The Snowman returns! Second UK 50p to be released…

Last year’s incredibly popular Snowman 50p coin is set to be followed up by a brand new coin for 2019!

According to the Royal Proclamation, published on the 10th October, there will be a new coin to feature:

A figure of the Snowman and the boy from the book The Snowman by Raymond Briggs.

It’s expected the coin will be issued later this year with commemorative collector’s editions available in Brilliant Uncirculated, Silver and Gold being made available.

History of The Snowman coins

The UK’s first Snowman 50p was released in 2018 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Raymond Brigg’s much loved Christmas tale, The Snowman.

2018 The Snowman 50p

As the very first Christmas themed 50p to be released in the UK, this coin took the nation by storm and has become a firm favourite amongst collectors (myself included!).

But the 2018 Snowman 50p wasn’t actually the first coin to feature The Snowman… He’s also featured on a number 50p coins from the Isle of Man – now listed for as much £40 on eBay.

The Snowman 50p Coin - what we know so far...

The next 50p collecting craze?

Although all the details have not been released yet and the actual designs are still top secret, it seems likely that the second Snowman 50p coin will be as popular with the British public as Peter Rabbit and friends have proved over the last three years.

Stay up to date with all the latest Snowman news…

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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

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Brexit 50p to enter circulation!

*** UPDATE ***

Over the weekend the design for the brand new Brexit 50p was released!

Image from The Independent

The final design features the inscription ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’ and the historic date 31st January 2020 – the date the UK will officially leave the European Union.

It has also been confirmed the coin will be available as special commemorative Gold and Silver Proof editions, as well as in Brilliant Uncirculated quality, which be available from 31st January.

Chancellor Sajid Javid, who is Master of the Mint, was given the first batch of coins over the weekend to present one to Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week.

Excitingly, as part of the launch of the coin, The Royal Mint will open the doors of their South West Headquarters for 24 hours on 31st January to allow collectors to strike their own commemorative Brexit coins!

Sign up for Brexit 50p updates here:

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It has been reported that 3 million Brexit 50ps will enter circulation on the day the UK leaves the European Union – currently scheduled for 31st January 2020.

The coins are expected to detail the historic date underneath the inscription ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is supposedly set to be one of the first people to get their hands on one on the day of release as he holds a special cabinet meeting at a venue in North England.

We don’t yet know where the 3 million or so 50p coins will enter circulation in the UK – this is likely to depend on demand from banks and cash houses – but we’re certain collectors will be keeping a keen eye out for these 50ps to add this historic coin to their collection! 

It was revealed over the Christmas holidays that a new inscription will feature on the Brexit 50p coin to mark the revised date of the UK’s departure from the EU.

This update means that the previously planned inscription of ’31 October 2019’ will be substituted for ‘31 January 2020’.

Find out more about the Brexit 50p below:

Have you heard the news? It hit the headlines this morning that the Brexit 50p will enter circulation after the UK’s departure from the EU.

In October last year, Philip Hammond unveiled his plans for a Brexit 50p to mark the UK’s exit from the EU.

Whilst delays to Brexit meant the original 29th March 2019 dated coins did not go ahead, in August this year Chancellor Sajid Javid asked officials if it would be possible to produce Brexit 50p coins in time for Britain’s departure from the EU on the 31st October 2019.

And today it looks as though we have our answer, as The Treasury has confirmed that the coins have been given the go ahead and will be minted by Brexit day – despite the continued uncertainty of Britain leaving the EU by then.

So this begs the question, if Britain doesn’t leave the EU on the 31st October, could there potentially be millions of Brexit coins with the wrong date? It would certainly make for interesting collecting!

And the best news for collectors is that this coin will be entering circulation, although it is yet to be officially confirmed exactly how many or when we will start to see them in our change.

Rumour has it that 10 million Brexit 50ps could be produced, including Brilliant Uncirculated, Silver and Gold versions. This has not yet been confirmed by The Royal Mint, but has sparked great excitement in the collecting world.

As such a controversial issue, which has created much disruption across the UK and the EU since the referendum in June 2016, it is hoped that this new coin, which is expected to bear the phrase ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’, will promote positivity surrounding Brexit.

To stay up to date with all the latest Brexit 50p news, sign up using the form below:


 

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

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! (oh yes it is!)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as Guernsey release a brand new set of Christmas Pantomime 50p coins!

These fantastic new coins feature designs based on five beloved Pantomimes which are sure to take you to a whole new world as you experience the magic of the theatre brought to life on a 50p coin.

Complete BU Set

Whilst 4,000 of each design will be entering circulation, they will only be released in Guernsey and you can bet your bottom dollar that any lucky Guernsey Change Checkers coming across these coins will be sure to hold on to them.

Unfortunately we don’t all have a Fairy Godmother who can wave a magic wand and make these coins appear in our UK change (but wouldn’t that be nice!).

However, the complete set is now available to purchase in Brilliant Uncirculated quality here.

Authorised by the Guernsey Treasury and fully approved by Her Majesty the Queen, the set includes some of the most loved pantomime themes:

  • Aladdin
  • Cinderella
  • Snow White
  • Jack and the Beanstalk
  • Dick Whittington

Silver Proof Set

But that’s not all… As if by magic, these coins have been brought to life in vibrant colour for the Silver Proof Pantomime 50p coin set.

Each beautiful coin is struck from Solid Silver and features selective colour printing to capture the fun of the theatre.

Only 2,019 of the Guernsey Silver Christmas Pantomime 50p sets are available and we all know how quickly Silver 50p coins sell out – the Silver Gruffalo 50p sold out within the first day of launch and had an edition limit of 25,000!

This stunning set is now available to purchase here.

The first Guernsey Christmas coins

Did you know that Guernsey has never released a Christmas coin before? This is bound to make these Christmas Panto 50ps particularly special for coin collectors.

However it’s fair to say that Christmas themed coins make an envious addition to anyone’s collection, with the numerous festive 50ps from the Isle of Man proving to be incredibly popular.

One of the most-loved Christmas themes to feature on a coin has got to be the Snowman.

In 2003, the first coin to feature the Snowman was issued by the Isle of Man and had a tiny mintage of just 10,000. 

Although not many of these coins are available on the secondary market, if you did want to add one to your collection, you’d be looking at parting with a minimum of £200!

The hunt is on for the Isle of Man Wren £2 and other Manx Christmas coins!
The 2003 Snowman 50p from the Isle of Man is in high demand on the secondary market. Credit: eBay

The Snowman has since featured on a number of Isle of Man Christmas coins, and even made his first appearance on a UK coin last year.

Just 20,000 issued for circulation

With such a wonderful Christmas theme and the fact that just 4,000 of each Panto 50p will initially be released into circulation in Guernsey, these coins are sure to follow in the Snowman’s footprints and be incredibly sought-after.

But it’s not just the theme which makes these coins so special…

Mintage figures for Isle of Man 50ps have never exceeded 30,000, and as the new Guernsey coins have a combined mintage of just 20,000 I’m sure you’ll agree that they are bound to be hugely collectable!

Guernsey mintage figures are known for being much smaller than the UK, which is down to their much smaller population of just over 63,000.

Vote for your favourite!

Pantomime has a long theatrical history and is especially popular during the festive period. So now it’s time to get the show started and celebrate with the fantastic new Christmas Pantomime 50p set from Guernsey.

We’d love to hear which of these coins is your favourite, so let us know by voting in the poll below!


Secure your Brilliant Uncirculated Christmas Pantomime Set

Celebrate the Christmas season with five brand new Brilliant Uncirculated Pantomime 50ps from Guernsey.

Click here to order the set today