Posts Tagged ‘Coins’
Jeremy Fisher 50p Coin Swap now open!
At Change Checker HQ we are bursting with excitement, as we can now announce that our Jeremy Fisher 50p Coin Swap is officially open!
Following the buzz of the Beatrix Potter coins, we’ve made collecting the series a little easier by offering you the chance to add this fantastic Beatrix Potter coin to your collection with a fair and simple 50p for 50p swap!
The 2017 Jeremy Fisher 50p is the latest coin in the Beatrix Potter series to be released into circulation and, as you know, all too often the newest coins can often be the trickiest to get hold of…
But don’t despair, because we have managed to get our hands on 10,000 Jeremy Fisher 50p’s and we’re going to swap them ALL with Change Checkers.
As one of the most highly anticipated coin releases we’ve had, this swap is set to be one of busiest ever! So if you want to secure this coin, you’ll have to act fast!
Here’s how the swapping process works:
1) Choose THREE commemorative 50p coins that you would like to swap – these must be of a reasonable quality that you’d be happy to have in your collection
2) Complete our quick online form – we will email you a copy of this form to print out and send with your coins
3) Send us your completed form and 50p coin(s) (max. 3) in the post (remember to get proof of posting)
4) You’ll receive your 2017 Jeremy Fisher 50p(s) within 10 working days of posting your coins to us
It’s as easy as that!
Remember, only commemorative 50p coins can be swapped – the shield 50p and Britannia 50p cannot be accepted. Please also remember to obtain proof of postage from the Post Office – this will help us with any customer service queries should they arise.
Ready to swap?
For full terms and conditions and FAQ’s click here >>
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
UPDATED: The results of our latest Scarcity Index are in…
The latest Change Checker Scarcity Index update of 2018 is here and the results are in…
The 50p and £2 Scarcity Indexes have been compiled using data from the second quarter of the year.
As per our previous quarter, you can now use our new feature to help you track the performance of your coins. The arrows signify how many places, up or down, a coin has moved on the Scarcity Index; any coins with a yellow star are making their first appearance after having been released into circulation.
50p Scarcity Index
Not surprisingly, Kew Gardens still remains the most scarce UK 50p coin with a mintage figure of just 210,000. There has been a lot of movement this quarter, with significant improvements in the performance of Sir Isaac Newton, Rowing and Canoeing.
On the other hand, both Girl Guides and Tom Kitten have seen less interest, with both coins moving 9 points down the Index.
Our top and bottom 6 coins seem to remain consistent for now, although there is always the potential for change as new coins enter circulation, and we’ve had a number of new releases recently that could mix things in up…
£2 Scarcity Index
Although the 2017 WW1 Aviation and Jane Austen £2 coins are yet to enter circulation, we’ve still seen some movement amongst the current coins in our Scarcity Index.
The ever popular Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland £2 regains its place at the top after a briefly being replaced by Wales. Another strong improvement goes to Trinity House, which has also moved up the Index 4 places.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Rugby World Cup and Florence Nightingale coins have moved down the Index this quarter, with Florence Nightingale dropping an impressive 8 places. This is due in part to a lack of Change Checkers requesting to swap these coins, however we wouldn’t be surprised to see these coins creeping up the Index in the next quarter.
What about the A to Z 10p coins?
Unfortunately, at present, there is simply not enough data to accurately compile a full A to Z 10p Scarcity Index. However, we have put together a ‘Swap Index’ using data from the Change Checker App which we feel is the most accurate way currently to determine which A-Z 10ps are most sought after.
Our top two coins (A for Angel of the North and E for English Breakfast) are very clearly the most sought after, with L for Loch Ness Monster coming in third. Speculation as to why people might be collecting certain designs is three pronged: 1) Perhaps people are looking for A to start their collection at the beginning of the alphabet. 2) They could be looking for coins that match their initials. 3) People might be collecting the coins based on which design/theme is their favourite.
Initially, a limited stock of 2.6 million A-Z 10p coins were released into circulation through the Post Office network to coincide with the release of the designs in March. It has been no surprise that these have been quickly snapped up by eagle-eyed change collectors.
As more coins enter circulation and are found, we will begin to see more data emerge and a full Index for these coins will be compiled.
How the Scarcity Index works
Generally collectors have had to rely upon mintage figures to identify the scarcest coins. But they only tell part of the story. Trying to find a good quality coin from 15 – 20 years ago, even for a higher mintage issue, is much more challenging than a more recent issue, as coins become damaged over time and are ultimately removed from circulation.
Additionally, some designs are more hoarded than others by people who might not normally collect coins – the recent poignant First World War £2 Coin series being an example. Finally, it can be up to a couple of years before the Royal Mint eventually confirms the actual mintage for an issue.
That’s why we have combined the mintage information with two other key pieces of information.
- How many of each design are listed as “collected” by Change Checkers, indicating the relative ease of finding a particular coin.
- The number of times a design has been requested as a swap over the previous 3 months, showing the current level of collector demand.
Importantly, as new coins are released and popularity rises and falls across different designs the Scarcity Index will be updated quarterly allowing Change Checkers to track the relative performance of the UK’s circulation coins.
How much are my coins worth?
The Scarcity Index does not necessarily equate to value but it is certainly an effective indicator. For example, the Kew Gardens 50p coin commands a premium of up to 160 times face value on eBay.
What about £1 Coins?
The £1 Scarcity Index has already been published for the Round £1 coins and, because they are no longer being issued, this is now set in stone.
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 makes the 2017 Isle of Man £5 so interesting?
Last year, the coins of the Isle of Man made the headlines. Not only did all their circulation coins have a total redesign, the first in 13 years, they also announced that they would continue to issue ’round pound’ coins rather than opting to use the paper £1 note like both Jersey and Guernsey did.
The coins feature a new effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, created by designer and sculptor Jody Clark, which will also be used on all coins from Crown dependencies and Commonwealth countries. The outer description includes the Queen’s full title, country of issue and year of issue.
New effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The iconic design of the 2017 Isle of Man £5 coin features the Triskelion (three armoured legs) which is arguably the most known symbol of the island and is included in both the coat of arms and the flag of the Isle of Man.
But while this fitting Triskelion design features on the reverse and the new effigy of Her Majesty the Queen features on the obverse, that’s not what makes this coin so interesting…
You may or may not know this about the Isle of Man…
The Isle of Man is in fact the only Crown dependency country that circulates their £5 coins, meaning you could find this coin in your change… and spend it!
But if you’re ever lucky enough to find one in your change I’m sure you won’t want to spend it, as it’s certain to have one of the lowest mintages for any British Isles circulation coin.
A further difference between this coin and the traditional UK commemorative £5 is the size…
Isle of Man £5 compared to UK £5
The IOM £5 coin is just over 6mm smaller in size at 32mm (UK £5s measure 38.61mm) and weighs in at just 11.7g (compared to 28.28g for a UK £5) so is reasonably light to carry around in your pocket or purse.
So tell us… would you spend this £5 coin if you found it on the Isle of Man?
Own the ONLY British Isles circulating £5 coin
The Isle of Man is the only part of the British Isles to use a genuinely circulating £5 Coin. Become one of the few people to own this coin by securing one for your collection today >>