Posts Tagged ‘Royal Mint’
Mythical Merlin celebrated on NEW UK coin!
Powerful and eccentric Arthurian wizard, Merlin, features on a brand new UK £5 coin!
As the second £5 coin in the new Myths and Legends series, the 2023 UK Merlin £5 coin bears a design fitting of the mythical wizard…
Click here to order the brand new 2023 UK Merlin CERTFIED BU £5 coin >>
The design
On the reverse of the coin, you’ll see Merlin is poised with a magical staff, ready to wield his power. But, you can also spot Archimedes the owl sitting serenely on the wizard’s shoulder – a character from author T. H. White’s The Sword in the Stone!
Plus, designer David Lawrence has given collectors a peek at mythical island Avalon in the background, while Martin Jennings’ portrait of King Charles III features on the obverse of the coin.
The mythology of Merlin
The origins of Merlin can be traced back to the 12th Century, when British author Geoffrey of Monmouth established the magical mage within his works. Medieval texts saw Merlin not only prophesise and shapeshift, but also create the famous Wiltshire monument, Stonehenge!
Through countless generations, the tales of Merlin have largely revolved around King Arthur. The wizard is said to have contrived Arthur’s birth before guiding the future king to reign over England!
2023 UK King Arthur £5
Plus, King Arthur features in the Myths and Legends UK £5 series too, carrying a sword of Merlin’s creation – Excalibur!
Find out more about the King Arthur £5 coin here >>
2023 UK Merlin CERTIFIED BU £5
The mythical Merlin has been celebrated by joining the Myths and Legends coin series – and we’re excited to see which legend will feature next! Comment below your guesses…
Bring the legend of Merlin to life by owning this £5 now for just £13.99 (+p&p) >>
Myths and Legends: King Arthur £5 JUST ISSUED!
Legendary British king and wielder of sword Excalibur, King Arthur features on brand new UK £5 coin!
The 2023 UK King Arthur £5 coin has been issued as part of a new coin series of Myths and Legends. And, as one of the first King Charles III coin series, it’s sure to get collectors talking!
The design
David Lawrence, renowned for detailed £5 coin designs, shows King Arthur poised with the Excalibur sword in hand – the perfect tribute to a legendary figure!
The design has previously been struck on a 2023 1oz Silver coin, pictured below. But, can you spot the differences?
Not only do the metal, denomination and inscription differ, but the 1oz Silver coin also features Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy! A dual portrait pair such as this is exciting news for both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III collectors!
Start your Myths and Legends £5 collection by securing the 2023 UK King Arthur CERTIFIED BU £5 here >>
The mythology of King Arthur
So, why have The Royal Mint dedicated a new £5 coin to King Arthur? Well, Arthurian mythology is still a topic of interest in the 21st century, despite the legend originating in the 9th-10th centuries!
Many historians have tried to prove whether or not the legend of Arthur was king of England, with history professor Ronald Hutton speaking to BBC’s History Extra in 2020 about how we can be certain of one thing. ‘[T]he battle of Mount Badon, which is recorded in both of our earliest texts as one of Arthur’s greatest victories.’
But, even if King Arthur is just a myth, his legendary tale is nothing short of entertaining!
He has been portrayed as a noble knight who wielded a magical sword, Excalibur. The sword itself is surrounded by mythology, with the a 15th century text (Le Morte d’Arthur) stating that whoever pulls the sword out of a stone is the rightful king of England!
And in 1938, author T. H. White wrote a much-loved children’s novel titled The Sword in the Stone! White’s story also features mythological wizard, Merlin, who guides young Arthur along his journey to becoming England’s rightful king.
Therefore, with the legend of King Arthur engrained in British history, it’s only fitting that The Royal Mint have struck a brand new coin to celebrate him!
Add the 2023 UK King Arthur CERTIFIED BU £5 to your collection >>
2023 UK King Arthur CERTIFIED BU £5
Kickstart your King Charles III £5 collection with the brand new King Arthur £5, struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated quality! Simply click here to order yours for £13.99 (+p&p) >>
First Harry Potter 50p featuring King Charles III! The Professor Dumbledore 50p
The third coin in the Harry Potter 50p series features the wise headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore, and it’s also the first in the series to feature King Charles III on the obverse!
Unlike the two previous 50p coins in the series, King Charles III’s portrait appeared for the first time in the Harry Potter series on this coin!
This was the FIRST TIME we’d seen both effigies of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III feature in the same UK 50p series! Therefore, collectors of both monarch portraits are likely to secure all four for their collections…
The Professor Dumbledore design
The detailed design of Professor Dumbledore is an illustration by artist Jim Kay, which can be found within the pages of the 2015 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone book!
And, as with the other coins in the series, the 2023 UK Professor Dumbledore 50p featured a special lenticular feature. By moving the coin back and forth, you can see the lenticular area show two different symbols: a lightning bolt, and the number 25!
The lightning bolt is an iconic symbol in the Harry Potter series, as it’s the shape of Harry’s scar. Meanwhile, the number 25 features to mark 25 years since the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone!
The First Harry Potter 50p
In 2022, The Royal Mint struck the first UK Harry Potter 50p. Its design depicts Harry himself, and saw incredible demand from both Harry Potter fans and 50p collectors alike.
Hogwarts Express 50p
Soon after, the Hogwarts Express 50p was issued as the second coin in the series! It features Jim Kay’s illustration of the iconic train that takes Hogwarts students to the wizarding school.
As the last coin in the series to feature Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy, collectors were eager to get their hands on the Hogwarts Express 50p!
If you’d like to order your 2022 UK Hogwarts Express 50p, simply click here >>
2023 UK Professor Dumbledore 50p
As the first Harry Potter 50p featuring King Charles III, the 2023 UK Professor Dumbledore 50p caused quite a stir amongst 50p collectors – especially those starting their King Charles III coin collection!