General info
The Great 2015 Coin Search
It’s nearly December, and one question keeps cropping up here at Change Checker – where are all the 2015 commemorative coins?
The new designs for 2016 have been revealed and yet we have not seen a single one of this year’s commemorative coins in circulation.
What’s happened to them? Where have they gone? Will they ever get released – and as they only have a month to run, will there be some rare low mintages?
For us, and I’m sure other Change Checkers, this is an incredibly frustrating position. All of the anniversaries that are being commemorated have long past, and the opportunity for new collectors to get excited about the year’s coins has faded away.
All we want to do is find these coins!
In fact, we’d like to see The Royal Mint put the commemorative coins in circulation before the anniversary dates.
Do you agree? Have your say in our poll below…
[polldaddy poll=9190545]
First look: New Royal Mint coin designs for 2016
The Royal Mint have unveiled the new themes and designs for all 2016 circulation coins, and Change Checkers can look forward to some very significant British anniversaries being commemorated.
The Great Fire of London will feature on a new £2 coin next year
£2 – 350th Anniversary of the Great Fire of London
Undoubtedly one of the worst disasters in Britain’s history, the Great Fire of London started on 2nd September 1666 and lasted for nearly five days. It had a devastating effect on the lives of Londoners, and it took about 50 years to rebuild the ruined city. It was a tragic event but was key in shaping the city which we know today.
The new Battle of Hastings 50p features King Harold with an arrow in his eye – taken from the Bayeux tapestry
50p – 950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings
On 14th October 1066, King Harold II was defeated by the Norman forces of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. It was a pivotal moment in medieval history. From here, William marched onto London which submitted to his rule, and he was crowned as the first Norman King, bringing significant cultural transformation to England.
Three coins will be issued in 2016 to commemorate William Shakespeare
3 x £2 – 400th Anniversary of the Death of William Shakespeare
The most influential literary figure in British history, William Shakespeare is someone who needs little introduction. His works are an important part of Britain’s cultural heritage and next year he will be honoured with a series of three £2 coins which pay tribute to each of his major genres: Tragedies, Comedies and Histories. The reverse designs take inspiration from his most famous plays, including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth.
The 2016 UK WWI £2 Coin
£2 – 2016 First World War Centenary – The British Army
The third issue in the Royal Mint’s five year First World War Centenary series will commemorate the role of the Army. Friends and neighbours across Britain enlisted together and the camaraderie of these so-called ‘Pals Batallions’ are honoured on a new £2 coin.
Next year’s pound coin will be the very last round version before the new 12-sided shape in 2017
£1 – The Last ‘Round Pound’
The Royal Mint have also confirmed that next year will be the final ’round pound’, calling time on a coin which was first issued more than thirty years ago. The reverse design will feature four animals representing each of the four constituent UK countries.
Meanwhile, the Queen’s 90th Birthday milestone has been reserved for the new £5 coin, and you can read more about this in our previous blog.
The announcement of next year’s coins is always an exciting moment for Change Checkers, particularly when the anniversaries are as significant as these.
And now we can now start looking forward to finding these new designs in our change!
All new coins coming soon to www.changechecker.org…
7 NEW UK Coins to be issued
7 legal tender coins have been authorised for 2016 by Royal Proclamation, including designs for Shakespeare and the Battle of Hastings.
Whilst images of the final designs are still strictly under wraps, the Proclamations give us insight into what we can expect to see:
2016 £2: The Great Fire of London 350th Anniversary
The Great Fire of London in 1666 was one of the worst disasters in British history and left a huge scar on the capital which will never be forgotten. Next year’s £2 coin to mark the 350th anniversary will feature: A view across the River Thames of the City of London in flames with boats fleeing the burning city.
2016 £2: First World War Centenary – The British Army
The third issue in the Royal Mint’s five-year commemorative series to mark commemorate the centenary of the First World War, this latest coin pays tribute to the role of the British Army. The design features: A stylised silhouette of the heads of three soldiers and references the English cubism movement prevalent around the time of the First World War.
2016 £2: 400th Anniversary of William Shakespeare’s Death (x 3 coins)
Britain’s greatest literary figure will be honoured next year for the first time on our circulating coins with three different designs set to pay tribute to the breadth of Shakespeare’s work. One design with a dagger through a crown will represent histories, the second with a cap, bells and jester’s stick will represent comedies and the final design with a skull next to a rose will represent tragedies.
2016 £1: A new design to represent the UK’s four constituent countries
With a brand new 12-sided £1 coin scheduled for 2017, this could very well be the last circular £1 coin. The reverse design of next year’s coin will feature a depiction of a lion, unicorn, stag and a dragon surrounding a crown in the centre.
2016 50p: 950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings
One of the most significant battles in British military history, the Battle of Hastings took place in October 1066 and next year the Royal Mint will commemorate its 950th anniversary on a new 50p coin. The reverse design depicts a scene from the Bayeux tapestry with King Harold and an arrow in his eye.
In addition to these £2, £1 and 50p coins, which we can expect to enter general circulation during 2016, the Royal Mint is also producing a commemorative £5 coin to mark the Queen’s 90th Birthday on 21 April 2016.
Own this year’s uncirculated definitive pair
Today you have the opportunity to add the very latest UK coins to your collection with our Definitive 2015 £1 and £2 Pair.
Preserved in special tamper-proof capsules, they are the first to bear the new effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark.
Click here for more details