Coin Info
Why you won’t be finding any 2016 £1 Coins in your change
If you’re holding out for 2016 to own the final circulating £1 coin you’ll be waiting in vain…
The final batch of round £1 coins intended for circulation have just come off the production line at the Royal Mint. And the Royal Mint has confirmed that the only 2016 coins will be collector’s version of the £1 coin.
But what about the 2016 design?
Earlier this year the Royal Mint confirmed that 2016 will see the last ‘round pound’, calling time on a coin which was first issued more than thirty years ago.
The 2016 coin will be the 25th design to feature on the £1 coin since it was introduced in 1983 as a replacement for the less robust £1 note.
The Last Round £1 Coin will never enter general circulation.
The design, which features four animals representing each of the four constituent UK countries, will not be available in general circulation but is currently available in a brilliant uncirculated collector’s edition.
It is estimated that over 50 million £1 coins in circulation are fake and counterfeits are becoming a closer match, making it extremely difficult to spot the difference. The new 12-sided £1 will be made from 2 different metals and has been billed to become the most secure circulating coin in the world.
To find out more about the new 12-sided coin that will replace the round pound in March 2017 read our previous blog here.
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Britain’s last round pound
Own the Last ‘Round Pound’ in brilliant uncirculated condition
If you want to get your hands on the 2016 last ‘round pound’ they are available here protectively encapsulated in certified brilliant uncirculated condition
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…
Who needs the 2 pence piece?
A survey by Gocompare recently found that as many as 21% of Britons would like to scrap copper coins, leaving the 5p as the lowest circulating denomination.
Coppers are becoming unpopular
In fact, out of the 2,000 adults who participated in the survey, 68% claimed they prefer to empty their pockets of copper coins rather than carry them around or spend them.
And who can blame them?
To all intents and purposes, 1p and 2p coins are worthless because you can’t use them to buy anything.
Matt Sanders of Gocompare commented: “Our survey suggests that for many people, copper coins have had their day. In a world of higher prices, plastic cards and contactless payments, copper coins seem increasingly worthless and irrelevant.”
Other developed nations such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada have all taken steps to remove their minimum denominations, so why has Britain not yet followed suit?
Retaining the penny makes some sense because of the tendency for businesses to use a 99 pence pricing tactic. But why do we need a 2p coin? Would it be a problem if we were never to see it again?
Scrapping either the 1p or 2p would break up the Royal Arms Shield
The missing jigsaw piece
The answer is: probably not.
However, it would pose a problem for collectors.
The famous Royal Arms Shield jigsaw puzzle which has been a quirky design feature of British coins since 2008 uses the reverse design of every coin from the penny to the 50p – including the 2p.
Could this be the reason that the Royal Mint have been reluctant to scrap it?
What do you think should happen? Have your say in our poll below: