Posts by Rachel
Bearilliant news – Rupert Bear 50p coins released on the Isle of Man!
Change Checkers on the Isle of Man are in for a real treat as, for the first time ever, Rupert Bear & co are featuring on new 50p coins – and we think they’re just bearilliant!
Rupert Bear was created in 1920 by Mary Tourtel as a cartoon for the Daily Express newspaper and his adventures continue up to this day, celebrating his 100th anniversary in 2020.
I’m sure many collectors out there will have fond memories of growing up with Rupert Bear and will be just as excited as we are by the release of these new 50p coins.
The world’s first Rupert Bear 50p coin
To celebrate this exciting centenary anniversary, the Isle of Man have issued the first ever Rupert Bear 50p coin.
The coin is available in Brilliant Uncirculated quality and stunning .925 Sterling Silver, finished to a proof standard and featuring a full colour illustration of the famous bear, exactly as he appears in the classic comic strip series.
But for those collectors looking to secure something extra special, an incredibly limited amount of just 250 coins struck from 22 Carat Gold to a Proof finish are also available.
The obverse of each coin features a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen designed by engraver Jody Clark and you’ll notice that this looks different to the obverse of our UK change due to the inclusion of the Queen’s shoulders within the portrait.
Coin collectors and fans of the British bear alike will be delighted with this coin, but the fun doesn’t stop there as Rupert has also been joined by his friends on a special set of five 50p coins…
Complete Rupert Bear & co Collection
Each of the reverse designs feature some of the best-loved characters from the comic strip – including Rupert Bear, Podgy Pig, Bill Badger, Edward Trunk and Algy Pug.
And the best news is that this set is available in both superior Brilliant Uncirculated and stunning Silver Proof quality featuring full colour illustrations of these fantastic characters.
These sets are the only way you can own all five coins in superior quality, and that’s because none of the designs (aside from the Rupert Bear 50p) will be available to purchase individually.
Isle of Man Change Checkers are in for a treat!
Excitingly for those lucky Change Checkers on the Isle of Man, these 50p coins are legal tender on the island and an initial release of 25,000 of each design will be issued into circulation!
However, as collectors know, British Isles 50p coins like this rarely turn up in your change in the UK, making these 50ps some of the most sought-after circulating coins around.
What’s more, previous Isle of Man 50p coins have proved popular with collectors time and again, often selling for well over face value on the secondary market.
Some of the most popular Isle of Man circulation coins feature The Snowman and can be found selling for hundreds of pounds of eBay.
We’re sure that British Isles collectors will be quick to snap up the new Rupert Bear 50p coins, so keep your eyes out for them if you’re lucky enough to be on the Isle of Man.
LIMITED EDITION
The 50p has firmly established itself as the collector’s favourite and Silver Proof 50ps are known for their rapid sell-out history, making them some of the most sought-after issues around.
Not only this, the Isle of Man is renowned for their low edition limits due to the small population of just 84,000 inhabitants on the island.
Therefore it comes as no surprise that these coins are so very limited…
Just 4,950 of the Rupert Bear Silver Proof 50p coins and just 2,495 of the Rupert Bear Silver Proof Complete 50p Sets are available to collectors worldwide – a significantly low amount given the immense popularity of Rupert Bear for multiple generations.
SELL-OUT EXPECTED
Comparing Rupert Bear to the incredible Royal Mint sell-out success of the UK Gruffalo Silver Proof 50p which had an edition limit of 25,000 (more than five times the edition limit of Rupert Bear), you’ll understand just how sought-after these coins are going to be.
And of course, who could forget the phenomenal Peter Pan 50p coins released by the Isle of Man last year?
These magical coins had the collecting world spellbound, with collectors queueing on the Westminster Collection’s site for the chance to purchase the new coins.
And so the message for anyone interested in securing the brand new Rupert Bear 50ps is to act quickly, particularly when it comes to those Silver Proof coins, as a sell-out is expected.
We think these coins are a fantastic tribute to Rupert Bear’s 100th anniversary and are simply adorable! But what do you think about this new release? Let us know in the comments below!
Secure the world’s first Rupert Bear 50p!
Click here to add the Rupert Bear 50p coin to your British Isles collection from just £6.25 (+p&p).
The Bond £5 Coins leaving collectors shaken and stirred!
Back in 1962, the very first James Bond film saw the iconic British spy brought to life on the big screen and now, as the 25th film is due to be released in 2021, The Royal Mint have issued a collection of brand new Bond themed £5 coins!
The third coin in the series has just been released today and is already creating a stir in the coin collecting world…
Shaken Not Stirred
The final coin in the series has now been released, completing the iconic 007 motif.
This new £5 release features a design of a James Bond’s iconic tuxedo silhouette and his signature weapon. It also features the inscription, ‘Shaken Not Stirred′, the special agent’s Martini preference.
This coin has been issued in a number of specifications, including Brilliant Uncirculated quality for just £10.99 (+p&p).
You can also get your hands on the very first coin in the series here and the second coin here!
0 0 7
Designed as a collaboration between Christian Davies and Matt Dent, when all three coins are placed together, the famous ‘007’ motif is spelt out – completing this classic collection.
Dent commented on the design process, saying, “As Bond fans ourselves, we’ve enjoyed re-watching some of our favourite films. The design series focuses on iconic imagery from the Bond films. Finding the balance between design detail and what can be accomplished in production was a challenge, nowhere more so than the intricate spokes of the DB5’s wheel.”
The first coin, features the classic Bond car from Goldfinger – the Aston Martin DB5 and the world-famous phrase, “Bond, James Bond”. The second coin features a design of a legendary Bond car, the submarine Lotus Espirit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me, known as ‘Wet Nellie’. It also features the inscription, ‘Pay attention 007′, a classic line which was uttered by the world-famous ‘Q’.
The last coin in the series, which has been released today, concludes the series, spelling out the complete ‘007’ motif. The inscription on this coin reads the iconic James Bond line, ‘Shaken not stirred’ in reference to the spy’s preferred style of Martini.
The History of James Bond
The character ‘James Bond’ was first brought to life in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming who created twelve novels and two short-story collections featuring the British Secret Service agent.
However, it was in 1962 that Bond first appeared on the big screen.
From ‘Dr No’ to ‘No Time To Die’, the character has appeared in a remarkable 25 films, with endless gadgets and iconic imagery from the films now recognised world-wide.
During the film series’ 58 year history, the suave secret agent has been portrayed by six different actors, and I’m sure we all have our own favourite ‘Bond’.
Currently played by Daniel Craig, the upcoming film will represent his fifth and final time starring as the MI6 agent codenamed 007.
The luxurious lifestyle, spectacular gadgets and dramatic vehicles have delighted audiences for generations and I’m sure Bond fans will be blown away to see their favourite film series celebrated on £5 coins.
Not the first James Bond themed UK coin…
Bond first appeared on UK coinage in 2018 with the release of the A-Z of Great Britain 10ps.
Naturally, Bond was chosen to represent the letter B as a quintessentially British icon.
This 10p has proven incredibly popular with collectors and has since not only worked its way to the top of the Change Checker Scarcity Index, but has remained on the top spot for the last few updates – confirming the popularity of this coin.
With the release of the brand new James Bond themed £5 coins in this special year celebrating the 25th Bond film, will we see a rise in the demand for Bond themed collectibles?
We certainly think these coins will make for an exciting set to add to your collection, but what do you think about the new Bond £5? Let us know in the comments below!
Add the Brand New Bond £5 Complete Set to your collection!
You can now secure the full 2020 James Bond £5 Set in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality – what better way to match the luxurious lifestyle of the suave secret agent?
V for VICTORY! Brand new 50p coins issued by the Isle of Man to mark 75 years since VE Day
The 8th of May 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of VE Day – the day which signified the end of World War II and brought long awaited peace to our nation, as Victory in Europe was declared.
The many years of destruction and lives lost finally came to an end on that momentous day, and millions from around the world took to the streets to celebrate.
This year, celebrations will reignite for the peace so bravely won, as events planned up and down the UK will commemorate 75 years since the guns fell silent.
And to mark such an historic anniversary, a brand new set of seven 50p coins has been authorised for release on the Isle of Man by Her Majesty the Queen.
This remarkable new Victory 50p Set pays tribute to our nation’s soldiers, sailors and airmen as they began their journey home 75 years ago following the Allied victory which swept across Europe.
Issued by the Isle of Man, each coin depicts a design and letter reflecting victory during this time, including:
V
The first coin features the letter V and depicts Churchill with his famous V for Victory stance. Excitingly, this is the first time Churchill has appeared on a 50p coin, although he has been honoured on no less then three UK crown coins.
I
The next coin features the letter I and shows citizens of the Isle of Man celebrating the end of WWII.
C
The letter C features on the third coin, which shows soldiers shaking hands in front of Trafalgar Square.
T
The next coin features the letter T and shows the HMS Dido Battleship returning home after the war.
O
This coin features the letter O and depicts Spitfires flying over St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
R
The next coin features the letter R and represents the street party celebrations that took place when it was announced the war was over.
Y
The final coin features the letter Y and depicts a moving scene showing a soldier returning home to his family.
Can I find these coins in my change?
Isle of Man 50ps are famously popular with collectors, especially as their mintage figures are so low, and these coins are no exception.
Initially 25,000 of each 50p will be entering circulation on the Isle of Man, so any British Isles collectors out there should keep their eyes out for these wonderful new coins.
Of course, British Isles coins do turn up in our UK change from time to time, despite the fact they are not legal tender in the UK, however I’m sure these coins will be quickly snapped up by Isle of Man collectors and so you’d have to be very lucky to come across one.
The best ways to own the Victory 50p Set
There are a number of ways to own the Victory 50p Set, which has been issued in Brilliant Uncirculated and Silver Proof quality.
The Brilliant Uncirculated coins are presented in a VE Day 75th Anniversary presentation pack – a must have for collectors of military commemoratives.
Just 2,020 Silver Proof Victory 50p Sets have been struck worldwide. The coins are struck to a Proof finish from .925 Silver with selective Gold Plating on each of the letters and come displayed in a luxury wooden case.
What’s more, this is the only way you can own all seven of these poignant 50p coins in collector quality. Only the Churchill ‘V’ for Victory coin will be released individually.
Churchill V for Victory 50p coin
You can also secure the Churchill V for Victory 50p coin individually in Brilliant Uncirculated, Silver Proof or Gold Proof quality.
With just 5,000 Churchill V for Victory Silver Proof 50p coins and only 250 of the Gold Proof coins, the strict edition limits really add to the collectability of these coins.
These 50ps really are a timeless tribute to the thousands of allied troops who fought tirelessly and sacrificed their lives to bring long awaited peace to our nation, and in this important anniversary year, they make for an incredibly poignant issue to commemorate 75 years since VE Day.
Secure your Victory 50p coins
Click here to find out more about the Victory 50p coins and add them to your collection >>