£5 Coins
The FIRST EVER British Red Cross £5 has JUST been released!
To honour the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the British Red Cross, The Royal Mint has issued a brand new £5 coin.
2020 UK British Red Cross £5
Currently supported by more than 18,000 domestic volunteers, the humanitarian mission of the British Red Cross exemplifies human kindness in times of great crisis, not just in the UK, but the world over.
Henry Gray’s bespoke design of this coin features a scarlet red cross at the heart of the coin, with the inscription ‘The Power of Kindness’ which echoes the organisation’s principles of selflessness, compassion and goodwill.
This coin also features an edge inscription that bears the motto of the British Red Cross, ‘PER HUMANITATEM AD PACEM’ which translates to ‘THROUGH HUMANITY TO PEACE’.
This coin is available in a number of specifications, including Brilliant Uncirculated quality, for just £14.99 (+p&p).
Inspiring Hope for a Kinder World
The British Red Cross is part of the world’s largest humanitarian network – the International Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement.
The history of the Red Cross dates back to 1870 where a petition was raised by Colonel Loyd-Lindsay, to provide aid and relief to both warring armies during the Franco-Prussian War, and in other wars and campaigns during the 19th century.
From hiring a wheelchair or dealing with loneliness, to adjusting to life in a new country, the British Red Cross help anyone, anywhere in the UK and around the world, to get the support they need if crisis strikes.
Around the world, whenever a humanitarian crisis occurs, the Red Cross or Red Crescent is always one of the first organisations on the scene thanks to kind volunteers.
The message of kindness is echoed in the inscription of this brand new 2020 UK British Red Cross £5, but it isn’t the only UK coin issued to celebrate humanitarian and charitable efforts…
WWF 50p
The Worldwide Fund for Nature was formed in 1961 in Switzerland and the world’s leading independent conservation organisation.
WWF’s work is mostly focused on saving endangered species and conserving the world’s most precious natural places.
In 2011, to celebrate its 50th anniversary, The Royal Mint issued this 50p coin. It features 50 different icons to represent the variety of work which the organisation is involved with.
It entered circulation with a mintage of 3,400,000.
Florence Nightingale £2
Named after the Italian city in which she was born in 1820, Florence Nightingale is famous for her work in the military hospitals during the Crimean War where she tended to wounded soldiers.
In 1860 she laid the foundation of professional nursing with the establishment of her nursing school at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. Her book Notes on Nursing proved to be influential in changing the way hospitals were run and the role of nurses within them.
This coin was issued in 2010 to mark both the centenary of the death of Florence Nightingale and the 150th anniversary of the publication of her Notes on Nursing, celebrated in 2009.
It has a circulating mintage of 6,175,000.
2016 ‘Lest We Forget’ Poppy Coin
In 2016, as a tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, the 2016 ‘Lest We Forget’ Proof £5 Poppy Coin was issued in Jersey in support of The Royal British Legion.
Inspired by the falling poppies at the Festival of Remembrance, the reverse features 11 masterfully engraved poppies struck to a proof finish.
Individual poppies have been selectively picked out in red ink and the words Lest We Forget can be seen in the background in gold ink.
It has an edition limit of just 4,950!
NHS 50p
Although the NHS isn’t a charity, or a donation funded service, it was founded in 1948 with the principle aim of providing a health service that would be available to all, based on a person’s clinical need, rather than their ability to pay.
It was the first ever health service to provide free health care and this year celebrates its 72nd birthday.
This coin was issued in 1998 to celebrate its 50th anniversary and has a circulating mintage of 5,001,000.
We’re so excited by this brand new £5 coin and we’re sure collectors will be racing to add this to their collections!
What other charitable, humanitarian or environment organisations would you like to see celebrated on a UK coin? Let us know below!
Secure the BRAND NEW 2020 UK British Red Cross £5 for JUST £14.99 (+p&p)
*A small percentage of the net wholesale price from the sale of this commemorative coin will be paid by The Royal Mint to Britcross Limited, a subsidiary of the British Red Cross Society, which makes an annual donation to the charity.*
New 2020 £5 coin releases – what to expect from this year’s coins!
Here at Change Checker we’ve been keeping an eye on the latest Royal Proclamations and excitingly for collectors there’s not just one, but FOUR brand new £5 coins on the horizon!
I’m sure you’ll be just as excited as I am to hear which £5 coin themes have been announced, as there really are some fantastic coins due to be released in 2020!
British Red Cross £5
The Royal Proclamation issued on 22nd May 2020, confirms that a British Red Cross £5 coin will be issued this year.
We can assume this coin will be issued in celebration of the British Red Cross’ 150th birthday, as it’s establishment date ‘1870’ is said to feature as in inscription on the coin.
Whilst the actual design remains top secret, The Royal Proclamation hints the coin will feature “a cross set against a background of the British Isles and a series of lines symbolising the globe.”
The official motto of the British Red Cross, “The Power of Kindness” will also feature.
If you’d like to find out more, you can fill in our sign-up form below to stay up-to-date with all the latest news about this release.
The End of the Second World War £5
Earlier this year we saw the release of the incredibly popular Victory in Europe Day £2 coin but it looks like 75th anniversary celebrations will be continuing with the release of a brand new End of Second World War £5 coin.
The coin is said to feature the words ‘War‘ and ‘Peace‘ accompanied by the inscription ‘The End of the Second World War.’
If the popularity of the 2020 Victory in Europe £2 is anything to go by, we can expect this £5 to be a real hit with collectors.
If you’d like to find out more, you can fill in our sign-up form below to stay up-to-date with all the latest news about this release.
Remembrance £5
Every year, to commemorate Remembrance Day and the end of the First World War, The Royal Mint issues a brand new £5 coin. As of the Royal Proclamation on 24th June, it has been confirmed that a new 2020 Remembrance Day £5 coin will be issued later this year.
Although the final design hasn’t been revealed yet, the reverse is said to feature the silhouette of a First World War soldier formed by poppies accompanied by the inscription, “Lest We Forget 11 November 2020”.
These coins prove popular every year, so if you’d like to find out more, you can fill in our sign-up form below to stay up-to-date with all the latest news about this release.
2021 Lunar Year of the Ox
In 2020 (and for the first-time-ever!) The Royal Mint issued a Lunar Year of the Rat £5 coin as part of their Shēngxiào Collection in Brilliant Uncirculated Quality.
And it seems this series will be continuing as brand new 2021 Lunar Year of the Ox £5 will be issued in Brilliant Uncirculated quality.
Whilst the actual design remains a mystery, the coin is said to feature the inscription “2021 YEAR OF THE OX” and the Chinese lunar symbol for an Ox.
Last year’s coin proved incredibly popular with collectors, so if you don’t want to miss out on this new release, you can sign-up for updates below.
Never miss out on a UK £5 coin release!
This is your opportunity to get ahead of the crowd and secure every future new UK £5 issue at the initial release price of just £10.99 (+p&p).
If you want to own the latest £5 coin releases, delivered straight to your doorstep, without any of the hassle of ordering the coin yourself Click here!
Four brand new £5 coins issued to celebrate The Tower of London!
Built during the Norman Conquest in 1066, Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and fortress of the Tower of London has been used as a prison, jewel house, mint and even a menagerie.
It’s been home to kings and queens, thieves and traitors and lions and bears.
In tribute to the Tower, The Royal Mint issued a four coin series throughout 2019 celebrating the history of the Tower of London, one of Britain’s most iconic attractions. The series included coins depicting the following:
- The Legend of the Ravens
- The Yeoman Warders
- The Ceremony of the Keys
- The Crown Jewels
The collection continues in 2020 with four new £5 coins featuring original designs, each exploring a different element of the Tower of London’s history. The series will include coins depicting the following:
- The Infamous Prison
- The Royal Mint
- The Royal Menagerie
- The White Tower
2020 The Infamous Prison £5
The final coin in The Royal Mint’s 2020 Tower of London £5 series has JUST been released and it celebrates the gruesome history of the Tower’s Infamous Prison.
- Spanning the years of its use, The Tower of London housed a variety of famous prisoners, including three Queens of England; Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey!
Whilst some wealthy, influential inmates could be held in relative comfort, deprived only of their liberty, other prisoners, such as the three Queens of England were met with a more gruesome fate and were executed by beheading on the Tower Green!
In 2020, the Tower of London’s secure fortress and symbol of royal power has been celebrated on this brand new Infamous Prison £5 coin!
Heraldic artist Timothy Noad has designed this brand new Infamous Prison £5, which features the inscription ‘MY LIBERTIE DENIED’. These words have been taken from ‘graffiti’ in the Tower which has been attributed to Thomas Miagh, a prisoner at the Tower!
This coin also features the final jigsaw-style section of the Norman arched window which completes the motif of the 2020 Tower of London £5 coin series.
The Infamous Prison £5 is available in a number of specifications, including Brilliant Uncirculated quality for JUST £10.99! (+p&p). Click here to secure yours >>
Infamous Prisoners
From the late 15th century and during its peak period as a prison in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Tower housed some of Britain’s most notorious criminals, including Guy Fawkes, Anne Boleyn and even Elizabeth I before she became queen.
For those in a position of wealth, serving time at the Tower could be relatively comfortable, with some captive kings allowed to go out on hunting or shopping trips and even allowed to bring in their servants. However, for those less fortunate, the phrase “sent to the Tower” would conjure up gruesome images of torture and execution, such was its fearsome reputation.
Despite this reputation, only 7 people were executed at the Tower before the World Wars of the 20th century, where 12 men were then executed for espionage.
2020 Royal Mint £5
The third coin in The Royal Mint’s 2020 Tower of London £5 series celebrates the Tower’s minting history.
Wales has long been the location of The Royal Mint, but did you know that before this, it had two previous homes? It was kept secure at Tower Hill for a period of time but before that, it was housed within the walls of the Tower of London for 500 years!
The Royal Mint was first established by Edward I in the dedicated area which became known as Mint Street.
In 2020, The Royal Mint’s historic ties to the Tower of London has been celebrated on this £5 coin!
Heraldic artist Timothy Noad has designed the Royal Mint £5, which also features the second jigsaw-style section of the Norman arched window which will be seen in full when all four 2020 Tower of London £5 coins are placed together.
The Royal Mint £5 is available in a number of specifications, including Brilliant Uncirculated quality for JUST £10.99! (+p&p). Click here to secure yours >>
Royal Mint
From 1272 until 1810, the Tower of London was home to The Royal Mint. Coins of the realm were produced in a dedicated area in the outer ward known as ‘Mint Street’. This dangerous task involved working with scorching furnaces, deadly chemicals and poisonous gases and many Mint workers suffered injuries including loss of fingers and eyes from the process.
In the 1600s, coins were no longer made by hand, but instead a screw-operated press was introduced. However, risk still befell the Mint workers, as they faced severe punishments should they be caught tampering with or forging coins.
In 1810, the Mint moved from the Tower to a new site at Tower Hill and eventually on to its present location in Wales to allow for expansion.
2020 Royal Menagerie £5
The second coin in The Royal Mint’s 2020 Tower of London series celebrates the Royal Menagerie.
There was once a time when monkeys, elephants and even polar bears roamed the Tower of London, in an area of the castle called The Royal Menagerie.
Heraldic artist Timothy Noad has designed this Royal Menagerie £5 with some of the castle’s old inhabitants – lions! This coin also features the second jigsaw-style section of the Norman arched window which will be seen in full when all four 2020 Tower of London £5 coins are placed together.
The Royal Menagerie £5 is available in a number of specifications, including Brilliant Uncirculated quality for JUST £10.99! (+p&p)
The Royal Menagerie
From the 1200s to 1835, the Tower of London housed a menagerie of exotic wild animals, never before seen in London, including Elephants, Lions, and Polar Bears.
The Royal Menagerie began as a result of medieval monarchs exchanging rare and strange animals as gifts (Historic Royal Palaces). In 1235, Henry III was presented with three leopards by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, inspiring him to open a zoo at the Tower.
Although many of the animals had brand new houses and dedicated keepers, they did not survive in the cramped conditions.
Therefore, Edward I (1239-1307) created a permanent new home for the Menagerie, known as the Lion Tower, named after the beasts kept there. During this time, visitors to the Tower would have first crossed a drawbridge to the Lion Tower, experiencing the terrifying sounds and smells of the animals.
Today’s world-famous London Zoo in Regent’s Park was founded by the original 150 animals moving from the Tower Menagerie.
The animals of the menagerie are commemorated by 13 wire sculptures around the Tower, by artist Kendra Haste.
2020 White Tower £5
The first £5 coin to be released in the 2020 Tower of London series celebrates the White Tower.
Designed by heraldic artist, Timothy Noad, the reverse of the coin depicts the model of the White Tower, which sits on top of the mace that the Chief Yeoman Warder carries.
In a nod to the previous collection, when all four coins are placed together, a full image of a Norman arched window can be seen, framing the design of each coin.
The White Tower £5 is available in Gold Proof, Silver Proof and Brilliant Uncirculated quality and I’m sure collectors will be eager to add this representation of our royal history to their collection.
Click here to secure your coin in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for just £10.99 (+p&p)
The White Tower
Built 1078-1097 under William the Conqueror’s rule, the White Tower is the oldest part of the Tower of London and is the most famous castle keep in the world.
Built to awe, subdue and terrify Londoners, the White Tower’s ramparts, which are 90ft high, would have cast dark shadows over the wooden buildings of medieval London.
In 1674, the skeletons of two children were discovered in the White Tower, during the demolition of a staircase leading to the chapel of St. John. The bones have, for years, been speculated as the remains of the Princes in the Tower, Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York. Richard III is the name most associated with the mystery of the two little princes. It is believed that he had them killed as their right to the throne was stronger than his… Whilst this mystery is still yet to be solved, one thing’s for definite, this Tower really is a centre-piece of British History.
Now, the White Tower showcases the awe-inspiring historic and world-class Royal Armouries collections, including the royal armours of Henry VIII, Charles I and James II.
Now that the 2020 Tower of London £5 has concluded, which design is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
Secure your 2020 Infamous Prison £5 Today!
