Can you complete the shield!?

It’s been 16 years since Matthew Dent redesigned the UK’s definitive coins to create the Royal Shield of Arms design, and we now have the New UK Coinage for King Charles III which will replace these designs.

So it’s hard to believe there are still some people who don’t actually realise that these coins can be pieced together to complete the shield!

The coins form the Royal Shield when placed together

Time for change

In 2005, it was decided that our definitive UK coinage was due an overhaul, and The Royal Mint ran a competition for members of the public to design the new coins. Out of 4,000 designs that were submitted, The Royal Mint Advisory Committee selected Matthew Dent’s Royal Shield designs as the winner in 2008. 

Speaking about his designs, Dent said “I felt that the solution to The Royal Mint’s brief lay in a united design, united in terms of theme, execution and coverage over the surface of the coins.”

Using all the coins from the 1p to the 50p and fitting them together like a jig-saw, the complete shield is revealed – as seen on the £1 coin design issued from 2008 until 2015.

Of course, the old round pound was replaced by the 12 sided Nations of the Crown £1 in 2017 and have now been withdrawn from circulation. However, the definitive 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p shield coins can still be found in your change, meaning the Royal Shield can still be collected and completed.

In fact, I bet if you were to check the change in your pocket right now, you’d be surprised by how much of the shield you’ll already be able to piece together!


Complete the Shield

So, why not try collecting the Royal Shield coins and see if you can complete the shield? And, if you’d like to give yourself even more of a challenge, how about collecting the whole shield for each year, starting with the coins issued in 2008!

To help you on your collecting journey, you can secure your own Royal Shield Collector Pack, which includes the Royal Shield 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p and 20p – all you have to do is find the 50p in your change to complete the shield.

Secure your Royal Shield Collector Pack for JUST £4.99 (+p&p) >>

The Limited Edition Gibraltar King Charles III Definitive Coins

Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, the very first King Charles III effigy was introduced onto Gibraltar’s commemorative coinage. However, the following year, the first circulating Gibraltar currency collection featuring His Majesty’s was issued, celebrating his coronation.

The 2023 Limited Edition Gibraltar Currency Coin Collection was the first full currency set available to feature the Raphael Maklouf King Charles III effigy on the obverse, including all denominations from 1p-£5, but it also included the last ever single metal round pound to be issued.

2023 Limited Edition Gibraltar Currency Coin Collection Pack

Secure the 2023 Limited Edition Gibraltar Currency Coin Collection >>

A closer look

In honour of the new Carolean era, the 2023 Limited Edition Gibraltar Currency Coin Collection includes all definitive coin denominations, each featuring different elements, imagery and items related to King Charles III and his coronation.

2023 Gibraltar Coronation Coin obverses and reverses

One Penny
The 1p coin features the King’s royal cypher within a floral wreath.

Two Pence
The 2p coin features a depiction of Windsor Castle within a floral wreath.

Five Pence
The reverse design on the 5p coin shows an illustration of The Sovereign’s Orb.

Ten Pence
On the reverse design on the 10p coin is a depiction of The Sovereign’s Sceptre.

Twenty Pence
The 20p features the a depiction of the Tudor Crown along with the inscription ‘LONG TO REIGN OVER US • GOD SAVE THE KING’.

Fifty Pence
The intricate design on the 50p features the door to Westminster Abbey and the inscription ‘THE CORONATION OF HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES III • 05.05.2023’.

One Pound
The £1 coin in this collection was the last ever single metal, round pound coin to be issued, as Gibraltar’s 2024 annual issue featured the new 12-sided, bi-metal £1 coin specification. This meant that Gibraltar was the first British Overseas Territory to circulate the 12-sided £1. The reverse design on this round £1 coin features the Coronation Chair and the inscription, ‘LONG TO REIGN OVER US • GOD SAVE THE KING’.

Two Pounds
The £2 coin features the Gibraltar Crest in the centre, with an inscription around the edge reading ‘HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES III • GOD SAVE THE KING’.

Five Pounds
The £5 coin features the Gibraltar Coat of Arms.


Just 350 sets available

The 2023 Limited Edition Gibraltar Currency Coin Collection is strictly limited to 2,000 sets worldwide, and we’ve managed to secure just 350 of them for Change Checkers.

Don’t miss out on owning the sought-after pack including the FIRST Gibraltar King Charles III currency and the LAST Gibraltar round pound.

Secure your 2023 Gibraltar Coin Pack for just £49.99 (+p&p) >>

New £1 coin design to enter circulation!

A brand new £1 coin is set to enter circulation, marking the 40th anniversary of it’s introduction!

The Nations of the Crown £1 in hand.
The 2017 12-sided £1 coin.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that artist Michael Armitage will design the new coin.

It’s believed the coin’s design will celebrate the culture, creativity, and heritage and history of the UK in the 21st century.

Speaking at a Royal College of Art’s (RCA) reception, Mr Sunak said: “I am delighted that Michael will lend his vision to the creation of this new £1 coin design in its 40th anniversary year. This coin will symbolise the rich tapestry of modern Britain and honour our deep heritage and history.”

Michael Armitage was earlier this year elected as a Royal Academician in the category of painting by the Royal Academy of Arts, London – meaning we’re sure to see a fantastic design on this brand new coin!

This will be the the first new £1 design since 2017 and Armitage said it will “combine our 1,100 years of craftsmanship with cutting-edge design to champion modern Britain.”

The 12-sided £1 coin has been in circulation since its introduction in 2016, having replaced the familiar round pound coins. It’s aim was to be the most secure coin yet.

This brand new design will become the standard circulating £1 coin* and will include the current “world-leading” high-security features to protect against counterfeiting, the Treasury said.

We can’t wait to see the design of this brand new coin and to start searching for it in our change! Let us know in the comments below if you’re excited to find this new coin!

*The new coin will enter circulation in 2023, marking the 40th anniversary of the modern £1 coin.


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