General info
Always ‘Pemember’ the facts about rare £2 coins
Every keen collector knows that it is worthwhile paying close attention to the small details of your coins – it’s the only way you can ever hope to spot an error. However, it’s also important to know when you have a genuine rarity. There are a few stories which crop up more often than others, and hopefully this post will help dispel some of the myths about the £2 coins you can find in your change.
2005 ‘Pemember, Pemember’ Gunpowder Plot £2
The edge inscription of the Gunpowder Plot £2 appears to be spelt incorrectly
The 2005 Gunpowder Plot £2 commemorates the 400th anniversary of Guy Fawkes’ failed assassination attempt on King James I, but the coin is more familiar to collectors for having a spelling mistake in the edge inscription. The timeless quote “Remember, remember the fifth of November” has been found with various combinations of Pemember, Pemembep, Novemebep and so on. The common factor here is the ‘R’ which appears as a ‘P’.
Sadly for collectors this is apparently not a striking error. The explanation from the Royal Mint is that the down-stroke of the R coincides with the milling around the edge, and as the coin has worn over time, the letter has become less defined. This categorical statement from the Mint means that any mark-up in price for a supposed ‘error’ is completely unjustified, and although it makes the coin more interesting, it is not the mistake which it is often perceived to be.
2007 Abolition of Slavery £2
There is a misconception that there were two types of the Abolition of Slavery £2 coin struck for circulation. It is true that two versions of the coins exist – one has a textured finish whereas the other has a smooth finish and features the artist, David Gentleman’s initials (circled). The key difference is that only the textured version was struck for circulation, and if you find one of the smoother types in your change, you have actually found a coin which has been taken out of a presentation pack. This makes it considerably rarer than the circulating version, so it is worth keeping rather than spending!
1997 Maklouf ‘Queen with a Necklace’ £2
The Maklouf ‘Necklace’ £2 was only issued in 1997
The ‘Queen with a Necklace’ £2 has an enduring legacy in the collecting world. The very first bi-metallic £2 coins were issued in 1997, just prior to the Queen’s portrait change in 1998. This meant that the older portrait by Raphael Maklouf was only used for one year: 1997. His version featured Queen Elizabeth II wearing a necklace, which is how the nickname was derived.
When the portrait change was announced, the new £2 coins were snapped up by collectors believing them to be a future rarity. As it turned out, a mintage of nearly 14 million means the ‘Queen with a Necklace’ £2 is not one of the rarest coins in circulation. Nevertheless, with only one year of issue, it still holds an undeniable interest for collectors.
It’s the little details like these that make collecting so interesting – and hopefully we’ve shed a bit more light on some of the most popular myths. Do you have any of these coins in your collection?
Own the UK 2007 Royal Mint Brilliant Uncirculated Pack
This Brilliant Uncirculated collection features nine coins which were released in 2007, including the Abolition of Slavery £2 coin.
Each coin in the pack is struck to the Royal Mint’s Brilliant Uncirculated quality, ensuring they are in superior condition compared to the coins you find in your change
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The £2 coin that never was…
A £2 coin is a familiar sight to us – the gold coloured outer ring with the silver-coloured inner section is instantly recognisable in our loose change. That bi-metallic style was first issued for general circulation in 1997.
But did you know that the very first version was actually struck in 1994?
Not many people know it exists, but it is highly sought after by collectors.
The reverse design of the trial piece features a three-masted sailing ship – thought to be the Mayflower
The reason this coin has remained largely unknown is that it was only issued as a trial piece, and was never legal tender. Trial pieces are used by the Royal Mint to test the minting process of a new coin, and to help the automatic vending industry re-calibrate their machines in preparation.
Other than the handful given as samples for testing, this trial £2 coin was only ever issued in a presentation pack (pictured) and was billed as “The United Kingdom’s first bi-colour coin”.
The packs contained examples of the outer and inner blanks and a nickel-brass ring to demonstrate the stages of production involved with this innovative new style.
The £2 trial pieces were only made available to the general public in presentation packs
The trialled reverse design features a three-masted sailing ship. Although the ship is not named, it is likely to be the Mayflower, which set sail from Plymouth to America to establish the first permanent New-England colony. The outer ring bears the inscription Royal Mint Trial with the date, 1994.
So, how rare are these 1994 trial £2 coins?
There were just over 4,500 packs issued which makes it an incredibly rare example of a bi-metallic £2 coin.
“…more than 100 times rarer than the
rarest £2 coin in circulation.”
To put that into perspective, the £2 coin with the lowest mintage currently in circulation is the 2002 Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland design. It has a mintage of 485,500. This means the 1994 trial piece is more than 100 times rarer than the rarest £2 coin in circulation.
They are not easy to get hold of, though. If you have one, you are in a very select group of collectors. These packs often sell for well into three figures on auction websites such as ebay. Not a bad return for a £2 coin!
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
£5 Coins – My top 5 designs
The UK £5 coin is legal tender, but you won’t ever find one in your change. They were first issued in 1990 and are usually reserved for commemorating Royal occasions. But many others also commemorate significant British anniversaries, and they are a favourite among collectors because of their interesting and powerful designs. I’ve picked out my top five here.
The Millennium £5 with Millennium Dome mintmark
In the build up to the New Year’s Eve in 1999 these coins were widely given as a souvenir of the historic moment we shared when the clock ticked over into the new millennium. Jeffrey Matthews captured this perfectly with his clock hands passing through Greenwich, positioned at midnight. A limited number of these £5 coins were struck at the Millennium Dome and bear a small Dome mintmark (circled). You can count yourself lucky if you’ve got one of these rarer and more valuable versions!
Trafalgar £5 featuring HMS Victory
One of the greatest landmarks in British history, the Battle of Trafalgar was fought on 21st October 1805. The Royal Mint marked the bicentenary with two £5 coins. The first of these designs by Clive Duncan, shows Nelson’s flagship Victory leading the fleet into battle. HMS Victory is in service to this day as the flagship of the Commander-In-Chief, moored in Portsmouth dockyard.
Entente Cordiale £5
The Entente Cordiale was a series of agreements between Brtiain and France which ended nearly a millennium of intermittent conflict between the two countries. To mark the centenary in 2004 the Royal Mint released this commemorative £5 coin. The reverse design by David Gentleman features an unusual and striking combined image of Britannia and her French counterpart, Marianne, to symbolise the bond between Britain and France.
Restoration of the Monarchy £5
2010 Restoration of the Monarchy £5
In 1649, following the English Civil War and the subsequent execution of Charles I, the British monarchy was abolished and the kingdom became a republic with a new government presiding – the ‘Protectorate’ – led by Oliver Cromwell. This £5 coin issued in 2010 marks the 350th anniversary of the restoration of the monarchy under Charles II in 1660. The reverse design features a simplified version of Charles’ crown with the inclusion of oak leaves. Amidst the oak leaves the coin also features a rose and thistles representing England and Scotland respectively.
The Official Olympic £5
This is the Official Olympic £5 coin issued for London 2012, and aside from being a piece of Olympic memorabilia, what sets it apart from other £5 coins is that it was designed by a member of the public. The design was chosen as part of the Royal Mint’s nationwide competition open to art and design students in higher education. Saiman Miah’s creative idea features the iconic buildings of the London skyline and the River Thames within a central circle. The outer ring features pictograms in the style of a clock face, representing various sports at the London 2012 Games.
How many have you got in your collection?
Available in the Change Checker Shop
The £5 is the UK’s flagship coin, and we now have a limited number of £5 coins available in the Change Checker Shop
Click here to browse our full range.