Posts Tagged ‘queen elizabeth ii’
A History of Queen Elizabeth II on Coins
From the post boxes on the street to the change in our pockets, each day we are reminded of our late monarch – Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (1926 – 2022).
And, with 29 billion individual coins in circulation in the UK – the majority of which carry an image of Her Majesty – her likeness will forever be etched in our memories and passed down for generations on our coinage.
These very coins offer a window into the past and retell the history of Her Majesty’s 70 year reign through the changing portraits seen on our coinage.
Portraits of the Queen
The Young Queen | 1953 – 67: Mary Gillick
The first coins of Queen Elizabeth’s reign featured Mary Gillick’s portrait of the young Queen, created especially for the new coins in 1953.
The “Decimal Queen” | 1968 – 84: Arnold Machin RA
With the decimalisation of the UK’s coinage on the horizon, it was decided to refresh the Queen’s portrait with Arnold Machin’s new effigy of the Queen. Commissioned in 1964, it first appeared in 1968 on the new 5p and 10p coins.
The Grandmother | 1985 – 97: Raphael Maklouf
Raphael Maklouf aimed “to create a symbol, regal and ageless” when he created the new effigy of Her Majesty. This coincided with the Queen’s early years as a grandmother and depicts Queen Elizabeth II wearing the royal diadem worn on the way to and from the State Opening of Parliament.
Millennium Queen | 1998 – 2014: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
As the Millennium approached, a fourth effigy was released onto our coinage, designed by Ian Rank-Broadley. Its larger size filled the full circle of the coin and was a deliberate response to the smaller 5p and 10p coins in circulation. This more mature portrayal of Her Majesty aimed to show the Queen with “poise and bearing”.
The Longest Reigning Monarch | 2015 – 2022: Jody Clark
The final portrait of Her Majesty was introduced in 2015 – the year that the Queen passed Victoria as our longest reigning monarch. It is, of course, that design that will continue to remind us of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for years to come, as her old currency continues to circulate long after her death.
Special Obverse Designs
Not only will the Queen be remembered for her portraits on coins, but for two very special obverse designs.
The first dates back to the very first coin released for Queen Elizabeth II – her Coronation Crown in 1953. The second was from the 2022 Platinum Jubilee coins.
Both picture the Queen on horseback, celebrating Her Majesty with her greatest love – horses. Surely there can be no better way to remember Her Majesty than through these two great designs. If you’re lucky enough to have either in your collection, let us know in the comments below!
Do you have a favourite coin portrait or obverse design on Her Majesty? Leave a comment to share yours.
Commemorate Her Majesty on Coins
As you can imagine, demand for QE II coinage is at an all-time high.
Don’t miss the chance to fill the gaps in your royalty coin collection here >>
NEW Mosaic of Canadian Icons Coins commemorate Her Late Majesty
Can you find a connection between a polar bear, a moose and a hockey stick?
They’re all Canadian icons of course! And they all feature on this brand new set of Canadian coins.
Whilst Canadian collectors would normally be able to find these coins in their change, this year the Royal Canadian Mint has struck a limited number of sets for collectors only! Find out why below…
Exclusive Canadian 50 Cent
This stunning 6 coin set of 2023 dated collector’s edition coins includes the circulating Canadian coin denominations such as the dollar, 25 cent and of course, the 50 cent.
But, what’s really caught the eye of collectors is the fact the 50 cent has been issued with selective colour especially for this set.
Featured on the 50 cent is a patriotic red and white mosaic of icons, forming the most famous Canadian emblem of the all – the maple leaf. Although each icon differs vastly, they all serve as true representations of the country.
Just 30,000 sets available for collectors
Perhaps most interestingly, these coins are not set to enter circulation this year…
The reason why?
The coins in this set feature Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy on the obverse. The Royal Canadian Mint have announced that they will not issue any 2023 dated Queen Elizabeth II coins into circulation, meaning this set is a collector exclusive!
In fact, just 30,000 sets have been issued worldwide, including a double-dated obverse to commemorate the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
As well as featuring Her Late Majesty’s portrait, these coins also include four pearls symbolising the four Queen Elizabeth II effigies that have graced Canadian coins.
International demand for QEII coins on the rise
We’ve recently seen an increase in international demand for coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II, with collectors worldwide rushing to secure commemorative keepsakes.
Canada 2023 Collector’s Coin Set
Earlier this year, The Royal Canadian Mint issued a limited edition collector’s set marking the end of Queen Elizabeth II’s circulating coinage.
2022 Canadian Queen Elizabeth II $2
To honour their Head of State for the past 7 decades, the Royal Canadian Mint issued a new $2 coin – their first ever circulation coin to feature a black nickel design! It was even available in a special collectible wrap roll containing 25 of the unique coins.
As you can imagine, this latest set featuring a mosaic of Canadian icons is sure to be popular among both UK and international collectors.
Will you be adding this set to your collection?
Secure your 2023 Mosaic of Canadian Icons Coin Set
Only 30,000 of these sets are available worldwide, and we’ve managed to secure an initial allocation of just 250 for Change Checkers, so don’t miss out! Secure yours here >>
Your guide to collecting King Charles III coins
Since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, there’s been a huge shake up in the numismatic world. Not only have collectors been rushing to secure the very last coins featuring the late Queen, but wanting to be the first to own new coins bearing King Charles III’s effigy.
Here are some tips to guide you in building your King Charles III coin collection.
1. Use cash
It may seem obvious, but the best way to increase your chances of finding a King Charles coin in your change is to use cash. And where possible, ask for your change to be given in the denominations you’re interested in.
For example, if you’re looking for the Queen Elizabeth Memorial 50p, which is the first coin to enter circulation featuring the King on the obverse, ask for your change in 50ps.
2. Look closely
Make sure you’re looking closely at the coins in your change to check whether you have a commemorative coin, especially one featuring His Majesty.
The most obvious difference will be the effigy on the obverse of the coin. But it’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the reverse designs of commemorative coin so you know what you’re looking out for.
3. Do your research
The best way to identify coins you’ve found in your change is by using our Change Checker Web App.
Simply select the denomination, year and obverse monarch of the coin you’ve found to view all the possible coins it could be. You’ll find information like mintage figures and facts about the theme or designer.
You can also find much more information about your coin on our blog.
4. Check our scarcity index
Something else you’ll find on our web app is where each coin ranks on our scarcity index.
We combine mintage figures with how often a coin has been listed in collections to determine how scarce and sought after each coin is. Our scarcity index is updated quarterly as there can be some pretty big shake ups in the rankings.
5. Swap with others
If you’re looking for a specific coin and aren’t having any luck finding it in your change, you can use the swap centre on our web app or our Facebook community group to swap coins with other collectors.
Who knows, someone else might just have the coin you’re looking for!
Happy Hunting!
So there you have it, 5 tips you can use to start collecting King Charles III coins!
You may already have an impressive collection including some new King Charles coins. If so, post a photo of yours on social media and tag us, we’d love to see them!
