The 50p that’s guaranteed to float your boat – The RNLI 50p!

The 2024 UK RNLI 50p has just dropped anchor and is ready to swim straight into your collection!

2024 UK RNLI 50p

I know a lot of you will be wanting to get your hands on this one, because we asked you to vote for your favourite design from the Annual Set, and the RNLI 50p won with a huge 50% of the votes!

So if you just cant wait, click here to secure your 2024 UK RNLI 50p for just £5.99 >>

Or, keep reading to find out a bit more…

History of the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, better known as the RNLI, was founded by Sir William Hillary in 1824, and 2024 marks its 200th anniversary. From being the first organization to use steam-driven lifeboats in 1890, to providing crucial maritime support during the first and second world wars, to opening their training college in 2004 – the RNLI have been making history and saving lives at sea for 2 whole centuries.

RNLI Headquarters and College in Poole
Credit: Chris Downer, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Each year, coins marking key anniversaries and historical figures are chosen to feature in the Annual Set – and this year was no exception with coins celebrating the National Gallery, Sir Winston Churchill, the Paris Olympics and of course, the RNLI.

2024 Annual Coin Set
2024 Annual Coin Set

A ‘mast’erpiece designs

The reverse design incorporates key symbols of the RNLI, with the flag in the centre, surrounded by a life ring and rope. Inscribed on the life ring are the years of the charity 1824-2024 as well as ‘200 years’, marking that incredible milestone.

2024 UK RNLI 50p in hand
2024 UK RNLI 50p in hand

Did you know
The iconic RNLI flag wasn’t introduced until 1908. The first version designed by Leonara Preston in 1884 who used the St George’s cross as the basis for the flag, adding the RNLI lettering, the Tudor Crown worn by King George VI and a foul anchor in the centre.

Original RNLI flag 
Credit: Sodacan, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Original RNLI flag
Credit: Sodacan, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Current RNLI flag 
Credit: Oast House Archive, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Current RNLI flag
Credit: Oast House Archive, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The design was updated in 1953 to represent the change of monarch to Queen Elizabeth II when the Tudor Crown was swapped for the St Edwards Crown. It’s this version of the flag that’s been proudly flown at all lifeboat stations since, but I wonder if they’ll change the design again for King Charles III?

Let us know what you think in the comments!

Supporting a great cause

As well as a design paying tribute to 200 years of the institution that has saved over 144,000 lives, The Royal Mint are donating 5% of every RNLI 50p sold to the charity*, allowing them to continue their great work. 

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen proceeds from a UK coin go to a worthy cause. Just last year, The Royal Mint donated 100% of the profits from the 2023 NHS 50p to NHS Charities Together, an organization that provides incredible support to NHS staff, patients and communities.

2023 UK NHS 50p
2023 UK NHS 50p

The 2023 UK NHS 50p commemorated 75 years of the National Health Service, and it’s estimated that the total donation figure reached £225,000 – an incredible way to celebrate three-quarters of a century of the great British organization.


So do you agree with 50% of collectors – is the RNLI 50p your favourite coin from the 2024 Annual Set? Perhaps you have a personal story involving the RNLI that you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!

Secure your 2024 UK RNLI 50p

Secure yours 2024 UK RNLI 50p for just £5.99 >>

*The Royal Mint Limited will contribute 5% of the price excluding VAT in support of the RNLI. Payments are made to RNLI (Sales) Ltd (which pays all its taxable profits to the RNLI, a charity registered in England and Wales (209603),Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man (1308 and 006329F) and the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney.

Could this be the ONLY way to own the 2024 Winston Churchill £2?

The 2024 Annual Coin Set celebrates some of the most significant anniversaries and events taking place this year, one of which being 150 years since the birth of Sir Winston Churchill.

The 2024 Winston Churchill £2 depicts him as a young man during his time in the Cavalry army, with the years of his life 1874-1965 either side of his portrait.

However, rather unusually, the Winston Churchill £2 will be the only coin from the 2024 Annual Set NOT to be released individually.

2024 UK Winston Churchill £2 in hand
2024 UK Winston Churchill £2 in hand

A collecting ‘first’

At the beginning of each year, collectors eagerly anticipate the release of The Royal Mint’s Annual Coin Set, which includes 5 of the best commemorative coins from the year to come. Securing the Annual Set is usually the only way for collectors to get their hands on the coins until they’re individually released later in the year.

2024 Annual Coin Set
2024 Annual Coin Set

Get your 2024 Annual Coin Set for just £42 (+postage) >>

However, this year is a bit different as the Winston Churchill £2 WON’T be issued individually – meaning that currently, the only way to own it is in the 2024 Annual Set. This is extremely unusual, but we have seen similar situations a handful of times before.

Serious collectors know why it’s important to own both the Annual Set and individual release versions of coins, but in case you didn’t know, here are a few examples of previous design differences…

2022 Platinum Jubilee 50p

The most recent example is the 2022 Platinum Jubilee 50p, issued to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s incredible 70 year reign.

2022 Platinum Jubilee 50p
2022 Platinum Jubilee 50p

At the beginning of 2022, the Annual Coin Set included the Platinum Jubilee 50p which featured the number 70 and the Queen’s cypher on the reverse and the Jody Clark portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. However, when the coin was individually released later in the year, it featured a special obverse design of Her Majesty on horseback – a nod to the design on the 1952 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Crown.

Team GB 50p

Back in 2020, the Team GB 50p was released as part of the 2020 Annual Coin Set, to celebrate Team GB’s participation in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The reverse design featured a depiction of various Olympic sports, the official Team GB logo and the year 2020, whilst the obverse featured Jody Clark’s Queen Elizabeth II portrait and the date 2020.

2020 Team GB 50p
2020 Team GB 50p

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games to 2021, this 50p was never individually released in 2020.

The Team GB 50p was eventually individually issued in 2021, however due to the delayed release, it featured two different dates – 2020 on the reverse design and 2021 on the obverse. This made it one of just a few UK coins to feature a dual-date.

2020 Team GB 50p from the 2020 Annual Set
2020 Team GB 50p from the 2020 Annual Set
2021 individually released Team GB 50p
Individually released 2021 Team GB 50p

2021 Decimal Day 50p

The Decimal Day 50p was issued as part of the 2021 Annual Set to mark the 50th anniversary of Decimalisation.

2021 Decimal Day 50p
2021 Decimal Day 50p

The Decimal Day 50p in the 2021 Annual Set featured overlapping pre-decimal coins and the date ‘1971’ on the reverse and the original Arnold Machin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse – which featured on the very first 50p back in 1969. However, when it was individually released later in 2021, the Decimal Day 50p featured the standard Jody Clark portrait of Her Majesty on the obverse.

2021 Decimal Day 50p from the 2021 Annual Set featuring Arnold Machin portrait
2021 Decimal Day 50p from the 2021 Annual Set featuring Arnold Machin portrait
Individually released 2021 Decimal Day 50p featuring Jody Clark portrait
Individually released 2021 Decimal Day 50p featuring Jody Clark portrait

The above three examples show how some UK coins are individually released with slightly different variations to their Annual Set counterpart, however the 2024 Winston Churchill £2 is highly unusual in that it won’t be individually released at all! As collectors will know, an unusual story like this is sure to add to the collectability of this coin and the 2024 Annual Set.


The return of Winston Churchill on UK currency

Winston Churchill is one of the most memorable figures in British politics, and the 2024 Winston Churchill £2 isn’t the first time we’ve seen him feature on our UK currency.

The 1965 Churchill Crown was issued to mark the death of Sir Winston Churchill, making him the first non-royal to be portrayed on a British coin.

The reverse design features a sombre-looking head and shoulders portrait of Churchill wearing a ‘siren suit’ – overalls designed to be worn in wartime air-raid shelters, invented and popularised by Churchill.

In the lead up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games being held in London, the Royal Mint issued the 2010 London Olympic Games Sir Winston Churchill £5.

The design was inspired by a statue of wartime Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill accompanied by a quote: ‘Be daring, be first, be different, be just’.

Half a century after his death, the 2015 Churchill £5 was issued.

Engraver Mark Richards FRBS, who designed the reverse of this coin, said he wanted to convey Churchill as larger than life by creating an image larger than the coin itself.

Winston Churchill on a UK £5 bank note 
Credit: The Bank of England
Winston Churchill on a UK £5 bank note
Credit: The Bank of England

In 2016, Sir Winston Churchill replaced Elizabeth Fry on the UK £5 bank note.

The design features the famous portrait of Churchill in 1941 known as the ‘Roaring Lion’ as well as his famous quote “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat” which he made on the day he became Prime Minister.


So, considering the rarity of a scenario like this, will you be adding the 2024 Annual Set to your collection to guarantee the 2024 Winston Churchill £2? Perhaps you have all the previous Churchill coins in your collection and don’t want to miss the latest issue, let us know in the comments!

Secure the Winston Churchill £2 as part of the 2024 Annual Set

Happy New Year and Happy New Coins! 2024 Annual Coins

Each year, collectors eagerly anticipate the arrival of The Royal Mint’s Annual Set.

These coins commemorate some of the key anniversaries of the year ahead and it means we get treated to FIVE brand new coin designs!

The 2024 Annual Coin Set is the second to feature King Charles III on the obverse of each of the coins. And excitingly, it follows the release of the UK’s New Coinage in October last year, in which we saw His Majesty feature on all key circulating coin denominations for the first time.

So let’s take a look at the 2024 Annual Coin Set…

2024 Annual Coin Set
2024 Annual Coin Set

RNLI 50p

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, better known as the RNLI, was founded by Sir William Hillary in 1824 and has been saving lives at sea ever since. To mark the 200th anniversary of the charity, the RNLI is now being celebrated on a UK 50p.

2024 RNLI 50p
2024 RNLI 50p

The reverse design incorporates key symbols of the RNLI, with the flag in the centre, surrounded by a life ring and rope. Inscribed on the life rings are the years of the charity 1824-2024 as well as ‘200 years’.

British Olympians and Paralympians 50p

This year, the Olympic Games will take place in Paris, France – exactly 100 years since the city last hosted the games. The Paralympics will also be held in France for the first time, making the games the biggest event ever held in France.

This British Olympians and Paralympians 50p represents TeamGB and ParalympicsGB in their efforts in the games and inspiring the nation through the power of sport.

2024 Olympians and Paralympians 50p
2024 Olympians and Paralympians 50p

On the reverse are 2 geometric athletes in action set against the Union flag. If you look closely, you’ll also see the Eiffel Tower at the bottom, a nod to the city where the games will take place.

Sir Winston Churchill £2

The first of the £2 coins in the Annual Set features one of the most memorable figures in British politics – Winston Churchill, but perhaps not quite how we remember him.

Churchill led Britain to victory during the Second World War, and served as Prime Minster twice, but the design on this UK £2 takes us back to an earlier time, depicting him as a young man during his time in the Cavalry army.

2024 Winston Churchill £2
2024 Winston Churchill £2

This year marks 150 years since the birth of Winston Churchill, and so the years of his life 1874-1965 can be seen either side of his portrait on the coin. You’ll also find the inscription ‘PAVE THE WAY FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM’ around the edge.

National Gallery £2

Also celebrating its 200th anniversary this year is the National 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 gallery now holds over 2,300 paintings by a variety of famous artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Michelangelo. And the best part, it’s free to the public!

2024 National Gallery £2
2024 National Gallery £2

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

Buckingham Palace £5

One of the most recognisable buildings in the world, Buckingham Palace, has been home to British monarchs since Queen Victoria, and today, acts as His Majesty King Charles III’s administrative headquarters.

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

2024 Buckingham Palace £5
2024 Buckingham Palace £5

The reverse design of this £5 coin pays tribute to a building with so much history with a beautifully detailed depiction of the front of Buckingham Palace with the Royal Standard flying, encircled by a floral ring.


So there you have it, the 2024 Annual Coin Set – and what an excellent selection of coins from the year to come!

These coins will of course all be individually released later in the year, however considering the popular themes and important anniversaries they celebrate, there’s no doubt they’ll be in high demand with collectors.

Securing the 2024 Annual Set guarantees these brand new coins for your collection, before anyone else has the chance to get them individually.

Your favourite design

We asked you to vote for your favourite design from the 2024 Annual Coin Set, and the results are in…


Secure this year’s Annual Set!

To ensure you don’t miss out on adding all FIVE new coins to your collection for JUST £42 (+postage), click here >>

Each coin has been struck to a superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality and is protectively encapsulated in official Change Checker packaging, housed in a display page ready to slot into your Change Checker Album.