Uncategorised
‘The Father of Science Fiction’, H. G. Wells, celebrated on NEW UK £2 coin…
In the late 1800s, Herbert George Wells created a new breed of novel, pioneering the genre that would later be defined as science fiction.
His creative and forward-thinking novels provide a window to the future and have become famous all over the world, with his audience spanning across generations.
In the year marking the 75th anniversary of his death, a brand new £2 coin has been issued, featuring a design which pays a fitting tribute to his famous novels, Time Machine, The Invisible Man, and War of the Worlds.
2021 UK H. G. Wells £2
Chris Costello’s design of this brand new coin takes inspiration from these world-famous novels, with a depiction of the Invisible Man and a Martian encircled by clock numerals.
Issued initially as part of the 2021 Annual Coin Set, this is the first time collectors will have the chance to secure the individual coin in Brilliant Uncirculated quality.
To add this coin to your collection for JUST £8.99 (+p&p), simply click here >>
Have you ever seen a four-legged tripod?
Arguably one of the most controversial and talked about coin designs of the year, the BRAND NEW H. G. Wells £2 pays tribute to the Father of Science-Fiction’s best known works and includes a design featuring the Invisible Man as well as a four-legged ‘tripod’.
This unusual design hit the headlines this year when eagle-eyed collectors picked up on the additional leg featured on the Martian from Well’s famed War of the Worlds when the coin was issued in the 2021 Annual Coin Set.
The coin hit the headlines once more this year for another reason, after another supposed ‘error’ was spotted on the version issued as part of the 2021 Annual Coin Set. Continue reading our blog to find out more…
H.G. Wells £2 – Blank ‘Error’
This £2 coin was issued as part of the 2021 UK Commemorative Coin set and it marks the 75th anniversary of the death of science fiction novelist, H. G. Wells.
With the clue in the name, this bi-metallic coin is made up of a combination of a silver coloured cupro-nickel disc and an outer yellow nickel-brass ring.
In the case of this H.G. Wells £2 coin however, it appears that the blank used has a thicker yellow ring, much wider than what we’d see on normal £2 coins.
When striking £2 coins, the first step is to punch a hole through a blank planchet to create the outer section. The inner core is taken from a different metal, sized to fit inside the outer ring.
There have already been estimations that if this coin was to be sold at auction, it could fetch over £1,000! We’re going to be eagerly awaiting confirmation from The Royal Mint whether this error is genuine or not. Nonetheless, it certainly makes for interesting collecting!
The Father of Science Fiction
After the publication of his first novel, The Time Machine, in 1895, H. G. Wells became an overnight sensation. He began to write a series of science fiction novels that would define him as a truly original writer.
The War of the Worlds (1898) and The Invisible Man (1897) joined The Time Machine as H. G. Wells most celebrated and well-known novels .
Wells was described by his contemporaries as undeviating and fearless in his efforts for social equality, world peace, and what he considered to be the future good of humanity.
In the 75th anniversary of his death, H. G. Wells‘ remarkable life and works have been commemorated on this brand new UK £2, acting as a lasting tribute to this world-famous author.
Will you be securing this brand new UK £2 coin to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!
Add the 2021 UK H. G. Wells £2 to your collection today!
You can secure the brand new 2021 UK H. G. Wells £2 to your collection today for JUST £8.99 (+p&p) by clicking here >>
Your coin has been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality and comes protectively encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging with that all-important hologram to guarantee its superior quality.
Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ celebrated on official UK £5 coins!
“When I used to read fairy-tales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one!”
Alice, from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
We feel like we’re in the middle of a fairy-tale too, Alice, as in 2021 The Royal issued two £5 coins which left us feeling curiouser and curiouser!
Lewis Carroll’s tales of a girl’s discovery of a wacky world of impossibilities have become arguably some of the best known stories in the world.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was first published in 1865 and was so popular that its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass followed closely in 1871.
With their fantastical tales and riddles, Carroll’s stories became some of the most popular works of English-language fiction, with their popularity spanning across generations.
In 2021, to celebrate over 150 years of madness, curiosity, and dreams, The Royal Mint issued two BRAND NEW £5 coins, featuring Sir John Tenniel’s original illustrations from Carroll’s original tales.
2021 UK Through the Looking-Glass £5
The second coin to be issued in the collection features an image of Alice, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and eagle-eyed collectors and literature fans alike may also spot the umbrella that the twins bustle around with in their first meeting with Alice.
This £5 coin celebrates the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking-Glass, with Ffion Gwillim’s design once again taking inspiration from the original illustrations.
2021 UK Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland £5
The first coin to be issued by The Royal Mint features John Tenniel’s original illustrations from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – the first book in the series.
Alice and one of the most mischievous characters from the book, the Cheshire Cat, can be seen on the reverse design of this coin, by Ffion Gwillim, with the title of the world-famous story to the right.
Excitingly for collectors, this was the VERY FIRST TIME that this timeless tale has been commemorated on a UK coin, which has left literature fans and collectors grinning like the Cheshire Cat himself.
This £5 coin is available to order in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for JUST £10.99 (+p&p) in Official Change Checker packaging. To secure yours simply click here >>
Both of your coins have been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality and come protectively encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging with that all-important hologram to guarantee its superior quality.
Secure both of these coins for your collection here >>
Character themed coins are some of the most popular issues of recent years, so i’m sure fans of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and coin collectors alike are sure to be quick to add this coin to their collections!
Here are some of our favourite character themed £5 coins released in recent years…
2021 UK Mr. Men and Little Miss £5 Series
For 50 years, the Mr. Men and Little Misses have been delighting children and adults alike for generations with their charming, cheeky and, clever antics.
But earlier in 2021, we also saw them delighting the coin collecting world as well, as The Royal Mint revealed a new £5 coin series celebrating the inhabitants of Dillydale.
These £5 coin designs, by Adam Hargreaves, son of author Roger Hargreaves, feature images of Mr. Happy, Mr. Strong and Little Miss Giggles, and Little Miss Sunshine. It was the first time the characters featured on UK coinage and they’ve already proved incredibly popular with collectors!
You can find out more about the series here >>
2021 UK Peter Rabbit £5
The Tale of Peter Rabbit and other Beatrix Potter stories span across generations, with each and every one of us having fond childhood memories of these wonderful characters.
Inspired by the Beatrix Potter’s classics that have enchanted readers of all generations for more than 100 years, in 2021, The Royal Mint issued a new £5 coin.
The reverse design by Ffion Gwillim perfectly captures a heart-warming scene from the original, much-loved Beatrix Potter stories.
Since 2016, Peter Rabbit has encouraged a whole new generation to start collecting – featuring on not just one, but FIVE 50p coins in the Beatrix Potter series. And now the tale continues as Potter’s most famous character is celebrated on a UK £5 coin.
To find out more about this popular issue, head to our blog >>
With an incredibly popular theme, that spends across multiple generations, these brand new £5 coins are proving to be a real hit with collectors! Will you be securing them for your collection? Comment below!
Secure the brand new 2021 UK Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland £5 for your collection!
To secure the 2021 UK Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland £5 for JUST £10.99 (+p&p) for your collection, simply click here >>
Your coin has been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality and comes protectively encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging with that all-important hologram to guarantee its superior quality.
Portraits of our Queen – the changing face of Britain’s coinage
This year marks Her Majesty’s 95th birthday year. Queen Elizabeth II is Britain’s longest reigning monarch, with an incredible 68 years on the throne.
The first Queen Elizabeth II coins were struck in 1953 and since then five different effigies have adorned our coins.
We asked you to vote for your favourite and portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the results are in…
1953 – 1967: Mary Gillick
The first coins of Queen Elizabeth’s reign bore Mary Gillick’s portrait of the young Queen, engraved especially for the new coins.
Her uncrowned portrait of the Queen is still used on the Maundy Money distributed each year by Her Majesty.
1968 – 1984: Arnold Machin RA
With the upcoming decimalisation, it was decided to refresh the Queen’s portrait with Arnold Machin’s new sculpture of the Queen. Commissioned in 1964, it first appeared in 1968 on the new 5p and 10p coins. A version of the design with tiara was also introduced on stamps in 1967 and remains to this day.
1985 – 1997: Raphael Maklouf
In creating his new effigy of Her Majesty, Raphael Maklouf aimed “to create a symbol, regal and ageless”.
His “couped” portrait depicts Queen Elizabeth II wearing the royal diadem favoured by her on the way to and from the State Opening of Parliament.
1998 – 2015: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
In 1997, a new portrait of Her Majesty was designed by Ian Rank-Broadley. Created to fill the full circle of the coin, its larger size was a deliberate response to the smaller 5p and 10p coins in circulation.
A noticeably more mature portrayal of Her Majesty, Rank-Broadley aimed to show the Queen with “poise and bearing”.
2015 – Present: Jody Clark
The new “heads” side of the coin was designed by Jody Clark who at 33 was the youngest person to design a monarch’s profile on the currency.
It was the first time her portrait had been modified in 17 years and has remained on our UK coinage ever since.
This was arguably the first UK coin to introduce elements of personality with a hint of a smile. Clark is the first Royal Mint employee in over 100 years to design a UK definitive coin portrait
As Queen Elizabeth II is now one of the top five longest-reigning monarchs in the world, it’s only fitting that five of her portraits appear on our UK coinage.
Your favourite portrait will be revealed next week, so stay tune to find out if your vote won!
Receive new UK coins without the hassle of placing orders on the day of release!
Join the Change Checker UK CERTIFIED BU Subscription Service and receive new UK coins sent to your door without the hassle of placing orders on the day of release!
Don’t miss your chance to get ahead of the crowd and be one of the very first collectors to receive the latest UK new issue coins as soon as possible after their release.