Coin News
Brand new 50p released as Stephen Hawking goes down in numismatic history!
Less than a year since his death, The Royal Mint have released a brand new Stephen Hawking 50p coin, honouring his works as one of the most influential physicists of the modern age.
Hawking’s ‘A Brief History of Time’ enlightened millions to the workings of the universe and revolutionised the way we understand time and space. As an ambassador for science, his significant contributions to humanity have left a lasting presence on all of us.
The exciting release of this coin makes Hawking one of only three people to be immortalised on a coin so soon after his passing, putting him alongside Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother in the history of famous figures commemorated on a UK coin within a year of their passing.
1965 Churchill Crown and 2002 Queen Mother Memorial £5 – both issued within a year of their death.
To commemorate Britain’s most famous physicist, a man who brought science to life in a way that the everyday person could connect with, this brand new 50p has been issued in Brilliant Uncirculated, Silver Proof and Gold Proof editions.
The striking design by Edwina Ellis features a stylised black hole to reflect his breakthrough work, as well as an inscription of his name and most notable ‘Bekenstein-Hawking formula’ describing the thermodynamic entropy of a black hole.
Edwina said of the design, “Stephen Hawking made difficult subjects accessible, engaging and relatable and this is what I wanted to portray in my design, which is inspired by a lecture he gave in Chile in 2008. Hawking, at his playful best, invites the audience to contemplate peering into a black hole before diving in. I wanted to fit a big black hole on the tiny coin and wish he was still here chortling at the thought. I am sure he would have thought of ways to harness the shiny table of the coin too. You feel he cared about all of us understanding.”
Excitingly, this is actually the first coin issued as part of a four coin series issued by The Royal Mint to celebrate ‘innovators in science’ and so it seems only fitting that the very first coin should feature Stephen Hawking.
We’re yet to find out who will feature on the next three coins, but who do you think should be chosen to be featured alongside Stephen Hawking?
Secure the BRAND NEW Stephen Hawking 50p for just £4.50 (+p&p)
This coin won’t be entering circulation, but you can add it to your collection in superior collector’s quality.
2.1 Million A-Z 10p coins re-issued for 2019
There’s been some exciting news for 10p coin hunters today, as The Royal Mint has announced that 2.1 million new 2019 dated A-Z of Great Britain 10p coins will be released into circulation from today.
Since the initial surprise release of 2.6 million quintessentially British themed 10p coins back in March 2018, the British public have been head over heels for these wonderful little coins and yet, despite another 2.6 million A-Z 10ps entering circulation last year, they still remain incredibly hard to come across in your everyday change.
In fact, a question I’m asked most days by Change Checkers is ‘Where are all the A-Z 10ps?’
We’ve even held our own Change Checker live events to help collectors kick start their collection, as the coins are proving so hard to find.
Whilst there are 5.2 million A-Z 10p coins in circulation, we can assume that there are 200,000 coins per design, which actually makes each individual coin rarer than the UK’s scarcest 50p, the Kew Gardens.
However, we have noticed more Change Checkers adding these coins to their collection, and based on this data we’ve been able to put together an A-Z 10p Scarcity Index to show you which coins are currently most sought-after.
Now that The Royal Mint will be releasing a further 2.1 million coins in to circulation, chances are that more collectors are likely to come across these coins
I for one am certainly incredibly excited about the chance to find these coins in my change and build up the whole collection from A-Z and there will of course be collectors looking to complete a set of both year dates.
Have you found any of the 2018 A-Z 10p coins, and will you be looking out for the new 2019 coins? Let us know in the comments below!
Reserve your 2019 A-Z 10p set!
Complete your A-Z 10p set with the 2019 Complete Certified Uncirculated coins.
Is there really no such thing as a Gruffalo®? Much anticipated 50p finally released!
An elusive British book character has finally made his way out of the forest and onto a UK 50p coin, making his debut appearance especially for collectors!
After months of anticipation, The Royal Mint has now released the brand new Gruffalo® 50p in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Julia Donaldson’s classic children’s Tale.
The Gruffalo has sold over 13.5 million copies worldwide and is adored by children and families across the globe, who I’m sure will now be delighted to see this character (terrible tusks and all) immortalised on a UK 50p coin for the very first time.
The reverse design by Magic Light Pictures beautifully captures the mysterious and unusual beast, described in Donaldson’s book as having ‘two large, curved horns at the top of his head’ and ‘an enormous, poisonous wart on the end of his wet nose.’
Since the release of the first Beatrix Potter 50p coins in 2016 – a collecting sensation, appealing to not just dedicated collectors, but the wider public and fans of the children’s stories too – classic book and film characters have been a real favourite theme for 50p coins.
All 13 Beatrix Potter 50ps, issued from 2016-2018
The release of The Snowman 50p last Christmas created a flurry of excitement as collectors and lovers of the story rushed to add this coin to their collection, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the latest fictional character to take to our UK coinage becomes the next must-have coin.
The Snowman BU 50p
The Gruffalo® 50p is available in Brilliant Uncirculated and Silver Proof quality, with the silver coin featuring colour printing to really bring the orange eyed monster to life. Just 25,000 colour printed silver coins are available and after the sell-out success of the silver Snowman 50p, collectors looking to secure this coin will want to act quick!
From publication of The Gruffalo in 1999 to the film adaptation, to the west-end theatre production and now to the 50p coin, the adoration for this endearing character amongst children and adults alike makes the 20th anniversary of the Gruffalo a wonderful occasion to celebrate.