Posts by Change Checker
What’s your favourite coin story of the year?
This year has most definitely been a great year for coins and banknotes, so as we approach the end of 2016, here’s a look back at 8 of the most popular coin stories. We want to know your favourite coin story so vote in the poll below.
1. The Polymer £5 banknote creates a collecting frenzy
On September 13th the Bank of England launched its first ever plastic banknote and straight away there were stories of banknotes selling for eye-watering amounts.
2. Beatrix Potter starts a 50p Collecting Revolution
There is no doubt that the Beatrix Potter 50p’s have caused much excitement across the UK and we can see why they’re so popular. It’s the biggest story in 50p collecting since the London Olympics!
3. The 2015 Navy £2 becomes one of the rarest UK coins ever
The £2 coin that commemorates the Royal Navy’s efforts in World War One was revealed to be one of the rarest UK coins in circulation, kicking the 2002 Commonwealth Games England £2 out of its 3rd place position.
4. The UK prepares as the ‘Round Pound’ is about to disappear forever.
Earlier this year The Royal Mint confirmed that 2016 will see the last ‘round pound’, calling time on a coin which was first issued more than thirty years ago.
5. Britain’s most important coin celebrates its 200th anniversary
The Sovereign is a gold coin renowned for its impeccable quality and craftsmanship which set the standard for accuracy that defined a currency – and it’s now reached its 200th anniversary.
6. ‘Silver’ 2p found in charity collection tin turns out to be an extremely rare minting error
In June it was revealed that a ‘silver’ 2p thought to be a fake was nearly thrown away after it was discovered in a Poppy Appeal tin. But after Royal British Legion volunteers in Wiltshire took it to a bank, it was sent to The Royal Mint which confirmed it as an extremely sought-after minting error.
7. Germany releases a ‘see-through’ coin into circulation
Germany’s first ever 5-euro coin was released into circulation in April. A first in the history of coins, it was dubbed the ‘three material coin‘, and was also see-through!
8. The Royal Mint issued the Battle of Britain 50p without a denomination
The Brilliant Uncirculated 50p was issued early in 2015 and was quickly assumed to be an error coin. The coins, which were sold in presentation packs, had been struck without the denomination in either numbers or writing anywhere on the coin.
Let us know your favourite coin story or which one you want to hear more about in our poll below. We’ll write it up in full to bring you everything you need to know.
The poll has now closed. The results will be announced online on 24 December. Thank you.
Coin of the Year – the results!
The results are in and I can now reveal your top 3 coin designs of 2016!
3rd place – The Last ‘Round’ Pound Coin
2nd Place – The Peter Rabbit 50p
And the winner….
1st Place – The Great Fire of London £2 Coin
Aaron West receiving the Change Checker ‘Coin of the Year 2016’ award.
Thanks for all your votes! The Great Fire of London £2 was designed by Royal Mint engraver Aaron West and really captures the devastating moments that changed London forever.
Now it’s time to look forward to the new issues for 2017. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for Change Checkers!
Is there an even rarer version of the Navy £2 in circulation?
Change Checkers have been speculating whether there are two different design variations of the 2015 Navy £2 coin that was released into circulation a couple of months ago.
This coin has already caused a stir in the collecting world as we revealed it was one of the rarest £2 coins with just 650,000 struck for circulation.
The 2015 Navy £2 coin was released into circulation a couple of months ago.
The original Navy £2 design (above) shows the coin without any markings on the top right of the mast, but we’ve seen a few £2’s out there that look like they have a flying flag.
A number of people have been enquiring about whether there were two different designs of the Navy £2 coin struck for circulation.
As you can see from the two coins pictured above, the coin on the right looks like it has a flying flag on the mast whereas the first coin is free from any markings.
So are there two different designs?
No – The Royal Mint strike up to 5 billion coins a year and from time to time cracks in the die can cause pools of metal to form on the coin.
It just so happens that this bit of metal has caused the markings on these coins to look like a flying flag on the ship fueling speculation that two different variations were struck.
Well done to the eagle-eyed change checkers out there who spotted differences between the coins. It’s the little details like these that make collecting so interesting so remember to always check your change carefully.
Have you checked your Navy £2?
Let us know via Facebook, Twitter or leave us a comment below.