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…

A selection of 2011 50p coins
A selection of 2011 50p coins

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.

2011 Olympic 50p coins
Each 2011 Olympic 50p represented a different Olympic or Paralympic sport

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.

2011 Olympic Football 50p
The Olympic Football 50p is the rarest in the series, with a mintage of just 1,125,500.

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.

2011 WWF 50p

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.

2011 Edinburgh City and Cardiff City £1 coins
2011 Edinburgh City and Cardiff City £1 coins

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.

£1 coin mintage figure chart
£1 coin mintage figure chart

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

150 Years of Liberty London celebrated on a UK £5

For the first time ever, one of London’s most iconic department stores, Liberty, has been celebrated on a UK coin, and you won’t believe how stunning it looks.

Secure the 2025 UK 150 Years of Liberty £5 for your collection >>

150 Years of Liberty

2025 marks 150 years since British merchant Arthur Lasenby Liberty opened his first store, sourcing fabrics, ornaments and trinkets from around the world. Since then, Liberty has gained international acclaim for its unique and trendsetting pieces, and is famed for its directional design, cultural collaborations and inspiring curation.

Liberty London
Liberty London
Image Credit: Oast House Archive, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know? The Tudor style Liberty building was constructed from the timbers of two ancient battle ships – the HMS Impregnable and the HMS Hindustan.

A breath taking design

The reverse design on the 2025 150 Years of Liberty £5 has been created by The Royal Mint and the Liberty design team, and features the famous Liberty building with decorative half-timbering and iconic Mayflower ship weather vane. An elegant floral paisley motif also sweeps across the design, an homage to the bold fabrics Liberty is known for, along with the Liberty logo and the inscription ‘150 YEARS’.

While we’ve seen UK coins celebrate everything from Royal anniversaries to literary legends, this release is truly one-of-a-kind, as it’s the very first time Liberty has appeared on a UK coin.


London landmarks on coins

Liberty isn’t the first iconic London building to feature on a UK coin, in fact we’ve seen a fair few London landmarks on our coins in recent years…

2024 Buckingham Palace £5

One of the most recognisable buildings in the world, Buckingham Palace, has been home to British monarchs since Queen Victoria, and was celebrated on a UK £5 coin in 2024.

Originally issued as part of the 2024 Annual Coin Set and individually issued later that year, the Buckingham Palace £5 features a beautifully detailed depiction of the front of Buckingham Palace with the Royal Standard flying, encircled by a floral ring.

Many a state visit and national celebration have taken place at the Palace, most recently The King’s Coronation celebrations in 2023 and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

2024 National Gallery £2

Another coin that featured in the 2024 Annual Set was the National Gallery £2, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the gallery.

Originally founded in 1824, the gallery was initially based in financier John Julius Angerstein’s house, until a dedicated building was commissioned to be built in Trafalgar Square in London in 1838.

The iconic gallery building features on this £2 coin along with the inscription ‘200 years of the National Gallery’.

2018 and 2019 Paddington 50ps

Paddington first featured on a UK coin in 2018, when two 50p coins were issued to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Michael Bond’s classic book, A Bear Called Paddington. The beloved bear was seen visiting popular landmarks around London, such as his namesake train station and Buckingham Palace.

Paddington’s tour of London continued when two more Paddington 50ps were issued in 2019. He stopped off at the Tower of London, where he enjoyed a marmalade sandwich, and tipped his hat at St Paul’s Cathedral.

With so many historic London buildings having already featured on UK coins, Liberty is a fitting addition, especially in its 150th year!


Secure the 2025 UK 150 Years of Liberty £5

Add the 2025 UK 150 Years of Liberty £5 to your collection >>

The Royal Arms reimagined – King Charles III’s Coat of Arms features on a UK coin for the first time

Over 2 years after he acceded to the throne, His Majesty King Charles III’s Royal Coat of Arms, a powerful symbol of sovereignty and national identity, has made its debut on a UK coin.

2025 Royal Coat of Arms £5

The Royal Arms reimagined

For over a millennium, the Royal Arms have represented the authority of the monarchy, appearing on everything from official government documents to British passports. While previous monarchs’ arms have graced our coinage before, this is the first time that King Charles III’s Royal Coat of Arms has featured on a UK coin.

Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland used by Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 to 2022.
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland used by Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 to 2022.
Image Credit: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

The 2025 Coat of Arms of King Charles III £5 marks a new chapter in British history, featuring a stunning heraldic design by Timothy Noad. Noad’s interpretation of the Royal Arms balances tradition with modernity, showcasing the shield supported by the lion and unicorn, along with regal symbolism that reflects His Majesty’s commitment to heritage, duty, and service.

A history of Royal Arms on UK coinage

Although this is the first time King Charles III’s Coat of Arms has featured on a UK coin, it joins a prestigious lineage of coins bearing the Royal Arms.

During Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, the Royal Coat of Arms appeared on the first £1 coin, which was first issued in 1983 to replace the less robust £1 note. The Royal Arms round pound was issued in 1983, 1993, 2003 and 2008 and featured a stylised Queen Elizabeth II Coat of Arms designed by Eric Sewell, chief engraver at the Royal Mint.

The Royal Arms £1 was issued in 1983, 1993, 2003 and 2008
The Royal Arms £1 was issued in 1983, 1993, 2003 and 2008

In 2015, the Royal Mint revealed a new design for the Royal Arms £1 coin, featuring Timothy Noad’s contemporary adaptation of the traditional Royal Arms design. It was one of the last commemorative designs to feature on the round pound coin, however the 2015 Royal Coat of Arms £1 didn’t enter circulation

The 2015 Royal Coat of Arms £1 was one of the last commemorative round pound designs
The 2015 Royal Coat of Arms £1 was one of the last commemorative round pound designs

Secure the 2025 Coat of Arms of King Charles III £5

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply someone who appreciates the fusion of artistry and history, this coin represents an extraordinary moment in UK numismatic heritage.

Secure the 2025 Coat of Arms of King Charles III £5 for your collection >>