World coins
Gibraltar Celebrates Christmas with two BRAND NEW coins
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? Because a brand new Gibraltar 50p and £2 coin have just been released featuring none other than Father Christmas himself!
These very festive coins have been released by the Government of Gibraltar, making them particularly sought-after by collectors given the low mintage figures typical from the country!
You can secure this magical Christmas coin pair (the very best way to own these coins!) here for just £13.50 (+p&p).
Or, you can secure the single 50p to your collection for JUST £4.50 (+p&p) by clicking here.
Your brand new Gibraltar Christmas 50p & £2 Pair will come in Official Change Checker Packaging, ready to slot into your Change Checker Album!
With previous Gibraltar issues proving immensely popular with collectors, I expect these coins will be snapped up quickly by collectors (especially as we have just a small allocation for Change Checkers!)
A history of popular coins
Gibraltar has released some truly beautiful coins in recent years, and as their mintage figures are typically much lower than UK coins, they are often highly sought-after by collectors…
Coins from Crown dependencies, such as Gibraltar and overseas British territories can sometimes make an unexpected appearance in our change.
They are identical in size, shape and weight to UK denominations which means they often find their way into tills and vending machines undetected.
Whilst these coins aren’t technically legal tender in the UK, finding new and interesting designs is always a bonus!
So, whilst it may be tricky to find one in your change, Change Checker has listed our Top 10 Coins from Gibraltar that are worth trying to hunt down!
2019 Breast Cancer £2
Last year the Government of Gibraltar issued a new £2 coin in partnership with Breast Cancer Support Gibraltar.
However, only a limited number were released into circulation on the Isle of Gibraltar, making it one of the most popular coins of the year, but also one of the most difficult to source.
But not many collectors were aware of the secret this coin was hiding…
The Gibraltar Breast Cancer £2 features a special portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. It was originally drawn by Raphael Maklouf for the Gibraltar 90th Birthday £5 coin issue but has also been used on a small selection of Gibraltar coinage.
This portrait is currently not in use by any other country in the world, making any Gibraltar coin with this portrait on extremely collectable!
A limited number of coins were available at The Westminster Collection, and they sold out within hours! Collectors were quick to search on the secondary market to find them and some prices reached over £40!
Gibraltar Candytuft Flowers 50p
This 50p features the denomination surrounded by a crown of Gibraltar Candytuft flowers, known as ‘Iberis Gibraltarica’.
Iberis Gibraltarica is the national flower of Gibraltar and is the symbol of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve which covers 40% of the country’s land area. Gibraltar is the only place in Europe where it is found growing in the wild!
In 1988, JUST 30,000 of these 50ps were issued for circulation, making it 7 times rarer than the UK’s rarest 50p and particularly scarce and sought after amongst collectors. Another key feature which makes this coin so collectable is that it was issued in the pre-1997 specifications, meaning it’s significantly larger than the current 50ps we find in our change!
Rock of Gibraltar £1
This £1 coin was issued for the 1995 National Day and for the 50th Anniversary of the UN.
National Day is celebrated annually on September 10th and is the official national day of Gibraltar.
The reverse features the iconic Rock of Gibraltar with birds and sun rays above, and the obverse features the Raphael David Maklouf engraving of Queen Elizabeth II.
This £1 is in the older round pound specifications, meaning they won’t appear in your UK change as the round pound lost its legal tender status in the UK in 2016, after the introduction of the 12-sided £1. This means it’s even harder to get your hands on this coin!
Neanderthal Skull £1
This £1 coin from Gibraltar was issued to celebrate the discovery of a Neanderthal skull in a quarry near the Rock of Gibraltar in 1848.
The Neanderthals in Gibraltar were some of the very first to ever be found and this particular skull is one of the oldest specimens known.
Designed by Philip Nathan, the reverse features the Neanderthal skull and lettering, “Discovery of Neanderthal skull in Gibraltar 1848”. The obverse was designed by Raphael Maklouf and features the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth I.
Capture of Gibraltar 50p
This 50p was issued in Gibraltar in 2005 to commemorate the Capture of Gibraltar in 1704, during the war of the Spanish Succession.
As part of the Allied strategy, Sir George Rooke had been sent with an Anglo-Dutch force into the Mediterranean to attack the French in Toulon. However, when his objectives proved impracticable, Rooke decided to justify his command by attacking Gibraltar.
The coin features a design on the reverse of ancient ships at sea with the Rock of Gibraltar in the background, paying tribute to the Anglo-Dutch fleet that sailed into Gibraltar. The obverse features the third portrait of Her Majesty by Royal Mint engraver Raphael D. Maklouf.
So will Santa be visiting you this Christmas in the form of the Gibraltar 50p and £2 pair? Comment below!
Don’t miss your opportunity of owning this magical Christmas coin pair!
Due to the limited circulating mintages of these coins, we have just a small allocation for Change Checkers, so don’t miss the opportunity to secure yours this Christmas!
Secure the 2020 Gibraltar Christmas £2 and 50p pair today for JUST £13.50 (+p&p) by clicking here >>
Whilst Shepherds watched their flock by night… FIVE Guernsey Christmas Carol 50ps have been issued!
It’s time to dust off your stockings and light the fire because Christmas is officially round the corner!
And, there’s nothing like a carol service to get you in the Christmas spirit. So, to celebrate this very festive tradition, FIVE brand new coins have been authorised for release by Guernsey Treasury!
The Christmas Carol 50p Coin Collection
Each coin features a specially commissioned design of some of the most renowned Christmas carols including; Away in a Manger, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Little Town of Bethlehem, While Shepherds watched their flocks, and We Three Kings.
These coins have been authorised for release by Guernsey Treasury and fully approved by Her Majesty the Queen.
The Christmas Carol 50p BU Set
Available in Brilliant Uncirculated quality, all five coins are housed in a festive presentation pack and importantly, this is one of the only ways to own all five of these coins as a complete set!
Don’t miss out on adding these festive coins to your collection, or securing them as a gift for your loved ones, for JUST £30. Click here to find out more >>
The Christmas Carol 50p Silver Proof Set
Or, for those collectors looking for a little more Christmas sparkle, these coins are also available in stunning .925 Solid Silver.
What’s more, they feature stunning coloured illustrations by Jo Goodberry (you may remember she designed the immensely popular Pantomime 50ps last year) and have been struck to a pristine Proof finish.
These 50ps are only available as a set and if you don’t want to miss the chance to own them, you’ll need to act fast, as they have been issued with some incredibly low edition limits…
An extremely limited worldwide mintage of JUST 2,020 has been set for the incredible .925 Silver set.
The coins will arrive ready to display in a deluxe presentation case with a numbered certificate of authenticity.
Hark the Herald 50p Christmas Card
Struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality, the ‘Hark the Herald’ 50p from the Brand New Christmas Carol 50p collection has been presented in a beautiful Christmas card which has been left blank inside to write your own personalised message to someone special.
This specially commissioned design by Jo Goodberry features a silhouette of an angel with the title of the carol ‘Hark the Herold’ to the right of the coin. What’s more, the ‘Hark the Herold’ Christmas 50p is the only coin from the collection to be available individually within this stunning Christmas card.
The 50p has firmly established itself as the collector’s favourite, and as such demand for this BRAND NEW Christmas 50p is bound to be incredibly high, especially when you consider the popularity of last year’s Christmas Pantomime 50ps.
You can secure the Hark the Herald 50p Christmas card today for JUST £7.99 (+p&p) by clicking here >>
The Christmas Carol 50p BU Complete Cover
For the creme-de-la-creme, and by far the most limited way to own these coins, the Christmas Carol 50p BU Complete Cover has been issued.
Each coin has been struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated finish, and is one of just 750 that have been allocated for use in your cover. Almost certainly, this is the smallest edition presentation of the new BU 50p coins that you’re likely to see.
Paired alongside your coins is the complete set of elusive 1984 Official Royal Mail Christmas Carol Stamps. Featuring classic carols such as While Shepherds Watch and We Three Kings, these stamps are without a doubt the perfect pairing to your coins.
Each stamp has also been officially postmarked on the first day of Advent, 1st December 2020”.
Click here to secure one to your collection or to guarantee it as a gift for a loved one this Christmas >>
Sought-after Guernsey coins
Last year, Guernsey Treasury released their FIRST-EVER Christmas coins, the Pantomime 50p collection and these were incredibly popular with collectors both in Guernsey and the UK!
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, which makes their coinage incredibly sought-after!
But it’s fair to say that Christmas themed coins make a particularly envious addition to anyone’s collection, with the numerous festive 50ps from the Isle of Man proving to be incredibly popular.
Collectors have been known to pay over £20 for a festive 50p from the British Isles and Channel Islands, so we expect these brand new Christmas Carol 50ps to be incredibly sought-after!
We love these brand new coins and we’re sure collectors everywhere will too!
Which 2020 Christmas Carol 50p is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
Secure the 2020 Christmas Carol 50p BU Set for JUST £30!
Bring the magic of Christmas home this year, with the brand new Christmas Carol 50p BU Set.
Secure yours for £30 (+p&p) by clicking here >>
75th Anniversary of VE Day marked by FIVE world-renowned Mints
2020 marked the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, and the official end of the Second World War.
Following the Allies’ acceptance of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender on the 8th May 1945, the war in Europe had finally come to a close after a long five years of conflict.
Most UK collectors will be familiar with the United Kingdom 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day £2 coin issued earlier this year to commemorate the historic event.
However, Allied Nations across the globe have been commemorating 75 years since the end of the Second World War and this important anniversary has been marked with unique coin issues from some of the world’s most renowned Mints.
Coins issued by the Netherlands, Canada, France, and Belgium, in addition to the UK £2, have been brought together for the first time in the remarkable 75th Anniversary of VE Day Allied Nations Coin Pack.
75th Anniversary of VE Day Allied Nations Coin Pack
Featuring FIVE carefully chosen commemorative coins from world renowned Mints and including The Royal Mint’s 75th Anniversary of VE Day £2 coin as the centrepiece, this limited edition Commemorative Coin Pack has been released JUST for Change Checkers.
The coins included with this extraordinary set are:
United Kingdom £2
This brand new United Kingdom £2 coin by Royal Mint designer Dominique Evans features a woman holding a newspaper aloft in crowd of celebrating people, set against a backdrop of the word ‘VICTORY’. The edge inscription reads ‘JUST TRIUMPH AND PROUD SORROW’.
Canada $2
As a tribute to the fallen and a promise to never forget, Canada have issued a commemorative $2 coin marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. This coin re-creates the iconic Victory Nickel design on a brand new $2 coin.
Belgium 2.5 Euro
The Royal Mint of Belgium issued this 2.5 Euro coin designed by Luc Luycx to show Europe lit with fireworks in honor of this 75th anniversary. The reverse shows the newly liberated Brussels on 4th September 1944.
This coin is limited to a maximum circulation of 50,000 pieces worldwide.
Netherlands 5 Euro
Although part of the Netherlands had already been liberated in 1944, it wasn’t until the 5th May 1945 that the whole of the Netherlands was allowed to live in freedom. This 5 Euro is the official commemorative coin to mark such an important moment in history and has been designed by artist Marijke van Warmerdam.
Only 15,000 Silver-Plated pieces are available worldwide!
France 2 Euro
Renowned French army officer and statesman, Charles de Gaulle led the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II. This 2 Euro coin features two profiles of de Gaulle as both the revered army general during the war, and as President of France during his second term. A Lorraine cross also features on the design as the symbol of free France, chosen by General de Gaulle.
All of these incredible coins come presented in the Change Checker 75th Anniversary of VE Day Coin Pack. Which one is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
Secure the Limited Edition 75th Anniversary of VE Day Coin Pack to your Collection Today!
Due to the difficulty of sourcing these coins, we have only a limited number of these extraordinary packs available!
To ensure you don’t miss out on this special anniversary year, please secure your Change Checker 75th Anniversary of VE Day Allied Nations Coin Pack here >>