royal Mint’s Lunar series celebrated the Lunar Year of the Dragon!
This £5 coin was the first UK coin to be dated 2024, and was also the first in the Lunar series to feature King Charles III on the obverse!
The Dragon is China’s most important cultural symbol, representing confidence, courage and intelligence – traits that are said to belong to those born in the Year of the Dragon. It’s thought to be the most powerful of the 12 Lunar beasts.
William Webb’s intricate design on the reverse of this coin perfectly depicts the powerful beast.
2023 UK Lunar Year of the Rabbit £5
*No longer available at the Mint*
The tenth coin in the Shēngxiào Collection was issued in 2023 to celebrate the Lunar Year of the Rabbit.
Louie Maryon’s intricate design of this £5 coin shows the animal poised elegantly, capturing its gentle nature. An engraving of the Chinese Zodiac symbol for the Rabbit also features within the design, as well as the date ‘2023’.
In Chinese culture, the Rabbit is a symbol of hope and is the luckiest of the 12 animals. Those born in the Year of the Rabbit are said to be gentle, compassionate, and kind-hearted.
Secure your Lunar Year of the Rabbit £5 >>
2022 UK Lunar Year of the Tiger £5
*No longer available at the Mint*
2022 saw the Lunar Year of the Tiger celebrated on a UK £5 coin.
David Lawrence’s bespoke design of this £5 coin, shows the ‘King of the Beasts’ in Chinese culture, in a stance that emulates all of the animal’s desirable characteristics.
According to tradition, those born in the Year of the Tiger are adventurous, courageous, confident, and brave. To the right, we also see an engraving of the Chinese Zodiac symbol for the Tiger.
Add the Lunar Year of the Tiger £5 to your collection >>
2021 UK Lunar Year of the Ox £5
*No longer available at the Mint*
In 2021, a £5 coin was issued to celebrate the Lunar Year of the Ox!
Harry Brockway’s design of this £5 coin blends traditional Asian culture with British artistry, whilst also echoing characteristics of this formidable beast.
This impressive creature can be seen peacefully immersed in a British-inspired countryside, with the strength and size of its muscles taking centre-stage.
Qualities associated with people born in the Lunar Year of the Ox include being calm, patient, methodical and trustworthy. Lucky numbers for this Lunar Year include 1 and 4 and lucky flowers during this calendar include lily of the valley and lucky bamboo.
Click here to get your Lunar Year of the Ox £5 >>
2020 UK Lunar Year of the Rat £5
*No longer available at the Mint*
Starting in 2014 with the Year of the Horse, The Royal Mint have released a a new £5 coin every year as part of their Shēngxiào Collection.
Until 2020, these coins were only ever available in precious metal, however the 2020 UK Lunar Year of the Rat £5 was the first in the Shēngxiào Collection to be available in Brilliant Uncirculated quality.
A coin collecting first, the 2020 Lunar Year of the Rat Brilliant Uncirculated £5 coin was intricately designed by Royal Mint engraver P.J. Lynch to capture the characteristics of the people born in the Year of the Rat.
The design shows a single rat crouched and sniffing the air, showcasing its agility and inquisitiveness.
Other qualities associated with those people born in the Year of the Rat are intuitiveness and acuteness, while the element for these people is Water. Their lucky numbers could also include 2, 3, 6 and 8 and they should avoid number 4, 5 and 9.
The Chinese Zodiac Calendar – what animal are you?
There are twelve animals in total in the Chinese Zodiac calendar, but do you know what animal you are?
We’ve listed all twelve Zodiac animals below – let us know in the comments below if you think you match with your animal and its given characteristics!
- Rat: quick-witted, smart, charming, and persuasive
- Ox: patient, kind, stubborn, and conservative
- Tiger: authoritative, emotional, courageous, and intense
- Rabbit: popular, compassionate, and sincere
- Dragon: energetic, fearless, warm-hearted, and charismatic
- Snake: charming, gregarious, introverted, generous, and smart
- Horse: energetic, independent, impatient, and enjoy traveling
- Sheep: mild-mannered, shy, kind, and peace-loving
- Monkey: fun, energetic, and active
- Rooster: independent, practical, hard-working, and observant
- Dog: patient, diligent, generous, faithful, and kind
- Pig: loving, tolerant, honest, and appreciative of luxury
Which animal are you in the Chinese Zodiac? Let us know in the comments below!
Jersey and Guernsey celebrate 50 years of the 50p!
With just over a month to go until the official 50th anniversary of the 50p coin, celebrations have now hit Jersey and Guernsey as the British Crown Dependencies mark this monumental numismatic milestone.
As the world’s first seven-sided coin, the 50p caused quite a stir when it was first issued in 1969, however it has since become one of the most popular and highly collected coins in circulation, both across Britain and its Crown Dependencies.
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary, a unique pair of Jersey and Guernsey 50p coins have been specially re-issued this year.
This set includes re-issued versions of the 1969 Ducal Cap 50p from the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the 1969 Coat of Arms from the Bailiwick of Jersey. These were the first 50p coins issued in the British Crown Dependencies and the pair have now been re-struck with the 2019 year date in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for collectors.
Whilst Jersey and Guernsey coins aren’t legal tender in the UK, they have a history of becoming highly collectable due to their low mintage figures…
Guernsey 50p Mintage Figures
Two definitive 50p coin designs have been issued in Guernsey since decimalisation – The Ducal Cap and Freesia Flowers.
The 1969 Ducal Cap 50p has been re-issued in the smaller specification for the 50th Anniversary of the 50p.
Anthony Wagner’s design features the Ducal Cap of the Duke of Normandy on the reverse.
Unlike UK coins, the obverse of the Guernsey Freesia Flowers 50p feature the Guernsey Coat of Arms, which includes three lions next to Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait. This makes the 50p particularly distinguishable.
Whilst Guernsey coins aren’t legal tender in the UK, they do turn up in our change from time to time. And if you’re lucky enough to come across one, make sure you check to see if you’ve been able to find Guernsey’s rarest definitive 50p – the 1987 Freesia Flowers.
A tiny 5,000 Freesia Flowers 50ps were released in 1987 – that means there’s only enough for roughly 8% of the population of Guernsey to own one of these coins each!
Jersey 50p Mintage Figures
Two definitive 50p coin designs have also been issued in Jersey since decimalisation – the Shield and Grosnez Castle.
The 1969 Shield 50p has been re-issued in the smaller specification for the 50th Anniversary of the 50p.
George Kruger Gray’s design features three lions on a shield on the reverse. The obverse features Arnold Machin’s portrait of Her Majesty the Queen.
Again, these coins aren’t legal tender in the UK, so if you do find one in your change it would have found its way to you by accident, perhaps due to a holiday maker spending it by mistake.
Whether you find yourself checking your change in Jersey or the UK, you’ll want to keep a watchful eye on any Grosnez Castle 50ps that you might be lucky enough to find, as one year in particular is very rare…
Just 10,000 Grosnez Castle 50ps were issued in 2003 – compare that to the 23,583,000 Britannia 50ps released in the UK in 2003 and you’ll appreciate just how rare this coin really is!
Have you been lucky enough to come across any Jersey or Guernsey 50ps, either in circulation in the UK or when you’ve been on holiday to the British Isles? And will you be securing the special 50th Anniversary pair to mark this milestone moment?
Own the BRAND NEW 50th Anniversary of the 50p Pair
This unique pair of 50p coins includes Jersey and Guernsey’s first year of issue designs 50ps from 1969 – re-issued with the 2019 year date!