50p Coins
2017…what a year!
It has been an incredibly busy year for change checkers; during 2017 we’ve seen many fantastic new coin releases, the withdrawal of a coin in circulation since 1983 and also the introduction of a brand new banknote. Not forgetting the first ever Change Checker Scarcity Index and two Live Coin Swaps.
To help you relive all the highlights from the past 12 months we’ve put together a special Change Checker 2017 Review timeline. Enjoy!
When will the 2017 coins be released into circulation?
Change Checkers are often asking me, “when will the 2017 coin designs be released into general circulation?”
The UK 2017 Coin Designs
So, I have compiled a list below showing which coins are now available in your change and those that are still to be released.
The list will be updated as soon as we get confirmation from The Royal Mint that any new coins have entered circulation.
2017 circulation coin release dates
- WWI Aviation £2: A small amount released in September (Duxford Airshow), full release TBC
- Jane Austen £2: A small amount released in July (Winchester Cathedral), full release TBC
- Peter Rabbit 50p: September 2017
- Jeremy Fisher 50p: TBC
- Tom Kitten 50p: December 2017
- Benjamin Bunny 50p: December 2017
- Sir Isaac Newton 50p: June 2017
It’s worth noting that coins are only released into general circulation as and when they are required by the banks.
If you find yourself asking, “When are the 2017 coins released into circulation?”, this is the place to check!
If you find any of the 2017 coins in your change, especially those that are still to be released into circulation, we’d love to hear from you.
You can send us an email to [email protected] or visit our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram page.
2017 Quarter 3 Change Checker “Scarcity Index” Released
Following the launch of the Change Checker “Scarcity Index” earlier this year the Quarter 3 Index has now been published.
50p Scarcity Index
It’s of little surprise that Kew Gardens maintains its top spot as the UK’s most sought after circulation coin with a perfect score of 100.
Isaac Newton, which made it’s debut in our Q2 update, settles on a score of 15, dropping 8 points from 23. This is due to a higher than expected number of Change Checker’s having this coin in their collection.
The 2017 Peter Rabbit 50p joins the “Scarcity Index” after having been released into general circulation at the end of September. A score of 16 makes it the 2nd scarcest Beatrix Potter 50p.
It’s worth noting that we currently only have estimated mintages for these two coins; it’ll be interesting to see how they rank once official mintage figures are released.
£2 Scarcity Index
There’s not a lot of movement in our Quarter 3 £2 “Scarcity Index” update.
Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland regains its position at the top of the table after being briefly replaced by Commonwealth Games Scotland in Q2.
The overall value of the Commonwealth games series has dropped slightly, however these 4 coins are still some way clear of the London 2012 Handover in 5th place.
There are no new £2 coins to add to the Index as we’re still waiting for the Jane Austen and WWI Aviation coins to be released into general circulation. We expect this to happen in Q4.
How the Scarcity Index works
Generally collectors have had to rely upon mintage figures to identify the scarcest coins. But they only tell part of the story. Trying to find a good quality coin from 15 – 20 years ago, even for a higher mintage issue, is much more challenging than a more recent issue, as coins become damaged over time and are ultimately removed from circulation.
Additionally, some designs are more hoarded than others by people who might not normally collect coins – the recent poignant First World War £2 Coin series being an example. Finally, it can be up to a couple of years before the Royal Mint eventually confirms the actual mintage for an issue.
That’s why we have combined the mintage information with two other key pieces of information.
- How many of each design are listed as “collected” by Change Checkers, indicating the relative ease of finding a particular coin.
- The number of times a design has been requested as a swap over the previous 3 months, showing the current level of collector demand.
Importantly, as new coins are released and popularity rises and falls across different designs the Scarcity Index will be updated quarterly allowing Change Checkers to track the relative performance of the UK’s circulation coins.
How much are my coins worth?
The Scarcity Index does not necessarily equate to value but it is certainly an effective indicator. For example, the Kew Gardens 50p coin commands a premium of up to 160 times face value on eBay.
What about £1 Coins?
The £1 Scarcity Index has already been published for the Round £1 coins and, because they are no longer being issued, this is now set in stone.