Posts Tagged ‘Coins’
Why the 2016 £1 coin is about to become the latest coin collecting myth
The Royal Mint have confirmed that more than half a billion of the new £1 coins that have been released into circulation will be dated 2016.
But you may have also seen in the news that if you find one with a 2016 date, it could be one of the handful of ‘uniquely flawed coins’ and may be worth £250.
Unfortunately that isn’t the case.
Coins are typically struck with dies with that year’s date on, and as 1.5 billion new coins were required for the launch of the new 12-sided £1 coin, The Royal Mint started striking them in March 2016. That means that all of the new 12-sided £1 coins that were produced last year will have the 2016 date on them.
Will the 2016 12-sided £1 coins be rare?
In short, no. With half a billion 2016 dated £1 coins in circulation, they should be relatively easy to get hold of. In fact, we are yet to see someone who has found a 2017 dated £1 in their change.
Over half a billion 2016 dated £1 coins have been released into circulation. So far the only 2017 dated £1 coins we have seen are the Brilliant Uncirculated collector versions.
If we take a look back to the mintage figures in 1983 when the £1 coin was first introduced, in total 443,053,510 of the Royal Arms £1 coin were struck for circulation that year. That’s a little less than the amount of 2016 dated £1 coins and nearly 3 times less than the total amount of of the new coins struck for launch.
Considering 1983 was a time without contactless payments and when cash was the most used method of payment, 443,053,510 seems a relatively small amount in comparison to the 1.5 billion required for the new 12-sided £1 coin launch.
1997 Maklouf ‘Queen with a Necklace’ £2
The Maklouf ‘Necklace’ £2 was only issued in 1997
You may remember the collecting frenzy that the ‘Queen with a Necklace’ £2 coin caused in 1998 when the brand new bi-metallic coin was introduced into circulation.
The ‘Queen with a Necklace’ £2 has an enduring legacy in the collecting world as the very first bi-metallic £2 coins issued just prior to the Queen’s portrait change in 1998. This meant that the older portrait by Raphael Maklouf was only used for one year: 1997. His version featured Queen Elizabeth II wearing a necklace, which is how the nickname was derived.
When the portrait change was announced, the new £2 coins were snapped up by collectors believing them to be a future rarity. As it turned out, a mintage of nearly 14 million means the ‘Queen with a Necklace’ £2 is not one of the rarest coins in circulation. Nevertheless, with only one year of issue, it still holds an undeniable interest for collectors.
An undeniable interest for collectors.
And the same can be said for the 2016 dated £1 coin. Although the £1 is in no way a rarity, first year of issue coins are always more sought after in years to come. As the new coin is Britain’s first 12-sided £1 and it is the first specification change to our £1 coin in more than 3 decades, the new 2016 dated £1 should hold a significant place in any coin collection.
#foundapound
To celebrate the release of the new 12-sided £1 coin, we’re giving away FIVE ‘Nations of the Crown’ Silver Proof 12-Sided £1 Coins!
For your chance to WIN a Silver Proof £1, all you need to do is find one of the new 12-sided £1 coins in your change…
Post a photo via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #foundapound and the location you found your first £1 coin.
We’ll then choose 5 winners at random on the 10th April.
It’s really that easy – so good luck and get posting! #foundapound
Poll: What is your favourite £1 Coin Design? – Northern Ireland
As part of the Great One Pound Coin Race, we want to find out Britain’s ultimate favourite £1 coin.
Last week we asked you to vote for your favourite Scottish £1 coin design – over 30% of Change Checkers voted for the 2011 Edinburgh £1.
This week we want to know your favourite Northern Irish £1 coin design.
Let us know by voting in our poll below:
More information about the Northern Ireland £1 coin designs
The N.I Flax £1 was issued in 1986 and 1991.
The first reverse design series of £1 coins took floral emblems as its theme to represent the United Kingdom and its four constituent countries. They were designed by Leslie Durbin – one of the most highly-regarded silversmiths of the 20th Century. The Flax plant is used on this coin to represent Northern Ireland.
The N.I Celtic Cross £1 was issued in 1996 and 2001.
The second series of £1 coin designs used heraldic emblems to represent the United Kingdom and its four constituent countries. This coin features the Broighter collar over a Celtic Cross to represent Northern Ireland. The Broighter collar was discovered in 1896 amongst a hoard of gold Iron Age artefacts near Lough Foyle in Northern Ireland, and is said to be the finest example of Irish La Tène goldworking in Europe.
N.I: Egyptian Railway Arch Bridge
The N.I Egyptian Railway Arch Bridge £1 was issued in 2006.
The third series of £1 coin designs depicts bridges from each of the four consituent countries in the United Kingdom. This coin features the Egyptian Arch Railway Bridge to represent Northern Ireland. The Egyptian Arch is a railway bridge in Newry, Northern Ireland which gained its name from its resemblance to the headdress worn by ancient Egyptian Pharaohs.
The Belfast City £1 was issued in 2010
The fourth series of £1 coins used the capital cities of the four constituent countries as the basis of the reverse design. Designed by Stuart Devlin, Goldsmith and Jeweller to the Queen, this coin depicts the circular Coat of Arms of Belfast as the principal focus to represent Northern Ireland.
The Flax and Shamrock £1 was issued in 2014
The fifth series of £1 coin designs uses pairs of floral emblems designed by Timothy Noad to represent the United Kingdom and its four constituent countries. This coin features a flax alongside a shamrock to represent Northern Ireland.
Next week- Part 4: What’s your favourite Welsh £1 coin design?
This could be your last chance to secure Britain’s last ’round pound’.
If you want to get your hands on the last ‘round pound’ they are available here protectively encapsulated and certified as superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality.
50 years in the making – from 3d to £1: the story behind the new £1 coin
In just a few weeks, Britain’s one pound coin will undergo a major makeover. The familiar round pound will change to become bi-metallic and 12-sided and will also have several new security features. But the shape of this new £1 coin is actually a throwback to the thrup’nny bit – an old favourite from the pre-decimal era.
The 12-sided threepenny is fondly remembered for its individuality. There was quite literally nothing like it before, and it holds the proud title of Britain’s first non-circular coin.
But, of course, it’s not the first major change in the nation’s £1.
I’ve taken a look back at some of the key changes for Britain’s coinage over the last 50 years to welcome the brand new 12-sided £1 coin, when it is issued on 28th March.
The 28th March 2017 is sure to become a historic day as we welcome the new coin which has been billed to become the most secure circulating coin in the world. This will be the first specification change to our £1 coin in more than 3 decades.
But the Thrup’nny Bit deserves recognition for being the inspiration behind our new £1 coin which is sure to become a collecting sensation. The Thrup’nny Bit was eventually withdrawn from circulation in 1971 after the introduction of decimal coinage which didn’t include Three Pence as a denomination. However, its legacy lives on, and is still widely regarded as one of the most iconic coins in British history.
The Story of the new £1 Collector’s Pack
Click here to secure the ‘Story of the £1 Collector Pack’ which has space for you to house the new 12-sided £1 coin once you find it in your change, alongside the UK Brass 12-Sided Threepence Coin.