Posts Tagged ‘Commonwealth’
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games celebrated on new UK 50p coin!
Since 1930, the Commonwealth Games have brought nations together in a celebration of sport and human performance.
The Games have grown from just 11 countries and 400 athletes, to a global sensation featuring 6,600 sports men and women across 72 nations and territories.
This year, to celebrate the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, a brand new UK 50p has been released!
2022 UK Commonwealth Games 50p
Initially issued as part of The Royal Mint’s 2022 Annual Coin Set, this brand new 50p issue, designed by Natasha Preece, incorporates the unmistakable geometric patterns of Birmingham Library.
What’s more, this coin has been collaboratively developed with Birmingham 2022 and each home nation’s respective team!
To secure your 2022 UK Commonwealth Games 50p for JUST £4.99 (+p&p) simply click here >>
Your coin has been struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated quality and protectively encapsulated to preserve for generations to come.
With this high level of anticipation for the UK’s next sporting coin, this new Commonwealth Games 50p is expected to be incredibly sought-after among collectors…
Sporting coins are some of the most popular themes of UK coins, with previous coin issues seeing sell-outs and high demand…
2022 UK 150 Years of the FA Cup £2
In 2022, to celebrate a remarkable 150 years of the FA Cup, a brand new UK £2 coin was issued featuring the famed FA Cup Trophy.
This coin was so popular with collectors that the entire special edition range sold out within less than 24 hours at The Royal Mint!
Producing hometown heroes, as underdogs play alongside Premier League giants, these unforgettable moments unite football fans, making the FA Cup one of the greatest knockout tournaments in the world.
Sporting events such as these create huge fan-bases all across the world, each looking for a way to commemorate their favourite team or athlete’s successes.
Therefore, there’s no surprises sporting memorabilia is some of the most sought-after around the globe!
2021 UK Team GB 50p
This coin was initially issued as part of the 2020 Annual Coin Set but with the postponement of the Olympic Games to 2021, this 50p was never individually released in 2020.
This made this 50p one of most sought-after coins in recent years, with collectors having waited a whole year to get their hands on the individual issue.
Additionally, due to the postponement of both the games and the issue of this 50p, there are two versions of the coin – one with the obverse dated 2020 from the 2020 Annual Coin Set and one with the obverse dated 2021 from the year of individual release.
This makes the 2021 Team GB 50p one of only a small handful of UK 50ps to feature a dual-date – only adding to the collectability of the new coin!
2002 Commonwealth Games £2 coins
These four coins were issued in 2002 – again issued to celebrate the Commonwealth Games – this time held in Manchester.
Each has a different cameo, representing each of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom.They are some of the scarcest £2 coins now in circulation, with the Northern Ireland design having a mintage of JUST 485,500!
The other coin designs have the following mintage figures:
- 2002 Commonwealth Games Wales £2: 588,500
- 2002 Commonwealth Games England £2: 650,500
- 2002 Commonwealth Games Scotland £2: 771,750
Find out more about these coins here >>
Sporting themed coins are some of the most sought-after issues a collector can get their hands on.
With the issue of the brand new 2022 UK Commonwealth Games 50p being the UK’s very latest sporting coin, demand is sure to be high.
Will you be securing this coin for your collection?
The 2022 UK Commonwealth Games 50p
Secure your 2022 UK Commonwealth Games 50p for JUST £4.99 (+p&p) by clicking here >>
Your coin has been struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated quality and protectively encapsulated to preserve for generations to come.
The Commonwealth Games Celebrated on UK Coins!
Next year Birmingham is set to host the international multi-sport event, the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The first-ever edition of the Commonwealth Games took place in Canada in 1930. The games consists of 400 athletes from 11 countries who take part in six sports and 59 events.
Since then, the Games have been conducted every four years (except for 1942 and 1946 due to World War II). Team England has competed at every Games – one of only six nations to do so and Team Scotland has hosted the games THREE times!
The Commonwealth Games have been incredibly influential in the sporting world but they’ve also provided the UK with some incredible coin issues!
In our blog, we take a look back at some of the UK coins celebrating the Commonwealth Games…
1986 UK Commonwealth Games £2
The 1986 Commonwealth Games £2 coin changed the face of UK commemorative coins, being the first of its denomination to be struck and the first British coin being issued to commemorate a sporting event.
The thirteenth Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh in 1986, and are well remembered for being boycotted by 32 of the 59 eligible countries who did not agree with Britain’s sporting connections to South Africa during the Apartheid era.
These original £2 coins were never commonly found in circulation, as they were mainly struck for collectors. This made them much rarer than their successor, the bi-metallic £2 coin, as their mintage figures were much lower.
The pre-1997 £2 coins are still legal tender but they’re not used in circulation and banks/shops can refuse to accept them. Despite this, they still remain incredibly popular amongst collectors!
The reverse design of this coin features a thistle encircled by a laurel wreath over the cross of St Andrew and it has a mintage of 8,212,184.
This coin is no longer in circulation but Change Checker has strictly limited stock remaining for collectors. To secure yours with FREE p&p today, simply click here >>
2002 Commonwealth Games £2 Series
These four coins were issued in 2002 – again issued to celebrate the Commonwealth Games – this time held in Manchester.
At first glance, you might struggle to spot the difference between them as they all feature the same running athlete trailing a banner behind.
However, each has a different cameo, representing each of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom.
They are some of the scarcest £2 coins now in circulation, with the Northern Ireland design having a mintage of JUST 485,500!
The other coin designs have the following mintage figures:
- 2002 Commonwealth Games Wales £2: 588,500
- 2002 Commonwealth Games England £2: 650,500
- 2002 Commonwealth Games Scotland £2: 771,750
Find out more about these coins here >>
2014 Commonwealth Games 50p
To celebrate Glasgow holding the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Royal Mint issued an official XX Commonwealth Games 50p coin the very same year
Designed by Alex Loudon, the reverse features a cyclist and athlete depicting the power of sport.
The home of the Games are reflected in the choice of Scottish Saltire and lettering inspired by Glasgow-born architect, artist and designer, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
This coin is the least rare of the Commonwealth Games coins, with a total of 6,500,000 entering circulation.
Vote for your favourite Commonwealth Games coin!
With a total of 6 coins commemorating the Commonwealth Games, we want you to have your say and vote for your favourite!
Secure the 1986 UK Commonwealth Games £2 for your collection!
This coin can no longer be found in circulation, so this could be one of your last chances of securing this coin for your collection!
Recent £2 coin issues ranked amongst the most sought after by new Scarcity Index
Change Checker has released the first-ever scarcity index for £2 circulating coins. Following the recently published indexes for the Round £1 Coin and 50p Coin, the Scarcity Index tracks which £2 coins are the most scarce and collectable, using a unique combination of mintage, collecting and swap data to give the most up-to-date picture of today’s £2 collecting market.
Recent Issues are a hit with collectors
Recent releases have proved a hit with collectors
Whilst all the mintage information is still not available for these issues, intense swap demand and limited numbers of collectors who list the coins in their collections, suggest they may number amongst some of the more sought after issues for years to come– surely a reflection of the UK public’s ever increasing interest in new coin issues.
Commonwealth Games tops the charts
The four Commonwealth Games £2 coins top the Scarcity index
However, it’s the 2002 Commonwealth Games £2 Coin that tops the new Scarcity Index. Whilst almost 2,500,000 £2 coins were issued for the Games, it is only the most eagle-eyed collectors who fully understand the reason for their scarcity.
That’s because there is not just one Commonwealth Games £2 coin but in fact four different designs – only identified by a hardly distinguishable cameo design represented each of the UK’s constituent nations, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.
The result is that rather than 2,500,000 coins being issued, the mintages range between 485,500 and 771,500, helping to cement the coins’ position at the top of £2 Scarcity Index.
How the Scarcity Index works
Generally collectors have had to rely upon mintage figures to identify the scarcest coins. But they only tell part of the story. Trying to find a good quality coin from 15 – 20 years ago, even for a higher mintage issue, is much more challenging than a more recent issue, as coins become damaged over time and are ultimately removed from circulation.
Additionally, some designs are more hoarded than others by people who might not normally collect coins – the recent poignant First World War £2 Coin series being an example. Finally, it can be up to a couple of years before the Royal Mint eventually confirms the actual mintage for an issue.
That’s why we have combined the mintage information with two other key pieces of information.
- How many of each design are listed as “collected” by Change Checkers, indicating the relative ease of finding a particular coin.
- The number of times a design has been requested as a swap over the previous 3 months, showing the current level of collector demand.
Importantly, as new coins are released and popularity rises and falls across different designs the Scarcity Index will be updated quarterly allowing Change Checkers to track the relative performance of the UK’s circulation coins.
How much are my coins worth?
The Scarcity Index does not necessarily equate to value but it is certainly an effective indicator. For example, the Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland £2 coin commands a premium of 15 to 20 times face value of eBay.
As for the more recent issues that have made the top 10, it is perhaps too early to tell. But what is clear, is that more and more of the British public are checking their change in the hope of finding interesting or rare coins in their pocket – perhaps even the Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland £2 coin – you just have to be sharp-eyed.
What about £1 and 50p Coins?
The £1 Scarcity Index has already been published for the Round £1 coins and, because they are no longer being issued, this is now set in stone. You can also visit the Change Checker 50p Scarcity Index, which will continue to be updated quarterly.
