Brand new 50p released as Stephen Hawking goes down in numismatic history!

Less than a year since his death, The Royal Mint have released a brand new Stephen Hawking 50p coin, honouring his works as one of the most influential physicists of the modern age.

Hawking’s ‘A Brief History of Time’ enlightened millions to the workings of the universe and revolutionised the way we understand time and space. As an ambassador for science, his significant contributions to humanity have left a lasting presence on all of us.

The exciting release of this coin makes Hawking one of only three people to be immortalised on a coin so soon after his passing, putting him alongside Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother in the history of famous figures commemorated on a UK coin within a year of their passing.

1965 Churchill Crown and 2002 Queen Mother Memorial £5 – both issued within a year of their death.

To commemorate Britain’s most famous physicist, a man who brought science to life in a way that the everyday person could connect with, this brand new 50p has been issued in Brilliant Uncirculated, Silver Proof and Gold Proof editions.

The striking design by Edwina Ellis features a stylised black hole to reflect his breakthrough work, as well as an inscription of his name and most notable ‘Bekenstein-Hawking formula’ describing the thermodynamic entropy of a black hole.

Edwina said of the design“Stephen Hawking made difficult subjects accessible, engaging and relatable and this is what I wanted to portray in my design, which is inspired by a lecture he gave in Chile in 2008. Hawking, at his playful best, invites the audience to contemplate peering into a black hole before diving in. I wanted to fit a big black hole on the tiny coin and wish he was still here chortling at the thought. I am sure he would have thought of ways to harness the shiny table of the coin too. You feel he cared about all of us understanding.” 

Excitingly, this is actually the first coin issued as part of a four coin series issued by The Royal Mint to celebrate ‘innovators in science’ and so it seems only fitting that the very first coin should feature Stephen Hawking.

We’re yet to find out who will feature on the next three coins, but who do you think should be chosen to be featured alongside Stephen Hawking?


Secure the BRAND NEW Stephen Hawking 50p for just £4.50 (+p&p)

This coin won’t be entering circulation, but you can add it to your collection in superior collector’s quality.

Click here to secure the Brilliant Uncirculated Stephen Hawking 50p for your collection for just £4.50 >>

Straight from darkest Peru and into your pocket, the nation’s favourite bear is finally on sale!

Earlier this year, we announced the exciting news that the UK’s incredibly popular Beatrix Potter 50p coins are to be followed up by two new Paddington™ 50 pence coins.

It’s now with great anticipation that we can reveal the first Paddington coin has been officially released!

Celebrating the very British bear

The coins have been issued to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Paddington’s first adventure and this first design is based on the modern adaptation from the CGI-live action movie, featuring Paddington on his suitcase in front of the station and excitingly, one more Paddington 50p coin will also be released by The Royal Mint later this year and this coin will feature the bear waving a Union Flag outside Buckingham Palace.

 

 

Of course fans of the movie Paddington 2, will also remember a 50p coin playing an important part in his adventure.

Not the first Paddington coin…

Whilst this is not the first time Paddington has appeared on a coin, it is his first time appearing on official UK coinage.

The nation’s loveable bear has previously featured on 1 crown (25p) coins from both Isle of Man and Gibraltar – now listed for as much £30 on eBay.

 

 

Due to the popularity of these coins, and the whole new generation of collectors created by the Beatrix Potter 50ps, it is expected that these coins will be extremely sought-after by collectors and Paddington fans alike.

These coins will be available in Brilliant Uncirculated collector’s edition, with coloured Silver and even Gold versions also being made available.

 


Paddington at the Station 50p, now available to own!

 

You can now own the FIRST EVER UK 2018 Paddington 50p Coin in superior collector quality.

Click here to order yours for just £3.99 (+p&p) >>

Why you mustn’t pay £1,000 (or even £16,000) on ebay for the new Paddington 50p…

There’s been much excitement this week for Change Checkers following the accidental early release of a small number of new Paddington 50p coins.

Paddington at the Station BU 50p – Available to order from the 18th June.

The first coins were discovered late last week and quickly made their way onto collectors’ forums and ebay, with one attracting a “sold price” of £16,000 – prompting interest from a number of national newspapers.

Paddington 50p listed for £16,100. Credit: ebay

 

Of course, in reality, it’s unlikely that the transaction will ever complete at that price and certainly it’s not the time to be bidding on ebay for the new coin as The Royal Mint has confirmed the release date for the new Paddington 50p Coin as 18th June, with a second design, featuring Paddington outside Buckingham palace, following later in the year (also available to pre-order on Monday).

Paddington at the Palace BU 50p – Available to pre-order from the 18th June.

 

The new coin will be available in the official Royal Mint Presentation Pack, which usually sells for around £10 or in a Change Checker “Certified Brilliant Uncirculated” Presentation for £3.99 from www.westminstercollection.com

Coloured Silver 50p Collector’s Edition also confirmed…

Limited numbers of the Silver Proof Collector’s Edition of the Paddington 50p coin have also been seen in some Post Offices ahead of the 18th June release date.

Paddington at the Station Silver Proof – Available to order from the 18th June.

Again these will be properly available online from 18 June, with a confirmed Limited Edition Presentation of 60,000.