Posts Tagged ‘numismatics’
The 2022 UK Annual Coins are HERE!
Each year, collectors eagerly anticipate the arrival of the The Royal Mint’s Annual Set.
These coins commemorate some of the key anniversaries of the year ahead and it means we get treated to FIVE brand new coin designs!
With some momentous anniversaries coming up this year, the issues in the 2022 Annual Set are some of the MOST poignant yet.
So, let’s kick off the year with the coins we’ve all been waiting for, the 2022 Annual Set.
Platinum Jubilee 50p
Kicking things off with a UK FIRST, is the brand new 2022 Platinum Jubilee 50p.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch, with an incredible 70 years of service to the crown.
In tribute to this record-breaking achievement, The Royal Mint have issued the UK’s very first royal 50p!
Designed by Osborne Ross, the coin features a slick reverse design that shows the number 70, the royal cypher and the years that span her reign so far.
Her Majesty’s fifth portrait, by Jody Clark, also features on the obverse of this coin.
What an incredible anniversary for Her Majesty to be celebrating this year and I’m sure you’ll agree that this stunning 50p is a wonderful tribute to her.
The UK’s VERY FIRST Royal 50p will be issued individually in just two days’ time, on the 6th January. This version will feature a special obverse design not found in the Annual Set… Stay tuned to find out more!
Commonwealth Games 50p
The Commonwealth Games was first held in 1930 and with the exception of wartime (1942 and 1946) has taken place every four years since then!
In the entire 92-year history, 2022 marks only the third time that England has played host to the games! So to mark the occasion, The Royal Mint has issued this brand new 50p.
Featuring a design by Royal Mint designer Natasha Preece, this 50p represents the essence of Birmingham 2022 with a striking geometric design.
We think it’s the perfect tribute to Birmingham hosting the games for the very first time and a great way to wish all of the athletes good luck.
Alexander Graham Bell £2
Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish-born inventor, scientist, and engineer who patented the first practical telephone.
In the 100th anniversary year since his passing, The Royal Mint have issued this brand new £2 coin.
The coin features a design showing the dial of a push-button phone, alongside the words ‘pioneer of the telephone’ inscribed into the buttons.
It’s hard to image a life without our phones, but before Bell’s work, it was a complete unknown.
It was back in 1871 that Bell first started work on his harmonic telegraph, which allowed multiple messages to be transmitted over a wire at the same time.
And in 1876, he made his very first telephone call to Thomas Watson and was then granted his telephone patent.
The design of this coin perfectly celebrates all of Bell’s achievements in making real-time long-distance communication possible.
Dame Vera Lynn £2
In 2020, we received the sad news that Dame Vera Lynn had sadly passed away. The iconic wartime singer was famous for boosting the morale of British troops during WWII.
Coined as the forces sweetheart, her renditions of We’ll Meet Again, The White Cliffs of Dover and I’ll Be Seeing You, became synonyms with wartime.
Dame Vera Lynn played such a key role during wartime that Buckingham Palace sent a private message of condolence to her family.
And in 2022, to commemorate her life and achievements, The Royal Mint commemorates her on a brand new £2 coin.
Designed by The Royal Mint design team, this £2 features a detailed portrait of Dame Vera Lynn as she appeared during the height of her fame.
The popularity of her songs has carried across generations. In 2020, her songs still spoke to the nation with a similar level of emotion as they did in 1940 – a testament to her charm, skill, and beautiful voice.
Platinum Jubilee £5
In this very special anniversary year for Her Majesty, we have been treated to not one but TWO Platinum Jubilee coins.
This £5, designed by John Bergdahl features a stunning reverse design. The royal mantle appears as a surround, as it was used on the coinage of William IV!
Inheriting the throne at the age of just 25, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has remained a national constant as head of state since 6 February 1952.
Since then, the nation has watched her grow from a young queen to the much-loved monarch that she is today.
The dates 1952-2022 feature on the reverse design, in a poignant tribute to her incredible 70 years of service to the crown.
I’m sure you’ll agree that this year’s Annual Coin Set is the most impressive to date.
With some incredible anniversaries and events coming up this year, there’s no doubt these coins will be in high demand with collectors.
Don’t forget, the UK’s VERY FIRST Royal 50p will be issued individually in just two days’ time (6th January) – stay tuned to find out more!
Secure the most sought-after Annual Set to date!
To ensure you don’t miss out on adding all FIVE coins for your collection for JUST £40.00 (+p&p), simply click here >>
Each coin has been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality and protectively encapsulated in official Change Checker packaging, housed in a Display Page ready to slot into your Change Checker Album.
Isle of Man celebrates 140 years of women’s suffrage with brand new £2 coin set!
Did you know that the Isle of Man was the first place in the world where a woman could vote in national elections?
In fact, it was in 1881 that women householders were given the vote – 47 years ahead of the UK!
This momentous event has now been commemorated on a unique four-coin £2 set issued by the Isle of Man to commemorate 140 years since the campaign for women’s suffrage on the island.
The coin set features the names of the four pioneering women who first cast their vote on the Isle of Man, and show the voters names documented as Eliza Jane Goldsmith, Catherine Callow, Esther Kee and Margaret Kelvin.
Limited Availability
This special commemorative £2 set will be on sale for JUST TWO WEEKS, meaning availability is extremely limited and you’ll need to order fast to avoid disappointment.
What’s more, coins from the Isle of Man are particularly sought-after due to their much lower mintage figures compared to UK counterparts and with such a significant topic being celebrated, demand for the new coins is set to be incredibly high.
In celebration of these remarkable coins being issued on the Isle of Man, sets were presented to the President of Tynwald and Speaker of the House of Keys! Tynwald extended suffrage to women who owned land in 1881, 37 years before Westminster did the same.
Your 2021 Isle of Man Women’s Suffrage £2 Set has been struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated quality and come protectively encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging, certified to guarantee each coin’s superior quality.
Remember, you have just TWO WEEKS to be one of the lucky collectors to order this set, so don’t miss your chance to own yours for just £34.99 (+p&p). Click here to add these remarkable coins to your collection >>
These coins are so popular that not only have they featured on the Isle of Man Government Release but BBC news even reported on them!
The 2021 Isle of Man Women’s Suffrage £2 Set is sure to be popular with collectors and with news articles reporting on the significance of these coins, I don’t expect them to be around for long…
Don’t miss out! There’s just two weeks to secure your Isle of Man Women’s Suffrage £2 Set for JUST £34.99 (+p&p) >>
If you’re interested in coin collecting, our Change Checker web app is completely free to use and allows users to:
– Find and identify the coins in their pocket
– Collect and track the coins they have
– Swap their spare coins with other Change Checkers
Sign up today at: www.changechecker.org/app
Music Legends £5 series rocks the nation!
Everyone has different tastes in music, but there are some artists you just can’t deny are true Music Legends, and The Royal Mint are celebrating these icons on a series on UK £5 coins!
2024 Paul McCartney £5
This Music Legends £5 celebrates none other than song writing genius and The Beatles star, Sir Paul McCartney! Some would say All You Need Is this coin in your collection!
From The Beatles and Wings, to countless solo albums and collaborations, Paul McCartney has been a constant figure in British music for more than 6 decades! Designed by Osborne Ross in partnership with MPL Communications Limited, the Paul McCartney £5 features his iconic ‘Magic Piano’ and Höfner violin bass along with the Wings logo and his signature. There really is no better way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Beatlemania going global, so Let It Be the next addition to your collection!
2024 George Michael £5
It’s the Music Legends £5 I Knew You Were Waiting for! George Michael rocked onto a UK £5, and this Amazing coin also coincided with the 40th anniversary of his first solo song, Careless Whisper.
One of the best-selling musicians of all time, It’s estimated that George Michael sold over 125 million records worldwide during his career – with smash hits such as Faith, Freedom! ‘90 and Fastlove.
The 2024 UK George Michael £5 features an instantly recognisable image of the star in his ‘Faith’ era, complete with his trademark sunglasses.
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on your chance to add the George Michael £5 to your collection, click here to secure yours >>
2023 The Police £5
Dubbed ‘the biggest band in the world’ by Rolling Stone magazine in 1983, The Police were one of the definitive rock groups of the 1970s and 80s. To celebrate 40 years since their final album Synchronicity, the band features on the latest Music Legends £5 coin!
The English rock band, fronted by lead vocalist Sting, have never before been featured on a UK coin, and with a massive 75 million record sales under their belt, it’s only fitting that they’ve been celebrated on the latest Music Legends £5 coin.
Inspired by The Classics
The reverse design takes inspiration from both the Synchronicity album cover and the Every Breath You Take: The Classics cover art.
The 2023 UK Police £5 is only the second coin in The Royal Mint’s Music Legends series to feature King Charles III on the obverse, continuing this exciting dual-monarch series of £5 coins.
Don’t miss out on adding The Police £5 to your collection, click here to secure yours >>
2023 Dame Shirley Bassey £5
Without a doubt, Dame Shirley Bassey is one of the most iconic British vocalists of the 20th Century, so it’s only fitting that she features on the latest coin in The Royal Mint’s Music Legends series. The brand new 2023 UK Dame Shirley Bassey £5 coin celebrates 70 years of the Dame’s incredible legacy in show business.
Spot the hidden details
Designer Sue Aperghis has really captured the essence of Dame Shirley Bassey’s incredible talent and style with a design featuring her silhouette and name in lights, and a Welsh dragon to represent her birthplace. There are also a few hidden details…
Bassey is perhaps best known for featuring on the soundtracks of three James Bond theme songs, Diamonds are Forever, Moonraker and Goldfinger. The names of all three Bond tracks feature within the design, but can you find them all?
The 2023 Dame Shirley Bassey £5 is the first coin in the Music Legends series to feature King Charles III on the obverse. All 4 of the previous Music Legends coins have featured Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy on the obverse, making it one of the first dual portrait UK commemorative £5 series.
Don’t miss out on adding the 2023 UK Dame Shirley Bassey £5 to your collection, secure yours here >>
2022 The Rolling Stones £5
*No longer available at the Mint*
This Music Legends coin celebrates 60 years of iconic rock band, The Rolling Stones!
The design shows the band in concert, with their name above them and dates ‘62-‘22 at the bottom, representing the anniversary.
In 2021, The Rolling Stones became the highest earning live act of the year, as announced by Rolling Stone magazine – this isn’t surprising when you consider their huge fanbase across the world!
On the obverse, you’ll spot Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II‘s portrait, but did you know that this was one of the last £5 coins to feature The Queen before the introduction of King Charles III’s coin portrait?
Add the 2022 The Rolling Stones £5 to your collection >>
2021 The Who £5
*No longer available at the Mint*
The fourth Music Legends to feature in this £5 coin series was British group, The Who. The Who were amongst the most popular and influential bands of the 1960s and ’70s. Key to defining the mod genre and originating the ‘rock opera’ both in Britain and worldwide, The Who are without a doubt, true Music Legends.
The 2021 The Who £5 was designed by artist, Henry Gray to include a Union flag, mod logo and Rickenbacker guitar within a Tommy inspired pinball table, this superb coin acts as a nod to some of the band’s most famous creations.
Mod-Rock Legends
Among the most popular and influential bands of the 1960s and ’70s, The Who were key to defining the mod genre and originated the ‘rock opera’ both in Britain and worldwide. Despite having an early influence from the American Rhythm and Blues genre, The Who’s move towards a new style of British rock allowed them to reject any form of pretension when dealing with teenage frustrations.
The Who’s undeniable popularity, which spans across generations, has granted them numerous awards and they even reached the Grammy Hall of Fame for their single ‘My Generation’ and the albums ‘Tommy’ and ‘Who’s Next’.
Click here to secure The Who £5 for your collection >>
2020 UK David Bowie £5
*No longer available at the Mint*
The third coin in the Music Legend series celebrates the icon that is David Bowie.
The coin, by Jody Clark, features a design which pays tribute to Bowie’s Aladdin Sane era. It depicts the music legend transitioning between his various personas, set against his iconic ‘BOWIE’ font and the world-famous lightning bolt that Bowie sported as his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust.
Encapsulating everything Bowie stood for; transformation, non-conformism, and vibrancy, this £5 coin pays the perfect tribute to one of the UK’s biggest Music Legends of all time.
Bowie’s songs depicted the ups and downs being an outsider: an alien, a misfit, or even a faraway astronaut! His music appealed to all, with a blend of rock, cabaret, jazz and soul. It was this eclectic mix of style and honest charm that defined him as one of the greatest music legends of the 20th century.
During Bowie’s vibrant career, he released 27 studio albums, 128 singles, and 72 music videos. Some of his most famous works include Space Oddity (1969), Life on Mars? (1971), Heroes (1977), and Ashes to Ashes (1980).
Sadly, in 2016 David Bowie passed away just two days after his birthday, leaving behind a legacy of nonconformist music and style.
And, in 2020 his legacy lives on, with the release of the David Bowie £5 >>
2020 UK Elton John £5
*No longer available at the Mint*
The second coin in the Music Legends series celebrated Sir Elton John, who has been delighting his fans for more than half a century.
Since his very first self-titled album in 1970, Elton John has sold in excess of 300 million records worldwide. Some of his chart-topping hits include, ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight?’, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’, ‘Candle in the Wind’, and ‘I’m Still Standing’.
He also found success on Broadway, composing for Billy Elliot (2008), which went on to win 10 Tony Awards. As recognition of his contribution to music, Sir Elton John was knighted in 1998 and in 2020 he was celebrated on a £5 for the first time.
The reverse design of this £5 coin, by Bradley Morgan Johnson, represents John’s ‘I’m Still Standing’ era. Speaking of the design, Johnson said, “I’m Still Standing was one of [his] favourite childhood pop tracks” and you can definitely see the influence this song had on the design of this coin.
The best thing about this coin, is that Sir Elton John himself approved the design! By owning this coin, you really are in possession of some huge music legend memorabilia.
To secure the 2020 Elton John £5 for your collection, click here >>
2020 Queen £5 Coin
*No longer available at the Mint*
The very first £5 coin in the Music Legends series paid tribute to one of Britain’s most iconic and influential bands – Queen.
Formed in London in 1970, Queen instantly rocked the nation and became a British icon, creating unique and timeless songs which are still loved to this day. As of 2005, Queen’s albums have spent the equivalent of 26 years in the UK Album Charts! (According to the Guinness Book of World Records).
The design of this £5 coin by Chris Facey, showcases the iconic instruments of all four founder members of the band: Brian May’s Red Special guitar, John Deacon’s Fender Precision Bass™, Roger Taylor’s Ludwig™ bass drum, and Freddy Mercury’s Bechstein™ grand piano.
The Queen £5 is full of ‘firsts’, such as…
- The first-time ever that Queen have featured on a coin worldwide
- The first-time ever a British band has been celebrated on UK coinage
- The first coin to be issued in the new series celebrating British Music Legends.
What’s more, band members Brian May and Roger Taylor have officially approved the design of this coin!
To add the 2020 UK Queen £5 to your collection, click here >>
Who is your favourite Music Legend?
We’d love to know which coin in this Music Legends £5 series is your favourite so far, so let us know in the comments below!
Never miss a UK coin issue when you sign up to our BU Coin Subscription service. Find out more >>