World coins
Gibraltar Celebrates Christmas with two BRAND NEW coins
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? Because a brand new Gibraltar 50p and £2 coin have just been released featuring none other than Father Christmas himself!
These very festive coins have been released by the Government of Gibraltar, making them particularly sought-after by collectors given the low mintage figures typical from the country!
You can secure this magical Christmas coin pair (the very best way to own these coins!) here for just £13.50 (+p&p).
Or, you can secure the single 50p to your collection for JUST £4.50 (+p&p) by clicking here.
Your brand new Gibraltar Christmas 50p & £2 Pair will come in Official Change Checker Packaging, ready to slot into your Change Checker Album!
With previous Gibraltar issues proving immensely popular with collectors, I expect these coins will be snapped up quickly by collectors (especially as we have just a small allocation for Change Checkers!)
A history of popular coins
Gibraltar has released some truly beautiful coins in recent years, and as their mintage figures are typically much lower than UK coins, they are often highly sought-after by collectors…
Coins from Crown dependencies, such as Gibraltar and overseas British territories can sometimes make an unexpected appearance in our change.
They are identical in size, shape and weight to UK denominations which means they often find their way into tills and vending machines undetected.
Whilst these coins aren’t technically legal tender in the UK, finding new and interesting designs is always a bonus!
So, whilst it may be tricky to find one in your change, Change Checker has listed our Top 10 Coins from Gibraltar that are worth trying to hunt down!
2019 Breast Cancer £2
Last year the Government of Gibraltar issued a new £2 coin in partnership with Breast Cancer Support Gibraltar.
However, only a limited number were released into circulation on the Isle of Gibraltar, making it one of the most popular coins of the year, but also one of the most difficult to source.
But not many collectors were aware of the secret this coin was hiding…
The Gibraltar Breast Cancer £2 features a special portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. It was originally drawn by Raphael Maklouf for the Gibraltar 90th Birthday £5 coin issue but has also been used on a small selection of Gibraltar coinage.
This portrait is currently not in use by any other country in the world, making any Gibraltar coin with this portrait on extremely collectable!
A limited number of coins were available at The Westminster Collection, and they sold out within hours! Collectors were quick to search on the secondary market to find them and some prices reached over £40!
Gibraltar Candytuft Flowers 50p
This 50p features the denomination surrounded by a crown of Gibraltar Candytuft flowers, known as ‘Iberis Gibraltarica’.
Iberis Gibraltarica is the national flower of Gibraltar and is the symbol of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve which covers 40% of the country’s land area. Gibraltar is the only place in Europe where it is found growing in the wild!
In 1988, JUST 30,000 of these 50ps were issued for circulation, making it 7 times rarer than the UK’s rarest 50p and particularly scarce and sought after amongst collectors. Another key feature which makes this coin so collectable is that it was issued in the pre-1997 specifications, meaning it’s significantly larger than the current 50ps we find in our change!
Rock of Gibraltar £1
This £1 coin was issued for the 1995 National Day and for the 50th Anniversary of the UN.
National Day is celebrated annually on September 10th and is the official national day of Gibraltar.
The reverse features the iconic Rock of Gibraltar with birds and sun rays above, and the obverse features the Raphael David Maklouf engraving of Queen Elizabeth II.
This £1 is in the older round pound specifications, meaning they won’t appear in your UK change as the round pound lost its legal tender status in the UK in 2016, after the introduction of the 12-sided £1. This means it’s even harder to get your hands on this coin!
Neanderthal Skull £1
This £1 coin from Gibraltar was issued to celebrate the discovery of a Neanderthal skull in a quarry near the Rock of Gibraltar in 1848.
The Neanderthals in Gibraltar were some of the very first to ever be found and this particular skull is one of the oldest specimens known.
Designed by Philip Nathan, the reverse features the Neanderthal skull and lettering, “Discovery of Neanderthal skull in Gibraltar 1848”. The obverse was designed by Raphael Maklouf and features the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth I.
Capture of Gibraltar 50p
This 50p was issued in Gibraltar in 2005 to commemorate the Capture of Gibraltar in 1704, during the war of the Spanish Succession.
As part of the Allied strategy, Sir George Rooke had been sent with an Anglo-Dutch force into the Mediterranean to attack the French in Toulon. However, when his objectives proved impracticable, Rooke decided to justify his command by attacking Gibraltar.
The coin features a design on the reverse of ancient ships at sea with the Rock of Gibraltar in the background, paying tribute to the Anglo-Dutch fleet that sailed into Gibraltar. The obverse features the third portrait of Her Majesty by Royal Mint engraver Raphael D. Maklouf.
So will Santa be visiting you this Christmas in the form of the Gibraltar 50p and £2 pair? Comment below!
Don’t miss your opportunity of owning this magical Christmas coin pair!
Due to the limited circulating mintages of these coins, we have just a small allocation for Change Checkers, so don’t miss the opportunity to secure yours this Christmas!
Secure the 2020 Gibraltar Christmas £2 and 50p pair today for JUST £13.50 (+p&p) by clicking here >>
Whilst Shepherds watched their flock by night… FIVE Guernsey Christmas Carol 50ps have been issued!
It’s time to dust off your stockings and light the fire because Christmas is officially round the corner!
And, there’s nothing like a carol service to get you in the Christmas spirit. So, to celebrate this very festive tradition, FIVE brand new coins have been authorised for release by Guernsey Treasury!
The Christmas Carol 50p Coin Collection
Each coin features a specially commissioned design of some of the most renowned Christmas carols including; Away in a Manger, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Little Town of Bethlehem, While Shepherds watched their flocks, and We Three Kings.
These coins have been authorised for release by Guernsey Treasury and fully approved by Her Majesty the Queen.
The Christmas Carol 50p BU Set
Available in Brilliant Uncirculated quality, all five coins are housed in a festive presentation pack and importantly, this is one of the only ways to own all five of these coins as a complete set!
Don’t miss out on adding these festive coins to your collection, or securing them as a gift for your loved ones, for JUST £30. Click here to find out more >>
The Christmas Carol 50p Silver Proof Set
Or, for those collectors looking for a little more Christmas sparkle, these coins are also available in stunning .925 Solid Silver.
What’s more, they feature stunning coloured illustrations by Jo Goodberry (you may remember she designed the immensely popular Pantomime 50ps last year) and have been struck to a pristine Proof finish.
These 50ps are only available as a set and if you don’t want to miss the chance to own them, you’ll need to act fast, as they have been issued with some incredibly low edition limits…
An extremely limited worldwide mintage of JUST 2,020 has been set for the incredible .925 Silver set.
The coins will arrive ready to display in a deluxe presentation case with a numbered certificate of authenticity.
Hark the Herald 50p Christmas Card
Struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality, the ‘Hark the Herald’ 50p from the Brand New Christmas Carol 50p collection has been presented in a beautiful Christmas card which has been left blank inside to write your own personalised message to someone special.
This specially commissioned design by Jo Goodberry features a silhouette of an angel with the title of the carol ‘Hark the Herold’ to the right of the coin. What’s more, the ‘Hark the Herold’ Christmas 50p is the only coin from the collection to be available individually within this stunning Christmas card.
The 50p has firmly established itself as the collector’s favourite, and as such demand for this BRAND NEW Christmas 50p is bound to be incredibly high, especially when you consider the popularity of last year’s Christmas Pantomime 50ps.
You can secure the Hark the Herald 50p Christmas card today for JUST £7.99 (+p&p) by clicking here >>
The Christmas Carol 50p BU Complete Cover
For the creme-de-la-creme, and by far the most limited way to own these coins, the Christmas Carol 50p BU Complete Cover has been issued.
Each coin has been struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated finish, and is one of just 750 that have been allocated for use in your cover. Almost certainly, this is the smallest edition presentation of the new BU 50p coins that you’re likely to see.
Paired alongside your coins is the complete set of elusive 1984 Official Royal Mail Christmas Carol Stamps. Featuring classic carols such as While Shepherds Watch and We Three Kings, these stamps are without a doubt the perfect pairing to your coins.
Each stamp has also been officially postmarked on the first day of Advent, 1st December 2020”.
Click here to secure one to your collection or to guarantee it as a gift for a loved one this Christmas >>
Sought-after Guernsey coins
Last year, Guernsey Treasury released their FIRST-EVER Christmas coins, the Pantomime 50p collection and these were incredibly popular with collectors both in Guernsey and the UK!
Guernsey mintage figures are known for being much smaller than the UK, which is down to their much smaller population of just over 63,000, which makes their coinage incredibly sought-after!
But it’s fair to say that Christmas themed coins make a particularly envious addition to anyone’s collection, with the numerous festive 50ps from the Isle of Man proving to be incredibly popular.
Collectors have been known to pay over £20 for a festive 50p from the British Isles and Channel Islands, so we expect these brand new Christmas Carol 50ps to be incredibly sought-after!
We love these brand new coins and we’re sure collectors everywhere will too!
Which 2020 Christmas Carol 50p is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
Secure the 2020 Christmas Carol 50p BU Set for JUST £30!
Bring the magic of Christmas home this year, with the brand new Christmas Carol 50p BU Set.
Secure yours for £30 (+p&p) by clicking here >>
‘Operation Dynamo’ commemorated on brand new Isle of Man £2 pair!
2020 marks 80 years since the ‘Miracle of Dunkirk’ – one of the greatest turning points of the Second World War.
Known as Operation Dynamo, in 1940 over 300,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated from the beaches and harbour at Dunkirk, France in over 800 hastily assembled vessels.
80 years on, this significant anniversary has been commemorated with the Isle of Man Dunkirk £2 Pair.
2020 Isle of Man Dunkirk £2 Pair
This stunning £2 coin pair features the Isle of Man Steam Company packet ship, the SS Mona’s Isle, rescuing soldiers at Dunkirk.
Mona’s Isle was the first non-military ship to leave Dover for Dunkirk during the evacuation and the first to complete a round trip, rescuing a total of 2,634 troops.
As a perfect tribute to SS Mona’s Isle and the bravery of her crew, this BRAND NEW £2 coin pair has been issued by the Isle of Man.
What’s more, JUST 3,000 of each design will be entering circulation on the Isle of Man – making these coins particularly hard to come by as i’m sure collectors on the island will be quick to snap these up for their collections!
To secure the Isle of Man Dunkirk £2 Pair in Brilliant Uncirculated quality, click here >>
To celebrate these brand new releases, we’re taking a look back at the other coins issued to commemorate the Second World War…
2020 The End of the Second World War £5
2020 marked 75 years since the end of the Second World War and in commemoration this brand new UK £5 coin was issued, honouring the struggles and sacrifices made to achieve lasting peace.
Designers Matt Dent and Christian Davies have included the words ‘WAR’ and ‘PEACE’ on the reverse of this coin.
This £5 coin’s design was said to be inspired by stone war memorials, paying tribute to the millions of lives lost during the six years of conflict.
2020 UK Victory in Europe £2
Issued by The Royal Mint, this 2020 VE Day £2 features a woman holding a newspaper aloft in a crowd of celebrating people, set against a backdrop of the word VICTORY.
2020 marks a particularly poignant anniversary as we celebrate 75 years since Victory in Europe Day. Many celebrations had been scheduled to mark this joyous occasion, including rescheduling the Early May Bank Holiday to the 8th, but were not able to take place due to the pandemic.
In place of the big parties that were planned, people took to their doorsteps to sing and raise a glass over their fence with their neighbours!
The edge inscription of this coin reads ‘JUST TRIUMPH AND PROUD SORROW’ which is incredibly fitting for a coin which marks such a historic anniversary.
2019 75th Anniversary of D-Day £2
D-Day was the largest seaborne invasion in history. It took place on 6th June 1944 and began the liberation of German-occupied France during WWII, laying the foundations of the Allied victory.
Designed by renowned Royal Mint engraver, Stephen Taylor, this coin was issued in 2019 to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. It features arrows each 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.
This £2 coin is a timeless tribute to the thousands of Allied troops who fought tirelessly and sacrificed their lives to make the Normandy landings a success.
1994 UK D-Day Landings 50p
On 6th June 1944 a mighty alliance of British, American and Commonwealth armed forces crossed from England to Normandy and began assault on German forces.
It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and began the liberation of German-occupied France, laying the foundations for the Allied victory of World War Two.
A timeless tribute to the thousands of Allied troops who fought tirelessly in the War, this 50p coin was issued in 1994 to commemorate 50 years since D-Day.
2015 UK Battle of Britain 50p
On 6th June 1944 a mighty alliance of British, American and Commonwealth armed forces crossed from England to Normandy and began assault on German forces.
It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and began the liberation of German-occupied France, laying the foundations for the Allied victory of World War Two.
A timeless tribute to the thousands of Allied troops who fought tirelessly in the War, this 50p coin was issued in 1994 to commemorate 50 years since D-Day.
Will you be adding the 2020 Isle of Man Dunkirk £2 Pair to your collection? Let us know in the comments!
Secure the 2020 Isle of Man Dunkirk £2 Pair to your collection
We only have a limited stock available for Change Checkers, so don’t miss your chance to secure this pair for your collection for just £16.99 (+p&p).
Add the 2020 Isle of Man Dunkirk £2 Pair to your collection here >>