Why 2011 was the best year for UK coin collecting
Coin collecting in the UK has seen many notable years, but 2011 stands out as a pinnacle, offering a diverse array of commemorative coins that captivated both seasoned collectors and newcomers. For many, it marked the start of their collecting journey, here’s why…
The 2011 Olympic 50p Series
Let’s start with what is perhaps one of the most talked about coin series of all time – the 2011 Olympic 50ps. In anticipation of the 2012 Olympics being held in London, The Royal Mint released a series of 29 unique 50p coins in 2011, each depicting a different Olympic or Paralympic sport. All 29 coins entered circulation, and quickly became a national sensation.
These coins were minted in much lower quantities than the standard 50ps you can find in your change, and it became somewhat of a national treasure hunt to try and find them all. It’s estimated that as many as 75% of them have now been removed from circulation by collectors!
The rarest of them all, with a mintage of just 1,125,500, is the Olympic Football 50ps, closely followed by the Wrestling, Judo, Triathlon and Tennis coins – each with a mintage of less than 1.5 million.
Most collectors would be thrilled to find any of the 29 Olympic coins in their change, however, there are some Olympic 50ps out there that are even rarer…
Check out our blog to find out more >>
WWF 50p
Apart from the Olympic 50ps, the 2011 WWF 50p was the only other commemorative 50p to enter circulation in 2011.
Issued to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the World Wildlife Fund, this 50p coin featured 50 intricate icons representing various endangered species and environmental themes. Its unique design and limited mintage of just 3,400,000 made it extremely popular with both collectors and animal lovers.
Mary Rose £2 and King James Bible £2
After the 50p, the £2 has been the favoured denomination amongst collectors, with over 37 different commemorative and definitive designs currently in circulation to be collected. In 2011, we were treated to two new commemorative £2 coins, both of which entered circulation with extremely low mintages.
King James Bible £2
The 2011 King James Bible £2 was issued to mark 400 years since the first publication of the King James Bible -the English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England. Widely regarded as one of the most important books ever published in the English language, the King James Bible £2 features the first words from the book of John, as it’s being printed in the Bible, with a reverse text in printing blocks on the left and the printed version on the right.
Just 975,000 of these coins entered circulation, making it the 10th rarest £2 coin in circulation!
Mary Rose £2
Issued later in 2011 was the Mary Rose £2, commemorating 500 years since the Mary Rose ship was launched in 1511. The reverse design features a depiction of Henry VIII’s flagship sailing right, along with the inscription THE MARY ROSE in Tudor style lettering.
The Mary Rose £2 has a circulating mintage of 1,040,000, making it the 11th rarest £2 design and ‘Less Common’ on our Scarcity Index.
Round £1 coins
It wasn’t just 50p and £2 coins that made 2011 such a notable year for collecting, as we also saw 2 commemorative round £1 coins issued. As part of the Capital Cities series which kicked off in 2010 with the London City and Belfast City £1 coins, the Edinburgh City and Cardiff City £1s followed in 2011.
Not only were the Capital Cities £1 coins the penultimate round pound series (followed only by the Floral Emblems series in 2013 and 2014), but these two coins specifically became the rarest round pound coins in relation to mintage figures! The Edinburgh City £1 has a staggeringly low mintage of 935,000 and the Cardiff City £1 just 1,615,000.
Although round pound coins were withdrawn from circulation in 2017, it was reported in 2020 that almost 170 million round £1 coins didn’t make it back to the Royal Mint. So whilst they’re no longer legal tender, they can technically still be found in your change!
And if you have a 2011 Edinburgh City £1 in your collection, it could fetch up to £9.99 on the secondary market – that’s almost 10 times its face value!
For more information on £1 coins, check out our blog >>
Royal Milestones on £5 coins
2011 also saw the release of two £5 coins marking significant royal milestones and events.
The nation gathered to celebrate the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on 29th April 2011, and the Royal Wedding was marked with a UK £5 coin. The coin features the officially approved portraits of the couple and was only the sixth time in history that a double portrait had appeared on British coinage. Designer, Mark Richards FRBS, was chosen in an invitation only process and described his depiction of the couple as ‘a feeling that pervades all the photographs I have seen of the couple together’.
Prince Philip celebrated his 90th birthday in 2011, and the milestone was commemorated on the 90th Birthday of Prince Philip £5 coin. The coin features a specially commissioned portrait of Philip, also by Mark Richards FRBS.
£5 coins do not enter circulation and therefore do not have mintages, however just 18,730 of these coins were struck in Brilliant Uncirculated presentation packs, making it one of the rarest UK £5 coins minted!
After taking a closer look at the incredible coins that were issued in 2011, it’s not hard to see why it was such a big year for UK coin collecting. Not only did the coins issued celebrate some of the most significant events and milestones in recent years, but they also had some of the lowest mintages, making them incredibly sought after by collectors.
New to collecting?
If you’re new to 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
Sign up today at: www.changechecker.org/app