Posts Tagged ‘numismatics’
Step into Narnia and discover The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 50p
Cast your mind back to childhood, a time of bedtime stories and wild imaginations…
A story that most of us vividly remember is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the inspiration behind this UK 50p.
An introduction to children’s fantasy literature
First published in 1950, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first novel in The Chronicles of Narnia collection, and is perhaps the best known book by author C. S. Lewis. For many, it was an introduction to the fantasy literature genre, with characters such as Mr Tumnus and Aslan holding a special place in our memories.
Credit: Pixabay, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
A magical design
It’s actually Mr Tumnus who features on this UK 50p, alongside Lucy Pevensie who can be seen walking arm in arm through a snowy Narnia together.
Pauline Baynes’ design, which is based on illustrations from the original publication, is the perfect tribute to this classic tale of fantasy fiction. If you have fond memories of the story, or if you just can’t resist newly issued UK coins, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 50p would make an excellent addition to collection.
Secure yours here for just £8.99 (+p&p) >>
Previous UK coins based on literature
Beatrix Potter 50ps
The Beatrix Potter 50ps are perhaps some of the most popular 50p coins amongst collectors. For many collectors, these are the coins that inspired them to start the hobby, especially younger collectors.
The Beatrix Potter 50p series started in 2016 with the Beatrix Potter 50p, issued to mark 150 years since the birth of the legendary author. The series continued over the next 4 years, with 50ps featuring beloved characters from the famous tales, such as Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, Mr Jeremy Fisher and Flopsy Bunny. And of course, Peter Rabbit himself made an appearance in the series, not once, but four times!
Winnie the Pooh 50ps
Another literary favourite, Winnie the Pooh, featured on a series of 50p coins issued between 2020 and 2022. Characters from the Hundred Acre Wood such as Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore joined Winnie the Pooh himself in this 9 coin series, which proved incredibly popular with both new and seasoned collectors.
All silver proof versions of the 2020 Winnie the Pooh 50p sold out in less than 12 hours, and the 2022 Eeyore 50p sold out in a matter of hours at The Royal Mint.
And the list goes on, as literary characters such as the Gruffalo, the Snowman, Paddington Bear and even authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens have also featured on our UK coins – amongst some of the favourite releases for many collectors.
Don’t miss out!
So, when you consider the popularity of other UK coins that have been based on children’s literature, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 50p is sure to to be highly sought after.
How are your coins Quality Assured? The Trial of the Pyx!
As Change Checkers, we love it when new coins are issued. But how are they quality assured? And what processes do they have to go through before ending up in our collections or our pockets?
Since 1282, an independent procedure called the Trial of the Pyx has been responsible for ensuring that newly minted coins (both circulating and commemorative) meet the legal specifications for weight, size and metallic composition. The process takes place annually and can take 2-3 months to complete, but how exactly does it work?
Credit: Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Phase 1: The Opening
After striking, The Royal Mint randomly selects coins from each batch of denominations to be quality assessed. These coins are sealed in bags of 50 and stored in Pyx chests until the day of the trial.
On the day of the opening ceremony, the Pyx chests are transferred to Goldsmith’s Company Hall in London. The ceremony is presided over by the senior judge in the Court of Justice, the King’s Remembrancer, giving the trial the status of a Court of Law.
Credit: Firebrace, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Did you know? The word Pyx comes from the Latin word ‘Pyxis’, meaning small box.
The trial jury, which is made up of Liverymen and more senior figures of the Goldsmiths’ Company, open each sealed bag of coins and place 1 into a copper bowl for testing by the London Assay Office, the remaining 49 are placed into a wooden bowl to be weighed.
Phase 2: Testing
The coins selected for testing are sent to the Assay Office where they are compared against a Trial plate. These metal plates, made of gold, silver, platinum, nickel and zinc, are held at the National Measurement and Regulation Office. The oldest surviving Trial plate, from 1477, resides in The Royal Mint Museum.
Credit: The Royal Mint
Next, the base metal and precious metal coins are separated, with the base metal ones going through X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry, and the precious metal ones sent for laboratory chemical testing. The main purpose of these tests is to break down the coins’ composition to check their metal content meets specifications.
Phase 3: Verdict
After rigorous testing, the Assay Office decide if the coins meet all specifications set out in the Coinage Act or by Royal Proclamation. Their recommendations are passed to the Senior Master and the King’s Remembrancer, who instruct the Goldsmiths’ Company.
Credit: The Goldsmiths’ Company
The final verdict is delivered to the Chancellor of the Exchequer or their deputy and the Deputy Master of The Royal Mint.
The oldest judicial procedure in the country
The Trial of the Pyx dates back as far as the 12th century, making it one of the oldest judicial procedures in the country. As such, should the coinage be found to be substandard, the punishment for the Master of the Mint would be a fine, removal from office or even imprisonment!
Luckily however, modern coin production processes have become far more reliable, therefore the last Master of the Mint to be punished was Sir Isaac Newton in 1696. Newton was, of course, celebrated on the Sir Isaac Newton 50p in 2017, a coin that quickly become popular with collectors. Find out what makes this coin so interesting >>
Did you know about this process? Or perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to attend the trial as a spectator? Let us know in the comments below!
Commemorate 75 years of the Windrush Generation
A UK 50p coin was issued to commemorate 75 years since HMT Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, Essex.
The design is a tribute to the important story of the passengers aboard the Windrush vessel in 1948, featuring two people of the Windrush Generation against a background of the Union flag.
Order your 2023 UK 75 Years of the Windrush Generation CERTIFIED BU 50p >>
In January 2023, the 75 Years of the Windrush Generation 50p made an appearance in the 2023 Annual Coin Set – the first of its kind to feature King Charles III on the obverses!
And now, collectors can own this coin individually in Brilliant Uncirculated quality.
HMT Empire Windrush
On the 22nd June, 1948, the famous ship arrived in the Essex dock after stopping in Trinidad, Jamaica, Mexico, Cuba and Bermuda.
Credit: BBC
Many of those aboard sought work and a new life in their destination, England. This was during a period where the UK faced economic collapse and needed more workers to rebuild the country after the war.
Since the Second World War, the Windrush Generation have helped shape modern British culture and society. To commemorate, Windrush Day is held on the 22nd of June each year – marking the date the ship disembarked.
2023 UK 75 Years of the Windrush Generation CERTIFIED BU 50p
To add this incredible coin to your collection for click here >>