5 pound coins
Upcoming King Charles III Coins! What we know so far…
The collecting community has been abuzz with excitement for new King Charles III coins, especially since the UK’s new circulating coinage set was released in October.
And so I’m delighted to give you all the updates we know so far about future King Charles III commemorative coins to look forward to.
Read on to find out what’s on the horizon from the UK’s latest Royal Proclamations and get ready to add these upcoming coins to your collecting wish list!
Upcoming 50p Releases
80th Anniversary of D-Day
On 12th April 2024, a Royal Proclamation announced a brand new UK 50p coming soon.
The design of this coin and full details haven’t yet been released, but here’s what we do know:
- For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “· CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 50 PENCE ·” and the date of the year, and for the reverse a depiction of soldiers disembarking a landing craft, accompanied by the inscription “D-DAY 6 JUNE 1944 UTAH OMAHA GOLD JUNO SWORD”. The coin shall have a plain edge.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a D-Day themed UK coin, in 1994 a UK 50p was issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
We also saw a UK £2 issued in 2019 to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The coin features arrows pointing across the English Channel to Normandy. Each arrow also has one of the code names used for each of the beaches where Allied troops landed – Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.
Upcoming £5 Releases
Lunar Year of the Snake
The Lunar Year £5 coins are usually one of the first coins issued bearing the following year’s date. For example, the Lunar Year of the Dragon £5 was issued in September 2023 and was the first 2024 dated UK £5 coin.
The next Lunar Year £5 coin has been announced, and as 2025 will be the Year of the Snake, it’ll feature the snake.
Credit: cafeastrology
Here’s what we know so far about this upcoming coin as per the Royal Proclamation released on 13th March 2024:
- ‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “· CHARLES III · D · G ·
REX · F · D · 5 POUNDS ·” and the date of the year, and for the reverse a depiction of a
snake upon grassy landscape with the inscription “YEAR OF THE SNAKE · ”, the date of
the year and the Chinese character for a snake. The coin shall have a grained edge.’
Decades of Bond £5 Series
We’re over halfway through the Decades of Bond £5 coin series, with 3 still to be released. Each coin in this series celebrates a decade of James Bond films, with iconic imagery from the movies and the film titles from each era repeated in the background.
So far, we’ve seen the Bond of the 60s coin featuring Little Nellie from You Only Live Twice, the Bond of the 70s coin showing Wet Nellie, the Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me, the Bond of the 80s £5 which features the Acrostar ‘Bede’ Jet from Octopussy and the Bond of the 90s £5 depicting the iconic Thames River chase scene from The World is Not Enough.
When you consider the huge popularity of the ‘B’ A-Z 10p which was dedicated to James Bond and the 2020 Bond £5 series, there’s no doubt that this theme is loved within the collecting community.
What do you think will feature on the upcoming Decades of Bond £5 coins?
Upcoming £2 Releases
200 Years of the National Gallery £2
The National Gallery £2 was featured in the 2024 Annual Coin Set, however it is yet to be individually issued. Featuring the iconic façade of the National Gallery building, this £2 celebrates the gallery’s 200th anniversary.
We can expect to see the 2024 National Gallery £2 issued individually later in the year, but if you can’t wait to get your hands on it, you can secure it in the 2024 Annual Set.
Winston Churchill £2
Usually, all the coins in the Annual Set are individually released throughout the year, however this year is different, as the Winston Churchill £2 will NOT be individually issued. So currently the only way to get your hands on it is in the 2024 Annual Set.
You can secure your 2024 Annual Set for just £42 (+p&p) here >>
Never miss a future UK coin issue!
With such exciting releases on the horizon, you really won’t want to miss out on these incredible new coins.
So why not take away the worry and guarantee yourself every new UK coin issue, without the hassle of placing orders on launch day?
Join the Change Checker UK CERTIFIED BU Subscription Service and be one of the first to receive new UK coins as soon as they are released!
Celebrating a true hero – The UK Mary Seacole £5
For nearly 100 years, the story of an incredible, heroic woman was forgotten, but Mary Seacole is finally receiving the recognition she deserves by being celebrated on a UK coin.
A true likeness
This brand new UK £5 coin has been issued to mark Mary Seacole’s selfless efforts during the Crimean War, where she cared for sick and injured soldiers.
The reverse design by Sandra Deiana is based on a genuine photograph of Seacole. The photograph was taken around 1870 and is now held at Winchester College.
Caring in the crossfire
From the age of 12, Mary Seacole helped her mother, a nurse who specialised in traditional Jamaican medicine. Inspired by her mother and following the death of her husband, Mary focussed on caring for the sick.
Credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Her medical expertise was invaluable during the Crimean War, where, along with Thomas Day, she opened a ‘British Hotel’ near the battlefields. She devoted her time and resources to caring for sick and injured soldiers, even riding on horseback into the battlefields under fire to help men from both sides of the conflict.
The 2023 UK Mary Seacole £5 has been created in collaboration with ‘The Mary Seacole Trust’ to pay tribute to her dedication to helping others.
‘The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands’
In 1957, Seacole penned a memoir, fittingly named ‘The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands’ which detailed her humanitarian contributions during her 75 years. It wasn’t until the 1970s that people started to discover her story and realise how much of an impact she made on history.
Seacole was commemorated with a memorial in 2016 which is located in front of St Thomas’ Hospital. The sculpture was designed by none other than Martin Jennings, the creator of the King Charles III effigy that we see on UK coinage.
Credit: Peter O’Connor aka anemoneprojectors, via Wikimedia Commons
Secure your 2023 UK Mary Seacole £5
You can celebrate Mary Seacole’s eventful life by securing the 2023 UK Mary Seacole £5 in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for just £13.99 (+p&p) >>
Myths and Legends: Morgan le Fay £5 JUST RELEASED!
The third coin in the Myths and Legends £5 series pays tribute to King Arthur’s half sister and legendary enchantress, Morgan le Fay.
Click here to order the brand new 2023 UK Morgan le Fay CERTFIED BU £5 coin >>
The design
The reverse design features a depiction of Morgan le Fay wearing a winged headpiece in an intimidating stance ready to cast her dark powers. David Lawrence, who also designs the other coins in the Myths and Legends series, has perfectly captured her as a force to be reckoned with on this new UK £5.
This is the third and final coin inspired by Arthurian legend in the Myths and Legends series. But what would you like to see on a Myths and Legends £5 next? Let us know in the comments below!
The mythology of Morgan le Fay
In many legends, Morgan le Fay is portrayed as a witch with the ability to fly and shapeshift. However, in alternate versions of Arthurian legend, she plays a pivotal role in helping a wounded King Arthur to the Isle of Avalon where she treats his injuries.
Credit: Frederick Sandys, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Whilst she is sometimes portrayed as a benevolent healer, Morgan le Fay is commonly cast as a villain who seeks to harm King Arthur and anyone associated with him in literature of the 19th and 20th centuries.
2023 UK Merlin £5
The second £5 in the series featured mythical wizard Merlin poised with his magical staff, ready to wield his power. If you look closely, you’ll also see Archimedes the owl – a character from author T. H. White’s The Sword in the Stone – sitting serenely on the wizard’s shoulder.
Designer David Lawrence gave collectors a peek at the mythical island Avalon in the background, while Martin Jennings’ portrait of King Charles III featured on the obverse of the coin.
Find out more about the Merlin £5 coin here >>
2023 UK King Arthur £5
King Arthur featured on the first £5 in the Myths and Legends UK series. The legendary British King was depicted carrying a sword of Merlin’s creation – Excalibur!
Find out more about the King Arthur £5 coin here >>
I’m sure you’ll agree each of these dynamic coins has been a brilliant addition to the Myths and Legends series. Will you be adding Morgan Le Fay to your collection?
2023 UK Morgan le Fay CERTIFIED BU £5
Secure the brand new 2023 UK Morgan le Fay £5 in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality, protectively encapsulated in official Change Checker packaging. Click here to order yours >>