General info
Change Checker LIVE D-Day 50p Swap! Join us at the Royal International Air Tattoo
We’re extremely excited to announce that we’re bringing our Change Checker Live 50p Swap to the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT)!
Join us at the Royal International Air Tattoo from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st July where we’ll be giving collectors the chance to swap ANY UK 50p coin for the brand new 2024 UK D-Day 50p.
PLUS – there’ll be 1 silver 50p up for grabs each day!
Silver 50p Giveaway Hour
Each day, swappers will have the chance to get their hands on a Silver Proof 2024 D-Day 50p during our Silver Giveaway hour.
For an hour each day only, there’ll be 1 D-Day 50p with a special sticker in the lucky dip box, and whoever picks it out will get not only the 2024 UK D-Day 50p in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for just 50p, but they’ll also get a Silver Proof 2024 D-Day 50p FOR FREE!
Keep an eye on our social channels to find out when the Silver Giveaway Hour will be each day we’re at the show and make sure you’re in the queue ready for your chance to win a silver 50p!*
The Royal International Air Tattoo
Known as the world’s largest military air show, the Royal International Air Tattoo takes place at RAF Fairford, where thrilling sights and sounds of several hundred aircraft, from all eras and countries of the world, gather for this unique adrenalin-fuelled occasion.
We were lucky enough to attend the show last year where we were swapping the 2023 Coronation 50p, and we can’t wait to return!
We’ll be swapping 50ps with collectors across all three days, so be sure to come and say hello!
FAQs
How do I buy tickets to the event?
Tickets for the Friday and Saturday are sold out, but you can still buy tickets for Sunday 21st here >>
How do I get there?
Visitor travel details can be found on the Royal International Air Tattoo website here >>
Where can I find you at the event?
You can find us in the shopping village, between red flag markers 26 and 30.
How many coins can I swap?
Such is the popularity of our Live Coin Swaps, and to ensure it’s fair for everybody, we’re limiting the number of swaps to strictly 1 per person.
Can I reserve a coin before I arrive?
To ensure a fair swap event for everyone, we do not offer reservations of coins. It is a strictly first come first served basis.
How does the Silver 50p Giveaway work?
Anyone is eligible to swap any UK 50p for the 2024 UK D-Day 50p in Brilliant Uncirculated quality at any time in the 3 days we’ll be at the show, but you can choose to save your swap for the Silver Giveaway Hour (which will be announced on our social channels each day) for your chance to win the D-Day 50p in Silver Proof quality!
Can’t make it?
If you can’t make it to our swap at RIAT, don’t worry! You can still add the 2024 UK D-Day 50p to your collection in superior collection quality.
Secure your 2024 UK D-Day 50p for just £5.99 (+p&p) >>
*Details of the Silver 50p Giveaway may be subject to change.
Striking designs – A look at football themed UK coins
EURO 2024 kicked off on 14th June 2024 and England made it all the way to the final! Unfortunately, Spain took the trophy, but in honour of the beautiful game, we’ve taken a look back at some of the UK coins that have been issued to celebrate football.
1996 Football Single Metal £2
The single metal Football £2 was issued in 1996 to celebrate England hosting the 10th European football championships.
Before 1997, £2 coins were struck from a single-coloured, nickel-brass and were mainly produced for collectors and reserved for very special occasions.
The reverse design resembles a football, and is accentuated by an unusual concave surface of the coin. The year of 1996 is prominent, and the sixteen small rings represent the teams who competed in the tournament. Only 5,141,350 1996 Football £2 coins were ever minted.
2011 Olympic Football 50p
In 2011, a year before London hosted the Olympic Games, 29 new 50p coins were issued, each representing a different Olympic sport.
The football 50p was possibly the most publicised of them all, as it features the hotly debated offside rule in the form of a simple diagram. Designer Neil Wolfson, a sports journalist by trade, chose an image which he felt would encapsulate the sport whilst also provoking discussion.
The Olympic Football 50p is also the rarest of the Olympic 50ps with a mintage figure of just 1,125,500.
2022 150th Anniversary of the FA Cup £2
To mark 150 years of the FA Cup, The Royal Mint issued this £2 coin in 2022. Designers Matt Dent and Christian Davies created a design featuring the famed FA Cup Trophy in the centre.
Ribbons on each side of the trophy represent the first staging of the Football Association Challenge Cup (1871-72) and the 141st season which marked the 150th anniversary (2021-22).
2023 Pride of England £5
In 2022, England won the Woman’s EURO 2022 after beating Germany 2-1. The following year in 2023, the team embarked on their biggest competition to date – the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
To celebrate the Lionesses and their successes, The Royal Mint struck this £5 coin in 2023. The reverse of the coin features the iconic ‘three lions’ emblem in a design by Norman Sillman.
The England team made it to the final of the 2023 World Cup, but unfortunately Spain took home the cup.
An honourable mention…
Although not technically a football coin, the 1997 Three Lions £1 does feature the heraldic three lions design which has become synonymous with English football, so we thought it was worth a mention!
The three lions date back to Richard the Lionheart (1189-1199) who used three golden lions on a scarlet background as a powerful symbol of the English throne.
The design of the 1997 £1, by Norman Sillman, was actually the original design that inspired the 2023 Pride of England £5.
Vote for your favourite football coin
We asked you which of these football themed UK coins is your favourite, and the results are in…with a huge 45.6% of the votes, the 1996 Football £2 won the vote!
Kick off your football collection
To celebrate England making it to the EURO 2024 Final, you can own the Pride of England £5 is Limited Edition Finalists Display Card for just £12.50 (+p&p) >>
The latest Isle of Man TT £2 coin hits the tracks!
The Isle of Man TT races, an annual tradition since 1907, return again this year. Riders and spectators from around the world will travel to the island for what’s been nicknamed ‘the most dangerous race in the world’.
It’s become somewhat of a tradition for the Isle of Man to issue coins to commemorate the TT races each year, with 2024 being no exception…
Add the 2024 Isle of Man TT £2 to your collection for just £12.99 (+p&p) >>
A winning design
This year, the Isle of Man TT £2 coin highlights Creg-ny-Baa – the infamous corner from the TT race course. The reverse design, by Glyn Davies, features a daring motorcyclist riding around Creg-ny-Baa.
This famous corner is home to the Creg-ny-Baa pub, which sits beside a grandstand that overlooks the race course, both of which also feature on the coin.
Since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, Isle of Man coinage now features King Charles III on the obverse. Of course, the Official British Isles King Charles III effigy was also designed by Glyn Davies – meaning he’s responsible for both sides of this coin!
Did you know? Creg-ny-Baa translates to ‘rock of the cow’ in English, probably originating from a rock where cows scratched themselves.
Entering circulation
Previous Isle of Man TT coins have always been popular with both collectors and motor enthusiasts. This is due to their small mintages compared to their UK counterparts and the fact that they sometimes crop up in UK coinage. Although Isle of Man coins aren’t legal tender in the UK, there is a chance you could spot one in your change.
And excitingly, just 7,500 2024 Isle of Man TT £2 coins will enter circulation on the island. That’s half the circulating mintage of the 2023 Isle of Man TT £2!
So make sure you don’t miss out and add it to your collection in Brilliant Uncirculated quality >>
Numismatic history of the TT races
The first Isle of Man TT coin was a 50p issued in 1981, and a new TT coin has been released most years since. The TT 50ps, along with other denominations have proved incredibly popular amongst collectors and motoring enthusiasts alike, with some selling for over £700 on eBay!
Here are a few of our favourite Isle of Man TT coins.
2023
An Isle of Man TT £2 was issued in 2023 to mark the centenary of the Sidecar race being introduced to the TT races. This meant both racer and passenger could take part in the ‘Ultimate Road Race’. The design shows an incredibly detailed depiction of the Sidecar riding through Parliament Square on the Isle of Man.
15,000 of these coins entered circulation on the Isle of Man, meaning collectors and the general public had the chance to find one in their change! But there were many who couldn’t wait to get their hands on the 2023 Isle of Man TT £2 and our initial allocation sold out in just 24 hours!
2022
After a 2 year break due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the TT races returned in 2022 and two new £2 coins were issued to celebrate.
One of the coins featured the iconic TT Grandstand which marks the start and end of the race. The other represented the TT race marshals, most of whom are usually volunteers or motorsports enthusiasts.
A Crown coin was also issued in celebration of the event. It featured the official TT logo in front of the race route map and a chequered flag background.
2019
In 2019, the Isle of Man released two £2 coins marking 112 years since the first TT race in 1907.
The reverse designs features legendary rider, Steve Hislop, racing the Tourist Trophy track.
Steve ‘Hizzy’ Hislop is an 11 time winner of the notorious Tourist Trophy races. His extraordinary racing career has cemented him as a hero of the TT mountain circuit.
2018
These coins were issued in 2018 to celebrate racing legend Mike Hailwood. 2018 marked 60 years since his first TT race and 40 years since his triumphant return.
Just 3,000 of each coin entered circulation on the Isle of Man and we saw unprecedented demand from collectors looking to add the coins to their British Isles collection.
1998
Another famous race that takes place annually on the island, is the Rally Isle of Man.
The Rally Isle of Man – previously known as The Manx Trophy Rally – was first held in 1963 and became a well known event in the British Open Rally Championship.
In 1998, the Isle of Man released the Isle of Man Car Circulation £2 coin featuring three old-style race cars on the track.
1981
The first Isle of Man TT 50p issued in 1981 features famous motorcyclist Joey Dunlop.
Only 5,000 coins of this design were struck. Were you lucky enough to find this in your change on the Isle of Man? Let us know in the comments below!
Do you have any Isle of Man TT races coins in your collection? Let us know in the comments below!
Secure your 2024 Isle of Man TT £2
Secure your 2024 Isle of Man TT £2 for just £12.50 (+p&p) >>
Continue your Isle of Man collection
To celebrate 120 years since the FIRST EVER Manx Motor Race, a new set of five Isle of Man 50ps has also been issued, featuring five motor racing firsts.
Secure your History of Motor Racing BU Isle of Man 50p Set for just £37.50 (+p&p) >>