Posts Tagged ‘king charles’
Where can you find the UK Coronation 50ps and how much are they worth?
On 10th August 2023, 5 million UK King Charles III Coronation 50ps entered circulation. Collectors were keen to get their hands on one, with many trying to get them directly from banks and post offices, and some hoping to find one in their change.
We wanted to know where the Coronation 50ps were being found, so we opened our collector map to track them up and down the country. In just over two months, nearly 550 collectors input their postcode to let us know where they found the Coronation 50p, so let’s take a look at where in the UK you’re most likely to find one…
Where can you find the UK Coronation 50ps?
We’ve gathered the data from our collector map, and we can reveal the 5 places you’re most likely to find a Coronation 50p in your change are…
5. Leicester
2.5% of Coronation 50ps were found in Leicester.
4. Norwich
2.6% of Coronation 50ps were found in Norwich.
3. Cardiff
2.8% of Coronation 50ps were found in Cardiff.
2. Derby
2.9% of Coronation 50ps were found in Derby.
1. Birmingham
5.1% of Coronation 50ps were found in Birmingham.
You can view the full collector map here to check how many Coronation 50ps have been found in your area.
How much is the UK Coronation 50p worth?
A common question we get is ‘how much is the Coronation 50p worth?’. Many factors determine the value of a coin, but ultimately it depends on what someone is prepared to pay for it.
We’ve used our eBay Tracker formula to work out how much a circulation Coronation 50p might be worth. As you can see, they are selling on the secondary market for around £2.79, which is a 458% increase from the face value.
So now you know where in the UK you have the highest chance of finding a Coronation 50p in your change, and how much you could expect to pay for one on the secondary market.
Owners of the Coronation 50p also own a small piece of history as it’s the first ever UK Coronation 50p to be issued. If you haven’t had any luck finding the Coronation 50p in your change, you can secure the crowned collectors version in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for just £4.99 (+£2.99 postage) here >>
What’s next for UK coinage?
It’s all change for UK coinage, as we’ve been treated to eight brand new designs that will feature on our everyday coinage! These new UK coins represent British wildlife and conservation, a passion of King Charles III.
Find out more about the UK’s New Coinage here or to secure the complete New UK Coinage set for your collection, click here >>
#AllChange for UK coinage! The FIRST EVER King Charles III Definitive Coins REVEALED!
*** UPDATE – 20th August 2024 ***
Today, it’s been announced that 2.975 million King Charles III Bee £1 coins will enter circulation this week!
The Bee £1 was voted Change Checkers’ favourite design from the New UK Coinage Set which was issued in October 2023, so collectors are sure to be a-buzz with excitement at the thought of finding one in their change.
Let us know in the comments if you manage to find one!
*** UPDATE – November 2023 ***
It’s just been announced that the new Atlantic Salmon 50p will start entering circulation from the end of November 2023! Keep your eyes out for this coin in your change…
It’s #AllChange for UK coinage, as the 1p through to the £2 now have brand new designs to usher in the reign of King Charles III.
Eight new coins have been released – one for each of our circulating denominations – featuring BRAND NEW reverse designs and (for the first time in 70 years) the King on the obverse.
A new era of King Charles III coinage
Although we’ve already seen several commemorative 50p, £2 and £5 coins issued bearing His Majesty’s effigy on the obverse, this will be the first time we’ll see his portrait on the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p and £1 – the coins we’ll find in our everyday change.
Our circulating coinage has changed in the past, with different effigies of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse designs and two different reverse designs over the last 70 years. However, this will be the first time that both ‘heads’ and ‘tails’ sides of coins have changed at the same time.
Inspired by wildlife conservation
From the 1p to the £2 coin, we’ve been treated to 8 brand new reverse designs, each featuring iconic British wildlife.
His Majesty is known for his keen interest in wildlife conservation and plant life, having been Patron of The Wildlife Trust since 1977. This passion was a key inspiration for The Royal Mint when designing the UK’s new coinage.
New ‘heads’ and ‘tails’ designs
All of the reverse designs share a common theme – a section showing each coin’s denomination against a background of a stylised logo featuring 3 interlinking Cs, representing King Charles III. We can also see His Majesty’s effigy on the obverse of all 8 coins, the first time he’s appeared on all UK coin denominations.
The new UK 1p coin represents British woodland with a design featuring an adorable dormouse all curled up.
The design on the first King Charles III 2p features an inquisitive red squirrel. Red squirrels are native to the UK, however their numbers have dwindled since the introduction of the grey squirrel in the 1800s, meaning they can be difficult to find in parts of the UK.
Our new 5p coin bears a traditional design of Oak leaves and acorns. The Oak Tree is the national tree of England, and is thought to represent strength and endurance.
The 10p features an image of a capercaillie, a bird from the grouse family that doesn’t appear anywhere else in the UK apart from Scotland.
The animal that features on the new 20p coin is instantly recognisable as a puffin. Often referred to as a ‘sea parrot’, puffins can be found in scattered locations around the coast of Scotland, northern England, South West England and Wales.
Representing British waterways, the new UK 50p features an Atlantic salmon. Dubbed ‘King of the Fish’, Atlantic salmon are usually found in rivers in Wales, Scotland and North and South West England.
Excitingly, this is the first time we’ve seen a different design on the UK £1 coin since the introduction of the 12-sided bi-metalic £1 in 2017. The first King Charles III £1 coin features two bees, a creature synonymous with the British countryside. There are around 25 species of bumblebee and over 240 species of solitary bee in the UK.
Finally, the £2 coin features flowers of the four nations of the UK – a rose for England, a thistle for Scotland, a daffodil for Wales and a shamrock for Northern Ireland. This design may remind you of the round pound designs from 2013 and 2014 which featured the flowers of the nations.
A special addition for collectors
As well as brand new designs on both sides, these coins also feature a special ‘Privy Mark’ on the obverse – an unusual and potentially collectable feature.
To set these coins apart from those you’ll find in your change, they’ll each feature a small crown next to His Majesty’s effigy on the obverse.
All Change for UK Coinage!
Considering this is the biggest change we’ve seen to UK coinage in decades, we’re expecting a huge collecting rush for New UK Coinage for King Charles III.
What’s more, although these will be the new coins to replace our current circulating coinage, it could be years until they are easily found in your change…
So don’t miss out! Avoid the long wait of finding these coins and make sure you’re one of the first to add this exciting set to your collection, including the special collectable privy mark!
Secure the complete collection for just £32.50 + (p&p) here >>
What are Definitive Coins?
Whilst new commemorative coins are issued each year to celebrate some of the UK’s most important anniversaries, did you know that the coins most readily found in our day-to-day change feature the same designs each year?
These are known as the ‘definitive’ coins, and it’s actually been a whole 15 years since we last saw a change to their reverse designs!
But, as we now enter a new era of King Charles III, it’s #AllChange for our humble definitive coins, with eight brand new designs set to be revealed this year…
From the 1p to the £2, these coins have formed the UK’s circulating currency for over 50 years.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at the history of UK definitive coins and what the future might bring as we look forward to the new releases coming soon!
The UK’s Eight Definitive Coins
There are eight different coin denominations to be found in our everyday change (1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2).
Their story began in 1971, when Britain’s coinage went decimal – a plan which had been in the making for over 10 years!
Originally, only the 1p-50p coins were released and each featured the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin on the obverse. Their reverse designs had been created by Christopher Ironside, for which he won an OBE.
Credit: The Royal Mint
Whilst the Queen’s portrait has changed on these coins throughout the years (Raphael Maklouf in 1985, Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS in 1998 with the introduction of the definitive £2 coin and Jody Clark in 2015), it wasn’t until 2008 that the reverse designs all changed and the first definitive £1 was introduced.
The Royal Shield on Coins
In 2008, the new definitive coins were released.
Competition winner, Matthew Dent had created a clever design utilising each of the denominations from 1p-50p and bringing them together like a jigsaw to form the Royal Shield – shown in its entirety on the definitive £1 coin.
At this time, the definitive £2 remained unchanged with the Technology design, first introduced in 1998.
Britannia £2
The very last change we’ve seen to our definitive coins came in 2015, when the £2 reverse design was updated to the iconic Britannia design by Anthony Dufort.
Not only this, but the obverse design for all denominations was also updated in 2015 as the last effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark graced our UK coinage.
What’s next for UK Definitive Coins?
Usually, definitive coins are issued each year as part of the Annual Coin Set and then released into circulation based on demand.
However, following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the introduction of King Charles III’s new coinage portrait, this year has been an exception…
Whilst a 2023 Annual Coin Set was released, this only featured 5 commemorative designs and no definitive coins.
Throughout the year, many collectors have asked us when the King Charles III definitive coins will be released and what the designs will be.
Excitingly, it seems that the wait is almost over, as The Royal Mint announced on the 5th October 2023 that we can expect to see new definitive coin designs featuring King Charles III on the obverse very soon…
This will be the first time that both the ‘heads’ and ‘tails’ sides of coins have changed at the same time, and of course, the first time the King will feature on a UK 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p and £1 coin!
As perhaps the biggest change we’ve seen to UK coinage in decades, we’re expecting a huge collecting rush for the New UK Coinage for King Charles III and can’t wait to see the new coins when they’re released.
Keep an eye on our social media and website as we’ll be updating you as soon as we have more information on when these exciting new coins.