Posts Tagged ‘New coins’
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 >>
Winnie the Pooh 50ps – could these be the most sought-after 50ps yet?
“It isn’t much good having anything exciting, if you can’t share it with somebody.” said Winnie the Pooh
In 2020, The Royal Mint announced a brand new 9-coin 50p collection celebrating the beloved Winnie the Pooh books!
The final coin in the collection was released in 2022, celebrating Britain’s best-loved bear and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood.
2022 UK Winnie the Pooh and Friends 50p
As the perfect way to round off the collection, this final coin in the series features a heart-warming design of Winnie and his friends – including Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger – together in the Hundred Acre Wood.
The nostalgic coin brings to life the classic illustrations by E.H. Shepard from the much-loved children’s novels – celebrating over 95 years of fun-filled adventures.
If you look closely, a buzzing bumblebee can even be seen flying across the coin as a unifying feature across each 50p in the series.
2022 UK Kanga and Roo 50p
The sweet, gentle, and kind-hearted Kanga joined the Winnie the Pooh 50p collection, accompanied by her adventurous son, Roo.
The nostalgic reverse design featuring these delightful characters brings to life the classic illustrations by E.H. Shepard from the much-loved children’s novels.
Kanga was based off Christopher Robin’s real-life stuffed animal and in A. A. Milne’s stories, E. H. Shepard illustrates her with brown fur all over. Although kangaroos traditionally have a ‘pouch’, A. A. Milne describes Kanga’s as a ‘pocket’, in which her son Roo is often safely tucked into.
Add the 2022 Kanga & Roo 50p to your collection >>
2022 UK Eeyore 50p
The clever, brilliant, and witty Eeyore also joined his friends in the Winnie the Pooh 50p collection, with his tail firmly attached!
Featuring a design taken from E. H. Shepard’s original illustrations, this 50p shows the loveable, old, grey stuffed donkey, just as we remember him from A. A. Milne’s books.
Although famous for his melancholic nature, Eeyore’s loyalty always wins the hearts of his friends from Hundred Acre Wood, especially when he loses his tail.
Add the 2022 Eeyore 50p to your collection >>
2021 Tigger, Owl, and Winnie the Pooh and Friends 50p coins
The next three coins in the series, issued in 2021, featured Owl, Tigger and the whole gang from Hundred Acre Wood.
On the design of the Tigger 50p, we see the bouncy character hopping around just as he does in E. H. Shepard’s original illustrations – on all four legs!
Sitting tall and proud on his 50p, Owl can be seen with quill and paper at the ready. Always on hand to share his advice (even when it may not be wanted!), Owl is the wisest inhabitant of Hundred Acre Wood.
We also saw all the main characters from A. A. Milne‘s classic tale feature on one 50p together. The 2021 Winnie the Pooh and Friends 50p proved a huge hit with coin collectors and fans of the books too!
2020 Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin, and Piglet 50p Coins
The first three coins in the series, issued in 2020, featured designs of Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin, and Piglet and were some of the most sought-after coins of the year!
First in the series we saw Winnie the Pooh himself, just as we remember him, with a reverse design by The Walt Disney Company which features an original illustration from the Winnie the Pooh storybooks by E.H. Shepard.
Following closely behind we see Pooh’s most-trusted companion and friend, Christopher Robin, who featured on the second 50p in the 2020 series! Concluding the 2020 series, the character with the biggest heart in all of Hundred Acre Wood, Piglet, made his UK 50p debut.
The Story Behind the Classic
Winnie the Pooh was a collection of short stories first published in 1926 by A.A. Milne, for his son, Christopher Robin.
Most of Christopher Robin’s real life toys were the inspiration for A.A. Milne’s characters, but most significantly his favourite teddy bear which Winnie the Pooh himself is based on!
Alongside Winnie the Pooh, the fictional Hundred-Acre-Wood is inhabited by:
- The timid but sometimes brave, Piglet
- The glum but loveable donkey, Eeyore
- The bouncy, one-of-a-king, Tigger
- The loving and gentle, Kanga and her baby Roo
- The terribly organised Rabbit,
- The wise, old, Owl, and
- The scary, honey-stealing Heffalumps!
The timeless and universal appeal of this silly old bear is unparalleled. He’s featured in 3 books, various film adaptations, and much much more.
Could these 50p coins become the most sought-after issues?
We’ve seen some incredible character 50ps in the past, which have been a world-wide hit with collectors.
In 2019, to mark the 20th Anniversary of Julia Donaldson’s much-loved children’s book The Gruffalo®, a new 50p was issued.
This coin was so popular that the silver-proof version completely SOLD OUT at the Royal Mint within 12 hours of its release, making it the fastest selling and most popular 50p ever. That’s a 50p sold every 2 seconds!
We’ve also seen the huge popularity of the Beatrix Potter 50ps, issued to celebrate the life and work of Beatrix Potter and the 150th Anniversary of her birth.
These coins were so popular amongst collectors, they reached heights that hadn’t been seen since the 2011 Olympic 50p series. Collectors of all ages were racing to add these coins to their collections and to gift them to friends and family.
Fill the gaps in your Winnie the Pooh Collection!
Shop our Winnie the Pooh 50p Collection to fill the gaps in your collection >>
©Disney. Based on the “Winnie the Pooh” works by A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard.
Agatha Christie £2 celebrates 100 years of mystery!
Agatha Christie’s first novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles was published in 1920 and it kick-started the nation’s love of her detective novels and murder mysteries.
In 2020, to mark 100 years since her first publication, The Royal Mint celebrates the world’s best-selling novelist with the 2020 UK Agatha Christie £2.
2020 UK Agatha Christie £2
David Lawrence’s design of this coin pays homage to Christie’s crime novels, with a piece of a jigsaw slotting into place and her signature at the bottom.
The coin also features the edge inscription ‘100 years of mystery 1920’-2020’ to mark this very special anniversary.
Issued initially as part of the 2020 Commemorative Coin Set, this £2 coin was later individually released in Brilliant Uncirculated quality.
Murder, Mystery, and Masterpieces
After the end of the First World War, Christie published her first novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles. This incredibly popular story introduced readers to one of Christie’s most famous characters – Belgian detective Hercule Poirot*.
Writing well into her later years, Christie wrote more than 70 detective novels as well as short fiction. Her books have been made into films, television, and radio programmes. In 1971, she was made a Dame of the British Empire for her outstanding contribution to Literature.
In 2020, she was celebrated once more with this £2 coin and became another UK author to be commemorated on UK coinage…
2016 Shakespeare £2 Series
William Shakespeare is the most influential literary figure in British history and his works are an important part of Britain’s cultural heritage.
In 2016, a series of three £2 coins were issued to mark the 400th anniversary since his death and to celebrate his greatest works.
Each coin’s design takes inspiration from some of Shakespeare’s greatest works, including Macbeth (pictured right), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (central) and his most-famous love tragedy (pictured left).
All three coins entered circulation but the Comedy £2 has the lowest circulating mintage – just 4,355,000!
2017 Jane Austen
In 2017, to celebrate the life and works of one of Britain’s best-loved authors, The Royal Mint issued this Jane Austen £2.
Jane Austen is one of the best-loved English novelists from the 19th century. Her novels were revolutionary and from her first novel, Sense and Sensibility, readers began a love affair with her fiction that has lasted two centuries.
Designed by Dominique Evans, a portrait of Jane Austen features on the reverse of this coin. It did not enter general circulation and was issued in collector quality only.
2019 Sherlock Holmes 50p
In 2019, to mark 160 years since the birth of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Royal Mint issued this 50p coin.
The prolific writer is best known for his incredibly popular detective stories featuring the fictional Sherlock Holmes™. It is said his works revolutionised the crime genre, and despite Doyle sharing an ambivalent relationship with his famous character, Holmes’ popularity resulted in Doyle becoming one of the best-paid authors of the time.
The reverse has been designed by Stephen Raw and features a silhouette of Sherlock smoking a pipe, surrounded by a few of his most-famous story titles.
It entered general circulation and has a mintage of 8,602,000.
2012 Charles Dickens £2
The Charles Dickens £2 coin was issued by The Royal Mint in 2012 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of one of Britain’s most famous and beloved writers.
His enchanting stories, vivid characters and depiction of Victorian life are widely acknowledged across the world by critics and scholars alike and his novels and short stories continue to be widely popular.
The design features Dickens’ recognisable profile crafted from the titles of his most famous works and is a favourite amongst collectors.
This coin was released into general circulation and has a mintage of 8,190,000.
2018 Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein £2
This £2 coin was issued by The Royal Mint to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s famous novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.
Whilst on holiday in Geneva Mary Shelley and her poet friends, including Lord Byron and future Husband Percy Shelley, decided to have a competition to see who could write the best horror story. Out of this Mary Shelley created Frankenstein, a story about a scientist’s scary act at playing God and creating life. It went on to become one of the best loved gothic novels.
The reverse of this gothic coin was designed by Thomas Doherty and features the words ‘Frankenstein’ in an electric gothic font. It features the edge inscription, Bicentenary of Mary Shelley’s The Modern Prometheus. It did not enter general circulation.
2016 Beatrix Potter Anniversary 50p
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter, the Royal Mint have released this 50p to celebrate Beatrix herself.
Designed by Emma Noble, the coin includes elements that celebrate Beatrix as the artist behind some of the best-loved characters in children’s literature along with the nostalgic font used for the inscription.
This coin entered general circulation and has a mintage of 6,900,000.
We love seeing Britain’s best-loved authors come to life on our UK coins, but which author coin is your favourite? Comment below!
Secure the Agatha Christie £2 in the 2020 Annual Set
This coin is no longer available individually, but you can still secure it as part of the 2020 Annual Coin Set >>