Posts Tagged ‘Coins’
Coin of the Year – the results!
The results are in and I can now reveal your top 3 coin designs of 2016!
3rd place – The Last ‘Round’ Pound Coin
2nd Place – The Peter Rabbit 50p
And the winner….
1st Place – The Great Fire of London £2 Coin
Aaron West receiving the Change Checker ‘Coin of the Year 2016’ award.
Thanks for all your votes! The Great Fire of London £2 was designed by Royal Mint engraver Aaron West and really captures the devastating moments that changed London forever.
Now it’s time to look forward to the new issues for 2017. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for Change Checkers!
What’s your coin of the year?
I’m sure you’ll agree that 2016 has been a great year for coin collectors with so many significant anniversaries being commemorated and some fantastic designs.
So which coin do you think deserves to be the ‘2016 Coin of the Year’ winner?
Cast your vote now using the poll at the bottom of the page.
A) The Queen’s 90th Birthday £5
To celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday, this special £5 coin was released. Designed by Christopher Hobbs, the new coin features a crowned Royal Cypher above the number 90, surrounded by roses.
B) The Great Fire of London £2
This £2 coin marks 350 years since the Great Fire destroyed virtually all of the old walled City of London. The coin was designed by Aaron West and depicts the city of London burning in flames from a distance.
C) The WW1 Army £2
This £2 is the third issue in The Royal Mint’s five year First World War Centenary series and commemorates the role of the Army. Designed by Tim Sharp, the coin honours the ‘Pals Battalions’ and marks a poignant moment in military history.
D) The Shakespeare Tragedies £2
This £2 is one of three that celebrate William Shakespeare’s life work and commemorates the 400th anniversary since his death. Designed by John Bergdahl, the coin takes inspiration from Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy play, Romeo and Juliet.
E) The Shakespeare Comedies £2
To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, this £2 coin has been issued. Designed by John Bergdahl, the £2 coin takes inspiration from Shakespeare’s most famous comedy play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
F) The Shakespeare Histories £2
This £2 is one of three coins issued to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of Britain’s greatest playwright. Designed by John Bergdahl, this coin takes inspiration from Shakespeare’s most famous history play, Macbeth.
G) The Last ‘Round’ £1
This £1 is the final ’round pound’ issued by The Royal Mint, calling time on a coin which was first issued more than thirty years ago. Designed by Gregory Cameron, the coin features the animals that represent each of the four constituent UK countries.
H) The Beatrix Potter 50p
To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter, The Royal Mint have released this 50p to celebrate Beatrix herself. Designed by Emma Noble, this coin features some of the best-loved characters in children’s literature along with the nostalgic font used in the inscription.
I) The Peter Rabbit 50p
The ‘Tale of Peter Rabbit’ was the first of Beatrix Potter’s tales and the mischievous character has been captured in the centre of this 50p coin, designed by Emma Noble.
J) The Jemima Puddle-Duck 50p
The ‘Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck’ features a domestic duck, names Jemima, whose character is featured on this 50p coin. Designed by Emma Noble, Jemima Puddle-Duck is instantly recognisable in the centre of the coin.
K) The Mrs Tiggy-Winkle 50p
Mrs Tiggy-Winkle is the fourth release in the Beatrix Potter 50p series. Designed by Emma Boble, the conscientious hedgehog features on this 50p in her washerwoman’s dress and petticoat.
L) The Squirrel Nutkin 50p
Designed by Emma Noble, the loveable rogue ‘Squirrel Nutkin’ features at the very heart of this 50p – with his whiskers and once bushy tail captured in great detail.
M) The Battle of Hastings 50p
Struck to mark the 950th Anniversary of The Battle of Hastings, this coin depicts the fate of King Harold at the hands of William The Conqueror, along with the date 1066 – when the battle took place.
N) The Team GB 50p
This 50p was issued to wish Team GB success in Rio de Janieiro at the 2016 Summer Olympics. The coin features a swimmer with the Team GB logo and Olympic rings, an original design created for Rio 2016 by Tim Sharp.
Cast your vote now!
200 years of the Sovereign – Britain’s flagship coin
In 2017, we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern sovereign – a coin renowned for its impeccable quality and craftsmanship.
The ‘Great Recoinage’ was the British government’s attempt to re-stabilise the currency of Great Britain following economic difficulties caused by both the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. On the 22nd June 1816, the Coinage Act was passed and was given Royal Assent.
Not only were silver coins reintroduced into circulation, the Gold Sovereign returned to become the symbol of Britishness across the Empire.
As we approach the 200th anniversary, we take a look at some of the key Sovereign designs through the years…
The designs that have appeared on Sovereigns throughout the years are all of significant importance but since the first ‘modern’ Sovereign 200 years ago, Benedetto Pistrucci’s St George and the dragon has become synonymous with the Sovereign, the gold coin that set new standards for accuracy that defined a currency.
Click here to download a pdf version of the Change Checker Sovereign graphic.
Own your own piece of numismatic history
Today you can reserve the brand new 2017 Bicentenary Gold Proof Sovereign