Posts by Rachel
Brexit 50p to enter circulation!
*** UPDATE ***
Over the weekend the design for the brand new Brexit 50p was released!
The final design features the inscription ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’ and the historic date 31st January 2020 – the date the UK will officially leave the European Union.
It has also been confirmed the coin will be available as special commemorative Gold and Silver Proof editions, as well as in Brilliant Uncirculated quality, which be available from 31st January.
Chancellor Sajid Javid, who is Master of the Mint, was given the first batch of coins over the weekend to present one to Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week.
Excitingly, as part of the launch of the coin, The Royal Mint will open the doors of their South West Headquarters for 24 hours on 31st January to allow collectors to strike their own commemorative Brexit coins!
Sign up for Brexit 50p updates here:
It has been reported that 3 million Brexit 50ps will enter circulation on the day the UK leaves the European Union – currently scheduled for 31st January 2020.
The coins are expected to detail the historic date underneath the inscription ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’.
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is supposedly set to be one of the first people to get their hands on one on the day of release as he holds a special cabinet meeting at a venue in North England.
We don’t yet know where the 3 million or so 50p coins will enter circulation in the UK – this is likely to depend on demand from banks and cash houses – but we’re certain collectors will be keeping a keen eye out for these 50ps to add this historic coin to their collection!
It was revealed over the Christmas holidays that a new inscription will feature on the Brexit 50p coin to mark the revised date of the UK’s departure from the EU.
This update means that the previously planned inscription of ’31 October 2019’ will be substituted for ‘31 January 2020’.
Find out more about the Brexit 50p below:
Have you heard the news? It hit the headlines this morning that the Brexit 50p will enter circulation after the UK’s departure from the EU.
In October last year, Philip Hammond unveiled his plans for a Brexit 50p to mark the UK’s exit from the EU.
Whilst delays to Brexit meant the original 29th March 2019 dated coins did not go ahead, in August this year Chancellor Sajid Javid asked officials if it would be possible to produce Brexit 50p coins in time for Britain’s departure from the EU on the 31st October 2019.
And today it looks as though we have our answer, as The Treasury has confirmed that the coins have been given the go ahead and will be minted by Brexit day – despite the continued uncertainty of Britain leaving the EU by then.
So this begs the question, if Britain doesn’t leave the EU on the 31st October, could there potentially be millions of Brexit coins with the wrong date? It would certainly make for interesting collecting!
And the best news for collectors is that this coin will be entering circulation, although it is yet to be officially confirmed exactly how many or when we will start to see them in our change.
Rumour has it that 10 million Brexit 50ps could be produced, including Brilliant Uncirculated, Silver and Gold versions. This has not yet been confirmed by The Royal Mint, but has sparked great excitement in the collecting world.
As such a controversial issue, which has created much disruption across the UK and the EU since the referendum in June 2016, it is hoped that this new coin, which is expected to bear the phrase ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’, will promote positivity surrounding Brexit.
To stay up to date with all the latest Brexit 50p news, sign up using the form below:
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
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! (oh yes it is!)
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as Guernsey release a brand new set of Christmas Pantomime 50p coins!
These fantastic new coins feature designs based on five beloved Pantomimes which are sure to take you to a whole new world as you experience the magic of the theatre brought to life on a 50p coin.
Complete BU Set
Whilst 4,000 of each design will be entering circulation, they will only be released in Guernsey and you can bet your bottom dollar that any lucky Guernsey Change Checkers coming across these coins will be sure to hold on to them.
Unfortunately we don’t all have a Fairy Godmother who can wave a magic wand and make these coins appear in our UK change (but wouldn’t that be nice!).
However, the complete set is now available to purchase in Brilliant Uncirculated quality here.
Authorised by the Guernsey Treasury and fully approved by Her Majesty the Queen, the set includes some of the most loved pantomime themes:
- Aladdin
- Cinderella
- Snow White
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- Dick Whittington
Silver Proof Set
But that’s not all… As if by magic, these coins have been brought to life in vibrant colour for the Silver Proof Pantomime 50p coin set.
Each beautiful coin is struck from Solid Silver and features selective colour printing to capture the fun of the theatre.
Only 2,019 of the Guernsey Silver Christmas Pantomime 50p sets are available and we all know how quickly Silver 50p coins sell out – the Silver Gruffalo 50p sold out within the first day of launch and had an edition limit of 25,000!
This stunning set is now available to purchase here.
The first Guernsey Christmas coins
Did you know that Guernsey has never released a Christmas coin before? This is bound to make these Christmas Panto 50ps particularly special for coin collectors.
However it’s fair to say that Christmas themed coins make an envious addition to anyone’s collection, with the numerous festive 50ps from the Isle of Man proving to be incredibly popular.
One of the most-loved Christmas themes to feature on a coin has got to be the Snowman.
In 2003, the first coin to feature the Snowman was issued by the Isle of Man and had a tiny mintage of just 10,000.
Although not many of these coins are available on the secondary market, if you did want to add one to your collection, you’d be looking at parting with a minimum of £200!
The Snowman has since featured on a number of Isle of Man Christmas coins, and even made his first appearance on a UK coin last year.
Just 20,000 issued for circulation
With such a wonderful Christmas theme and the fact that just 4,000 of each Panto 50p will initially be released into circulation in Guernsey, these coins are sure to follow in the Snowman’s footprints and be incredibly sought-after.
But it’s not just the theme which makes these coins so special…
Mintage figures for Isle of Man 50ps have never exceeded 30,000, and as the new Guernsey coins have a combined mintage of just 20,000 I’m sure you’ll agree that they are bound to be hugely collectable!
Guernsey mintage figures are known for being much smaller than the UK, which is down to their much smaller population of just over 63,000.
Vote for your favourite!
Pantomime has a long theatrical history and is especially popular during the festive period. So now it’s time to get the show started and celebrate with the fantastic new Christmas Pantomime 50p set from Guernsey.
We’d love to hear which of these coins is your favourite, so let us know by voting in the poll below!
Secure your Brilliant Uncirculated Christmas Pantomime Set
Celebrate the Christmas season with five brand new Brilliant Uncirculated Pantomime 50ps from Guernsey.
Discovering the UK’s Definitive Coin Designs
We’re celebrating the unsung heroes of the coin collecting world by taking a deep dive into the UK’s definitive coin designs.
From the 1p to the £2 coin, find out all you need to know about the definitive coins that have been issued over the last 51 years…
£2
1997-2015: History of Technology £2
In 1997 a new type of £2 coin was introduced which featured an innovative bi-metallic design and was the first in the history of British coinage.
Previously, £2 coins had been issued as commemoratives only and featured a single metal design.
The reverse of the new bi-metallic coin shows Bruce Rushin’s representation of mankind’s technological evolution from the Iron Age. The concentric circles each denote a different technological milestone, including the Industrial Revolution, the computer age and the age of the Internet.
The obverse features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley.
2015 – Present: Britannia £2
In 2015, the “History of Technology” design, which featured on the £2 coin since 1997, was replaced by the introduction of an iconic Britannia design by Anthony Dufort.
Britannia first appeared on British coins in 1672 and subsequently featured on a British coin in one way or another for more than 300 years. In 2008 she was surprisingly dropped from the 50 pence piece despite a Daily Mail campaign to save her, and so her appearance on the definitive £2 coins in 2015 was a triumphant return.
The obverse features Jody Clark’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which is the 5th portrait of Her Majesty to appear on a coin.
So far there have only been issues of this coin in 2015 and again in 2016, however just 650,000 Britannia £2s were issued in 2015, making it the joint 3rd rarest £2 in circulation.
£1
2008-2016: Royal Arms
The first UK £1 coin was issued in 1983 to replace the £1 banknote, which was only lasting a few months in circulation.
It was struck from Nickel-brass, making it yellow in colour, and it was much thicker than the other coins in our change.
£1 coins were initially issued in recurring five year programmes including series of designs representing the UK and the home nations.
It wasn’t until 2008 that the first official definitive £1 coin was issued.
The reverse design was created by Matthew Dent, who won a public competition to redesign the UK’s definitive coinage.
His concept was based on the Royal Shield of Arms and this £1 coin features the complete shield – representing the United Kingdom as a whole.
The obverse design featured the 4th portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, by Raphael Maklouf until 2015, when this was replaced by Jody Clark’s design.
2016 – Present: Nations of the Crown
To combat counterfeiting, a new bi-metallic, 12-sided £1 coin was introduced in March 2017.
Billed as the most secure circulating coin in the world, the new £1 coin was designed by 15-year-old David Pearce following a public competition in 2015.
The new design is made up of the English rose, the Welsh leek, the Scottish thistle and the Northern Irish shamrock emerging from one stem within a royal coronet to represent the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom.
The obverse features the 5th portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark.
50p
1969-1981: Britannia 50 New Pence
October 1969 saw the entrance of the 50 New Pence coin into circulation and its revolutionary heptagonal shape was the first of its kind.
Its reverse design, by Christopher Ironside remained traditional however, featuring the familiar and iconic image of Britannia.
Arnold Machin’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II features on the obverse and this was the second portrait of Her Majesty to appear on a coin.
1982-1997: Britannia 50 Pence
In 1982 the UK’s definitive coin designs were updated, as they were no longer considered ‘new’.
The lettering of this 50p differs from its predecessor, changing from ’New Pence’ to ‘Fifty Pence’.
The 1982-1997 50p features Christopher Ironside’s image of Britannia, the allegorical female figure that symbolizes Britain on the reverse.
The obverse of this coin featured the 2nd portrait of the Queen by Arnold Machin until 1985 when it was replaced with the new portrait by Raphael Maklouf.
1997-2008: Britannia Fifty Pence
In October 1994, the Government reviewed the United Kingdom coinage and a requirement for a smaller 50 pence coin was revealed.
On 1st September 1997 a 27.3mm diameter 50 pence was issued; a 2.7mm reduction from the previous 50 pence.
The traditional image of Britannia remained on the reverse, designed by Christopher Ironside, as did the obverse portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, by Raphael Maklouf.
2008 – Present: 50p Royal Arms
In 2008, the UK’s previous definitive coin designs were replaced by Matthew Dent’s winning competition entry which saw all the definitive coins form a complete image of the Royal Shield of Arms when pieced together.
The 50p coin design completes the lower section of the Royal Shield and features the denomination in the lower segment.
In 2015, the obverse design was changed to feature the 5th portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark, replacing Ian Rank-Broadley’s portrait.
This design was issued every year from 2008 to present, excluding 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2016.
The rarest Royal Shield 50p was issued in 2017 and has a mintage of 1,800,000 – making it the second rarest 50p in circulation. Mintage figures for 2018 and 2019 coins have not yet been revealed.
20p
1982-2008: The Royal Badge of England
Introduced into circulation in June 1982, the 20 pence coin was giving the same curved heptagonal shape as the 50p but is much smaller, measuring at 21.4mm in diameter.
The reverse design of the Royal Badge of England was designed by William Gardiner and it features a royally crowned double rose in between the dated year.
From 1982 the obverse features the design of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin. This changed to Raphael Maklouf’s 3rd portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1985 and Ian Rank-Broadley’s 4th portrait in 1998.
This 20p was issued annually between 1982 and 2008, excluding 1986 and 2017 in which there was low demand.
2008 – Present: 20p Royal Arms
A new design for the 20p was introduced in 2008 as part of the re-design of UK coinage using Matthew Dent’s shield design.
When the six individual coins are placed together the designs join to form the complete image of the Royal Shield of Arms. The design of the 20p shows the far-right segment of the shield.
The 20p had previously included the date on the reverse, but the new design required the Royal Mint to produce a new die with the date on the obverse. However when the new coins were struck for circulation, the old die was accidentally used, meaning a batch was issued with no date on either side of the coin, making a very rare undated 20p error coin.
The obverse features the 4th portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley. In 2015, a 5th portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was designed by Jody Clark and the 20p obverse was updated to feature it.
10p
1968-1981: 10 New Pence
In 1968 the 10 New Pence coin entered circulation to replace the florin as part of Britain’s conversion to a system of decimal currency.
The public was uncertain about using this new coin to start with, after generations of pounds, shillings and pence, meaning the Decimal Currency Board still needed to reassure suspicious Britons to go decimal.
Featured on the reverse was Christopher Ironside’s design, incorporating part of the Crest of England; a lion passant guardant royally crowned.
The 2nd portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin is on the obverse.
1992-2008: 10 Pence (3rd portrait; small type)
On 30th September 1992 a reduced size version of the 10 pence coin was introduced into circulation and the older and larger version of the coin was withdrawn from circulation on 30th June 1993.
This 10 pence measured at 24.5mm, 4mm less than its predecessor.
Whilst the reverse design by Christopher Ironside, a lion passant guardian royally crowned, remained the same, the lettering changed from ‘New Pence’ to ‘Ten Pence.’
Raphael Maklouf’s portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II features on the obverse of the coin.
2008 – Present: 10p Royal Arms
In April 2008, Mathew Dent’s competition winning design was adopted on the 10p coin.
The 10p is designed to depict the top left quarter of the Royal Shield of Arms, showing the lions passant from the Royal Banner of England.
On the obverse, HM Queen Elizabeth II’s 4th portrait, by Ian Rank-Broadley is featured.
This 10p was issued consecutively from 2008 to 2017 but HM Queen Elizabeth II’s 5th portrait by Jody Clark, only features on coins issued after 2015.
5p
1968-1981: Five New Pence
In April 1968, 5p coins were issued as a replacement for shillings in preparation for decimalisation in 1971.
These were released into circulation at the same time as the very first 10p coins.
The reverse, by Christopher Ironside, shows The Badge of Scotland and a thistle royally crowned.
The obverse features the second crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Arnold Machin.
1990-1998: Five Pence- Reduced Size
In 1987 the Government announced its intention to issue a smaller 5p coin and on 27th June 1990 the new 18.00mm 5p was introduced.
The reverse design remained the same as the previous years’, with a royally crowned Scottish thistle, designed by Christopher Ironside but the words ‘Five Pence’ were written instead of ‘New Pence’.
From 1990 to 1998 the obverse design shows Raphael Maklouf’s portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and from 1998 to 2008 the obverse design shows Ian Rank-Broadley’s portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
2008 – Present: Royal Arms
A new design for the 5p was introduced in 2008 as part of the re-design of UK coinage using Matthew Dent’s Royal Shield design.
The 5p coin depicts the centre of the Royal shield, showing the meeting point of the four quarters.
The obverse from 2008 to 2015 features the 4th portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley and from 2015 to present features the 5th portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark.
2p
1971-1981: Badge of the Prince of Wales – New Pence
On 15 February 1971, the United Kingdom adopted a new decimal currency system and the 2p was introduced into general circulation.
The reverse incorporates the wording ‘NEW’ so to avoid confusion between the old and new coinage and features the badge of the Prince of Wales, designed by Christopher Ironside.
The obverse features Arnold Machin’s portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II; her second crowned portrait to appear on a coin.
1985-1992: Badge of the Prince of Wales – Two Pence
In 1982, the reverse inscription on the 2p coin was changed from ‘NEW PENCE’ to ‘TWO PENCE’.
The reverse of the coin features the badge of the Prince of Wales with his motto ‘Ich Dien’ (I serve), designed by Christopher Ironside.
From 1982 the obverse shows the third portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II, by Raphael Maklouf. This changed in 1998 when it was replaced by Ian Rank-Broadley’s 4th portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Due to the increase in metal prices on world markets, in 1992 the composition of 2p coins was changed from bronze to copper-plated steel and as a result, they are magnetic.
2008 – Present: 2p Royal Arms
In 2008, the UK’s previous definitive coin designs were replaced by Matthew Dent’s winning competition entry which saw all the definitive coins form a complete image of the Royal Shield of Arms when pieced together.
The 2p coin design completes the upper-right section of the Royal Shield and features the denomination in the top segment.
From 2008 the obverse design featured the 4th portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley. In 2015, the obverse design was changed to feature the 5th portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark.
1p
1971-1981 Portcullis and Chains: New Penny
On 15 February 1971, the United Kingdom adopted a new decimal currency system and the 1p was introduced into general circulation.
The reverse of the coin, designed by Christopher Ironside, features an adaptation of the Badge of King Henry VII and his successors; a portcullis with chains royally crowned.
To separate this coin from the previous coinage, the wording ‘NEW’ was incorporated.
The obverse shows the 2nd portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II, by Arnold Machin.
1982- 2008: Portcullis and Chains: One Penny
The reverse inscription on the 1p coin was changed from ‘NEW PENNY’ to ‘ONE PENNY’ in 1982.
The reverse of the coin continued to feature Christopher Ironside’s portcullis with chains design.
From 1982 the obverse shows the third portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II, by Raphael Maklouf. This changed in 1998 when it was replaced by Ian Rank-Broadley’s 4th portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Due to the increase in metal prices on world markets, in 1992 the composition of 1p coins was changed from bronze to copper-plated steel and as a result, they are magnetic.
2008 – Present: 1p Royal Arms
Matthew Dent’s new design for the 1p was introduced in 2008 to create the Royal Shield of Arms using the UK’s definitive coins.
The 1p coin depicts the left segment of the Royal shield with the denomination in the far-left.
From 2008 the obverse features the 4th portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley. From 2015 the obverse features the 5th portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark.
½ Penny
1971-1981: St Edward’s Crown: New Penny
This Half Penny coin was introduced in February 1971, to coincide with decimalisation, and was worth 0.5 of a penny.
Continued production of the coin was necessary due to the fact that the old sixpence (with a decimal face value of 2.5p) remained in circulation until 1980.
The reverse of the coin was designed by Christopher Ironside, featuring St Edward’s Crown.
The obverse of the Half Penny remained the same throughout its short time in circulation. This featured the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin.
1982-1984: St Edward’s Crown: Half Penny
In 1982 Christopher Ironside’s reverse design of the Half Penny was updated, as the coin was no longer considered ‘New’.
The inscription at the top of the reverse design now read ‘Half Penny’.
The obverse design by Arnold Machin remained unchanged.
As Britain’s smallest decimal coin, both in size and in value, the Half Penny unfortunately found itself becoming Britain’s least favourite coin and was demonetised and withdrawn from circulation in 1984 after just 13 years in circulation.
Now that we’re more than 10 years on since the last update of the reverse of the UK’s definitive coins, perhaps we could be due for a re-design…
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
And next time you check your change, make sure you spare a thought for the definitive coins in your pocket and the vital role they play in Britain’s numismatic history.
Have you joined the Definitive 50p Collecting Challenge?
The race is on to find and collect the definitive 50ps in your change in time for the 50th anniversary of the 50p!