Posts by Change Checker
The UK Coins that tell the story of Britain’s Warfare History
With 2024 marking 79 years since VE Day and of course, the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we’re taking a look back at some of the UK coins that tell the story of Britain’s warfare history.
2024 D-Day 50p
This year marks 80 years since the day that turned the tide of the Second World War – D-Day. To honour this poignant anniversary, the 2024 UK D-Day 50p was issued.
On 6th June 1944, 156,000 Allied troops arrived in Normandy by land, sea and air to launch their assault on Nazi-occupied France. Codenamed Operation Neptune but commonly referred to as D-Day, it was the largest seaborne invasion in history.
The reverse design, created by renowned sculptor David Lawrence in collaboration with Imperial War Museums, depicts brave Allied troops risking their lives on that fateful day. In the foreground, soldiers disembark a landing craft onto the beaches whilst planes fly overhead approaching by air.
The landings took place at five assault beaches along a 50 mile stretch of the Normandy coast, they were given the codenames Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword – all of which are inscribed along the bottom of the design.
2020 Victory in Europe £2
In 2020, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, The Royal Mint issued the Victory in Europe £2.
It features a woman holding a newspaper aloft in a crowd of celebrating people, set against a backdrop of the word VICTORY. Also inscribed on the coin’s reverse design are the years 1945-2020 and the words ‘VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY’. The edge inscription reads ‘JUST TRIUMPH AND PROUD SORROW’.
The coin, designed by Dominque Evans, was originally issued as part of the 2020 Annual Coin set, but was individually released later that year to coincide with the anniversary.
2019 D-Day £2
The Royal Mint issued a £2 coin in 2019, commemorating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day – the largest seaborne invasion in history. The invasion took place on the 6th June 1944 and began the liberation of German occupied France and laid the foundations for the Allied Victory.
Initially issued as part of the 2019 Annual Coin Set, the D-Day £2 was favoured among collectors for its innovative design by Stephen Taylor.
The reverse design features arrows pointing across the English Channel to Normandy; each arrow has one of the five code-names for the beaches where Allied Troops landed: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.
2015 Battle of Britain 50p
The Battle of Britain was an intense air battle fought mainly throughout the summer of 1940 between Germany and Britain. To commemorate 75 years since the great battle, The Royal Mint issued this 50p in 2015.
Designed by sculptor Gary Breeze, this coin quickly gained interest from collectors due to the three different obverses when it was initially minted. Find out more about that here >>
This coin was re-issued in 2019 as part of the 50th Anniversary of the 50p celebrations in the Military History 50p Collection.
2005 St. Paul’s Cathedral £2
In 2005, The Royal Mint issued a £2 coin to commemorate 60 years since the end of the Second World War.
Interestingly, the reverse design depicts St. Paul’s Cathedral. This is because the cathedral was one of only a few structures which survived the Blitz to become a great symbol of hope to a war-torn nation.
The edge inscription reads ‘IN VICTORY: MAGNAMITY, IN PEACE: GOODWILL’ which is part of the famous maxim that prefaces Churchill’s history of the Second World War.
This coin has a staggeringly high mintage of 10,191,000, meaning it ranks as ‘Common’ on the Change Checker Scarcity Index.
1995 Dove £2
This old-style £2 was issued in 1995 to mark 50 years since the end of the Second World War. The reverse design, by John Mills, features a dove as a symbol of peace since the end of the war. The edge inscription reads ‘1945 IN PEACE GOODWILL 1995’, highlighting fifty years since the truce.
The Dove £2 was one of only seven commemorative £2 coins to be issued in the older specifications before the change in 1997.
1994 D-Day 50p
In 1994, a UK 50p was issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings – the final 50p issued in the older 50p specification.
With a mintage of 6,705,520 it’s the second rarest of the pre-1997 50p coins, and despite the larger 50p specification being withdrawn from circulation in 1998, they do sometimes still pop up in our change – as proven in our latest 50p coin hunt!
This coin was also re-issed in 2019 as part of the 50th Anniversary of the 50p celebrations, but interestingly, the 1994 D-Day 50p was voted Change Checkers’ ‘Favourite Ever’ 50p!
It’s fair to say the UK has a great history of celebrating important warfare anniversaries on our coinage, and they certainly are popular with our collectors!
Which of these coins is your favourite?
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Myths and Legends: BRAND NEW 2024 Dated Robin Hood £5
Famed for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, the tale of Robin Hood is perhaps one of the best-known tales from English Folklore. So, it’s only fitting that this hero features on the latest coin in the UK’s Myths & Legends £5 series.
And what makes this new addition even more exciting, is that it’ll be the first 2024 coin in the Myths and Legends series!
Following on from the previous coins in The Royal Mint’s Myths and Legends £5 series, the 2024 UK Robin Hood £5 coin is the latest legendary figure to appear on a UK £5 coin.
A Legendary Design
The reverse design features Robin Hood himself, poised amongst the trees in Sherwood Forest, at-the-ready with a bow and arrow in hand. The design, by Jody Clark, captures the detail of every branch, leaf and every feather in each arrow.
You may recognise Jody Clark’s work from other UK coinage, such as the 2014 Britannia, and most importantly, the fifth and final coin portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Who is Robin Hood?
Whispered from the woods since the 13th century, is the tale of Robin Hood – an outlaw who lived in Sherwood Forest, in Yorkshire, alongside his Merry Men. The ‘Merry Men’ helped Hood to steal from the rich and help give back to the poor.
Not to forget his faithful companion, Maid Marian, who most of us will know as Robin Hood’s partner, who helps aid Robin and Little John in giving back to the poor.
The tale of Robin Hood has been adapted for ballads, plays, books, and films alike – he even has a statue made after him, which you can go and visit in Nottingham. So, a new UK coin really does feel fitting!
Credit: Nottingham311, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Previous Coins
The 2024 Robin Hood £5 coin follows on from the past three coins in the series, which focused on Arthurian Legends. However, with this exciting new release, comes an even more exciting new chapter – the tales of Robin Hood.
The last coin in the series was of shapeshifter and witch, Morgan Le Fay, and just before her, was the mythical wizard, Merlin. Each part of the Arthurian Legends part of the Myths and Legends series, following the initial first coin, King Arthur.
What do you think of BRAND NEW UK 2024 Robin Hood £5? And, what Myths and Legends would you like to see appear next on a UK coin?
The 2024 Robin Hood £5 Coin
Secure the Robin Hood £5 Coin, as part of the Myths and Legends £5 series.
Arriving to you in superior, Brilliant Uncirculated quality and encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging – preserving the quality for years to come…
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Bond is Back! The Six Decades of 007 Coin Series…
Following the 60th Anniversary since Bond first appeared on the silver screen, The Royal Mint have launched a seven-coin series celebrating each decade of James Bond! The series kicked off with the very first decade of Bond, celebrating the 60s, but the latest coin to be released takes us back to the 2010s.
Bond of the 10s
The sixth and penultimate coin in the series celebrates James Bond films of the 2010s leading into the 2020s, including the most recent film in the franchise – No Time to Die. This era saw the release of three incredible new 007 films, Daniel Craig breaking the record for the longest-serving Bond actor, and the first time in the franchise that 007 is thought to have died.
The reverse design of the Bond Films of the 10s £5, created by award-winning agency Bison Bison, features the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander plane from the iconic Austria chase scene in Spectre. The plane is set against the titles of Bond films of the 2010s and 2020s repeating in the background, all encircled by the ever-present gun barrel design.
Secure your Bond Films of the 2010s £5 >>
Bond of the 00s
The fifth coin in the series celebrates the Bond films of the 2000s and marks Daniel Craig’s debut as Bond in Casino Royale in 2006. Another two 007 films hit the big screens in the 2000s, including Die Another Day and Quantum of Solace. Can you spot these titles written on the new Bond £5?
But the star of the show on this action-packed coin is the iconic hovercraft from the opening sequence in Die Another Day.
Credit: Diecast
Secure your Bond Films of the 00s £5 >>
Bond of the 90s
The fourth coin in the series bounces back to 1990s and marks Pierce Brosnan’s acting debut as Bond in GoldenEye in 1995. Another two 007 films hit the big screens in the 90s, including Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough. Can you spot these titles written on the new Bond £5?
But the star of the show on this action-packed coin is none other than Q Branch’s speedboat from the iconic River Thames scene in The World Is Not Enough.
Secure your Bond films of the 90s £5 >>
Bond of the 80s
The third coin in the series transports us back to 1980, and honours two beloved Bond actors. Sir Roger Moore who continued to portray James Bond from the 70s through to 1985, and Timothy Dalton who put a more serious spin on the role and played the iconic agent from 1987 to 1989.
Depicted on the third coin is the MI6 agent in the Acrostar ‘Bede’ Jet that appeared in the opening sequence for Moore’s sixth 007 film, Octopussy. Repeating over in the background is each of the 80s Bond film titles, behind the BD-J5 Acrostar.
The 80s brought us some of the most well-known Bond movies, with the likes of For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy and Licence to Kill. This decade was a real defining era for James Bond, I have to say, I think it represents Bond perfectly.
Secure your Bond Films of the 80s £5 >>
Bond of the 70s
This second coin in the series depicts the iconic car-submarine, Wet Nellie from hit 70s film, The Spy Who Loved Me. And, like the first coin in the series, features and repeats each 1970s bond film titles behind the much-loved vehicle.
Throughout the 70s we saw a whole new era of Bond, with Sean Connery passing the iconic role on to Roger Moore, who is the oldest actor to have played Bond, making his debut as the secret agent at 45. Moore has undoubtably been in some of the most well-known bond movies, like Live and Let Die and Diamonds are Forever.
Secure the Bond of the 70s £5 for your collection in Brilliant Uncirculated quality here >>
Bond of the 60s
Sean Connery captivated our hearts as he became the first James Bond in 1962’s, Dr. No. To this day, he’s ranked by entertainment publication, Collider, as the most popular Bond, and to no surprise. Connery’s distinct, Scottish accent helped define some of Bond’s most memorable quotes.
The first coin in the series depicts Sean Connery in the trusty ‘autogyro’ (a one-person aircraft) named ‘Little Nellie’ from the much-loved, You Only Live Twice. With a subtle nod to Connery’s work as the special agent, each of his 007 film titles appear behind James Bond in Little Nellie.
The Beginning of Bond
70 years ago writer Ian Fleming first brought James Bond into the world, in the April of 1953 with his first 007 novel – Casino Royale. Paving the way for eleven more Bond novels to be made, and inspiring a whole franchise based on the famous spy himself.
Just under 10 years later, 007 took to the screen and the first James Bond movie was made, bringing the impressive agent ‘to life’ in 1962. And, it hasn’t stopped there, with the most recent Bond movie, No Time to Die, only coming out 2 years ago!
Credit: ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Bildarchiv / Fotograf: Comet Photo AG (Zürich), via Wikimedia Commons
A History of Bond Coins
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Bond on our UK coins!
First appearing in 2018 on the ‘B’ for Bond coin as part of the A-Z of Great Britain 10p collection, 220,000 Bond 10ps were first issued in 2018, followed by 84,000 in 2019! This 10p has proved extremely popular with collectors and has been at the top of Change Checker Scarcity Index in recent rankings.
And, how could we forget that in 2020 we had the three-part 007 £5 coin series, in which each of the coins placed together, spell out ‘007’, alongside some of Bond’s most memorable quotes.
Collector’s Galore
Continue to grow your Six Decades of Bond collection today for just £13.99 (+£2.99 p&p) with the Bond of the 2010s £5 coin.
