Change Checker LIVE 50p Swap is coming to Essex…

We’re extremely excited to announce that we’re bringing our Change Checker Live 50p Swap to Essex!

Join us on Saturday 13th April from 9am – 9pm in Lakeside Shopping Centre where we’ll be giving collectors the chance to swap ANY UK 50p coin for a brand new Brilliant Uncirculated UK 50p.

Usually, collectors only get the chance to swap their coins for one new coin design at our live swap events, however this time is a bit different…

We’re pitting two extremely popular 50p series against each other and giving you the choice of either a Star Wars™ OR Harry Potter 50p!

Our Brilliant Uncirculated UK 50ps usually retail for £5.99, so this is a chance to get your hands on one in superior collector quality for just face value!

We’ll be taking 1,000 50ps with us to swap on the day – half made from a mix of Star Wars™ 50ps and the other half a mix of Harry Potter 50ps – but which series will prove most popular?

Which 50p would you chose?

We’ve had quite a debate at Change Checker HQ about which coin series is the best, and we’d love to know what you think! Would you choose a Harry Potter 50p or a Star Wars™ 50p?

Make sure to cast your vote below to settle the argument once and for all!

Lakeside Shopping Centre, Essex

Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large shopping centre located in West Thurrock, Essex, just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London. The shopping centre, in addition to the surrounding retail parks, forms one of the largest shopping areas in a single location within Europe!

The centre has over 250 shops, 50 cafes and restaurants, and a 26-acre lake. Approximately 500,000 people visit Lakeside every week.

Lakeside Shopping Centre East Entrance
Lakeside Shopping Centre East Entrance
Credit: Sunil060902, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

FAQs

Where can I find you in Lakeside Shopping Centre?
We’ll be located on the ground floor (level 1) outside The Fragrance Shop, see map below.

How many coins can I swap?
Such is the popularity of our Live Coin Swaps, and to ensure it’s fair for everybody, we’re limiting the number of swaps to strictly 1 swap per person.

Can I reserve a coin before I arrive?
To ensure a fair swap event for everyone, we do not offer reservations of coins. It is a strictly first come first served basis.

How do I get there?
You can find information on how to get to Lakeside Shopping Centre here >>


Can’t make it?

Whilst we hope to see you at our Live Swap, if you’re unable to come along, you can still secure these coins for your collection in Brilliant Uncirculated quality.

Shop the UK Star Wars™ 50p Range >>

Shop the UK Harry Potter 50p Range >>

Hogwarts School Coin Completes UK’s FIRST Dual-Portrait 50p Series!

Brewing excitement amongst collectors and Harry Potter fans alike, last year The Royal Mint announced the UK’s FIRST EVER Harry Potter 50p series!

Since then, the series has included three magical designs, dual monarch portraits, AND dual dates!

Today the fourth and final coin in the series, celebrating 25 years since the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was issued. And, you can get your hands on one here for JUST £4.99 (+p&p) >>

The much-awaited release features the iconic castle where Harry Potter hones his skills: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

Unlike the first two 50p coins in the series, this coin has been struck bearing King Charles III’s effigy on the obverse! And, it’s this collectable dual portrait aspect of the series that has got 50p collectors talking…

So, with the huge popularity of the first three coins, it’s easy to see why demand for the final coin in this series is set to be so high. Especially as many collectors will be looking to complete their collections…

Add the 2023 UK Hogwarts School CERTIFIED BU 50p to your collection today by clicking here >>

Harry Potter 50p

2022 UK Harry Potter 50p

To the delight of both Harry Potter fans and 50p collectors, the first Harry Potter UK 50p was issued in 2022! If you’d like to get your hands on one in Brilliant Uncirculated quality, click here >>

Hogwarts Express

2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p

2022 also saw the second coin in the popular series: the Hogwarts Express 50p! The design depicts Jim Kay’s wonderful illustration of the famous train, seen above!

Order your 2023 UK Hogwarts Express CERTIFIED Brilliant Uncirculated 50p here >>

Professor Dumbledore

2023 UK Professor Dumbledore 50p
2023 UK Professor Dumbledore 50p

Professor Dumbledore featured on the third Harry Potter 50p, and so did King Charles III! The obverse shows the new monarch and the 2023 date for the first time in the series, adding another element of collectability to this exciting series.

Simply click here to order your Professor Dumbledore 50p in Brilliant Uncirculated quality >>

UK Harry Potter 50p Complete Pack

Want to secure the whole UK Harry Potter 50p collection? Then get your hands on our UK Harry Potter 50p Complete Pack!

Not only will you own all four of the popular 50p coins, you’ll be able to present them in an official Change Checker pack – protectively encapsulating each of them for generations to come.

Just click here to order yours today for only £20 (+p&p) >>

Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters with the 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p

The journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters has begun, with the brand new 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p.

The 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p.
Showing obverse to the left (with QEII's portrait and 2022 date) and reverse to the right (showing the Hogwarts Express from Jim Kay's 2015 illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone book.
Get the 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p here >>

This UK first celebrates the world-famous scarlet steam engine, the Hogwarts Express. You can add it to your collection for JUST £4.99 (+p&p) here >>

Continue reading to discover why it’s not just Harry Potter fans that are rushing to get their hands on this coin…

First introduced 25 years ago, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the Hogwarts Express is estimated to have transported students to the famous wizarding school, no less than SIX times a year.

And so iconic is this train, that Jim Kay dedicated the entire cover and two full pages of his fully illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to it.

2015 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone book cover and two-page illustrations by Jim Kay. Showing the Hogwarts Express on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
This image has been used on the design of the 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p.
2015 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone book cover and two-page illustrations by Jim Kay. Showing the Hogwarts Express on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

It’s also been celebrated in the UK Harry Potter 50p series – the first-ever UK coins to celebrate the famous wizard.

Excitingly, this brand-new coin is a mirror image of Jim Kay’s 2015 illustrated book.

The 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p.
Held in white gloved hand, showing the Hogwarts Express from Jim Kay's 2015 illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone book.
The 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p. Get yours for £4.99 (+p&p) here >>

Get your hands on this brand new 50p for JUST £4.99 (+p&p) here >>

Last individual QEII UK commemorative 50p 

This 50p has been confirmed to be the last individual UK commemorative 50p to feature Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait on the obverse. This is sure to make this individual coin highly sought-after.

But the whole Harry Potter 50p series has a very interesting story…

It’s unlike any other.

The series includes both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III’s portraits on them.

The Harry Potter and Hogwarts Express 50p coins feature the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.

The obverse design of the Hogwarts 2022 UK Express 50p. Featuring the last portrait of QEII by Jody Clark.
The obverse design of the 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p. Featuring the last portrait of QEII by Jody Clark.

However, the coins issued next year (Albus Dumbledore and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry 50ps) will feature King Charles III’s portrait on the obverse.

This is sure to make the series even more popular with collectors, as they race to collect the last UK commemorative QEII coins, alongside some of the very first KCIII coins.

You can get ahead of the crowd and pre-order the final two coins in the Harry Potter 50p series by clicking here >>

Special lenticular feature on 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p

Unique to the Harry Potter 50p series, a lightning bolt lenticular feature appears on the reverse design of the 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p coin.

When tilted, the lightning bolt transforms into the number 25, in celebration of the first book’s anniversary.

This has been catching the attention of collectors since it first appeared on the 2022 UK Harry Potter 50p.

The 2022 UK Harry Potter 50p coin. Get yours here >>

The best way to view this lenticular feature is with the Change Checker Phone Magnifier!

It works by clipping onto a mobile device, and magnifying the camera, allowing you to see the incredible small detail of the Hogwarts Express 50p!

The Change Checker Phonescope. Get yours for £9.99 (+p&p) >>

Get yours here for JUST £9.99 (+p&p) >>

It’s believed the lenticular feature will also appear on the 2023 Harry Potter 50p coins.


Combining the intricate reverse design, with QEII’s portrait and a special lenticular feature, this coin is set to be in high demand…

Will you be adding this brand-new coin to your collection? Let us know in the comments!


Fill the gaps in your Harry Potter 50p collection!

Browse the Harry Potter 50p range here >>

Click here to fill the gaps in your Harry Potter 50p collection today >>

You can even pre-order the final two Harry Potter coins, ahead of their release next year.