Posts Tagged ‘Dame Vera Lynn’
International Women’s Day! Remarkable Women Celebrated on UK Coins…
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
To celebrate, in this blog we take a closer look at just some of the incredible women who have been commemorated on our UK coins!
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II
Celebrating her Platinum Jubilee in 2022, Queen Elizabeth II is Britain’s longest reigning monarch and the fourth longest reigning monarch in worldwide history!
There have been some incredible coins celebrating Her Majesty, including the recently issued Platinum Jubilee 50p coin – the UK’s FIRST Royal 50p!
This 50p features a reverse design by agency Osborne Ross but, what’s particularly special about this coin is that TWO versions have actually been created…
One includes an obverse design by John Bergdahl featuring the Queen on horseback (pictured left) and the other includes Jody Clark’s obverse of the Queen’s portrait.
QEII is arguably the most loved and respected monarch our country has ever seen so it’s only right on the day we honour the achievements of women throughout history, that we dedicate a portion to Her Majesty.
Dame Vera Lynn
Coined as the ‘Forces Sweetheart’, singer Dame Vera Lynn rose to fame in 1940 with her wartime songs, White Cliffs of Dover, and We’ll Meet Again.
Vera Lynn spent time travelling the world, singing to soldiers who were fighting on front lines.
She risked her life to inspire others when they needed it most and provided comfort to those of wouldn’t survive to return home.
Sadly, in 2020, we received the news that Dame Vera Lynn had passed away. She touched the lives of so many, that Her Majesty the Queen sent a private message of condolence to Dame Vera’s family.
In 2022, The Royal Mint commemorated Dame Vera Lynn’s life and achievements with this brand new £2 coin. Featuring a portrait of the famous singer on the reverse, this £2 is the perfect tribute to one of the UK’s most inspirational women.
Mary Anning
Mary Anning was one of Britain’s greatest fossil hunters and her discoveries were some of the most important geological finds of all time.
Her discoveries of spectacular marine reptiles prompted the scientific community to begin further investigation into explanations for changes in the natural world.
In 2021, a new 50p series was issued to commemorate Anning by The Royal Mint.
These 50p coins, issued in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, feature designs of the Temnodontosaurus, Plesiosaurus and, Dimorphodon – all prehistoric giants discovered by Anning on the Jurassic Coast!
A truly inspiring woman, who pushed for her passion, making important historic discoveries and changes as a result.
Rosalind Franklin
English chemist, Rosalind Franklin sits right at the very heart of the story of DNA.
Her ground-breaking research and inspiring work ethic were central to the discovery of the helical structure of DNA, which was later publicised by Watson and Crick.
Tragically, at the age of just 37, Franklin passed away from ovarian cancer, robbing her of the same awards and recognitions that her colleagues were gifted.
But in 2020, to celebrate what would have been her 100th birthday, she also became the second scientist to be celebrated in The Royal Mint’s Innovation in Science series.
The reverse design of this coin, by David Knapton, features a depiction of her famous Photograph 51, which enabled her to discover the structure of DNA in her laboratory in Cambridge.
Agatha Christie
After the end of the First World War, Christie published her first novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles.
This incredibly popular story introduced readers to one of Christie’s most famous characters – Belgian detective Hercule Poirot*.
Writing well into her later years, Christie wrote more than 70 detective novels as well as short fiction which have been adapted into films, television, and radio programmes.
In 1971, she was made a Dame of the British Empire for her outstanding contribution to Literature.
In 2020, to mark 100 years since her first publication, The Royal Mint celebrated the world’s best-selling novelist with a £2 coin.
David Lawrence’s design of this coin pays homage to Christie’s crime novels, with a piece of a jigsaw slotting into place and her signature at the bottom.
There really have been some incredible women celebrated on our UK coins, and this is just a small selection.
Is there an influential women you’d like to see on our coins in the future? Let us know in the comments below!
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‘Forces Sweetheart’, Dame Vera Lynn, commemorated on UK £2 coin
In 2020, we received the sad news that Dame Vera Lynn had sadly passed away. The iconic wartime singer was famous for boosting the morale of British troops during WWII.
Coined as the ‘forces sweetheart’, her renditions of We’ll Meet Again, the White Cliffs of Dover and I’ll be Seeing You, became synonyms with wartime.
Dame Vera Lynn played such a key role during wartime that Buckingham Palace sent a private message of condolence to her family.
And in 2022, to commemorate her life and achievements, The Royal Mint commemorates her on a brand new £2 coin.
Designed by The Royal Mint, this £2 features a detailed portrait of Vera Lynn as she appeared during the height of her fame.
The popularity of her songs carried across generations. In 2020, when many of us were forced apart from one another, her famous song ‘We’ll Meet Again’ spoke to the nation once more, with a similar level of emotion as they did in 1940 – a testament to her charm, skill, and beautiful voice.
To add this stunning commemorative £2 coin to your collection today for JUST £9.50 (+p&p), simply click here >>
To learn more about other UK coins which have been issued to commemorate wartime, continue reading…
2020 Victory in Europe £2
2020 marked 75 years since Victory in Europe Day, commonly known as VE Day.
This monumental day signified the end of the Second World War in Europe and brought long-awaited peace following Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of armed forces on the 8th May 1945.
To commemorate this pivotal moment and one of the most historically significant days in British history, a UK £2 coin was issued.
Dominique Evans‘ design features a woman holding a newspaper aloft in crowd of celebrating people, set against a backdrop of the word VICTORY.
The edge inscription reads ‘JUST TRIUMPH AND PROUD SORROW’ which is incredibly fitting for a coin which marks such a historic anniversary.
You can secure this coin for your collection for JUST £9.50 (+p&p) by clicking here >>
2019 D-Day £2
In 2019, The Royal Mint issued a £2 coin commemorating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, the largest seaborne invasion in history.
The invasion took place on the 6th June 1944 and began the liberation of German occupied France and laid the foundations for the Allied Victory.
Initially issued as part of the 2019 Annual Coin Set, the D-Day £2 is favoured among collectors for its innovative design by Stephen Taylor.
The reverse features arrows pointing across the English Channel to Normandy; each arrow has one of the five code-names for the beaches where Allied Troops landed: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.
2005 St. Paul’s Cathedral £2
In 2005, The Royal Mint issued a second £2 in the new bi-metallic specifications to commemorate 60 years since the end of the war.
On 8th May 1945, Winston Churchill announced VE Day – Victory in Europe, which marked the end of World War Two.
Interestingly, the reverse design depicts St. Paul’s Cathedral. This is because the cathedral was one of only a few structures which survived the Blitz to become a great symbol of hope to a war-torn nation.
The edge inscription reads ‘IN VICTORY: MAGNANIMITY, IN PEACE: GOODWILL’ which is part of the famous maxim that prefaces Churchill’s history of the Second World War.
10,191,000 entered circulation. Have you found one in your change? Comment below!
Secure the 2022 UK Dame Vera Lynn £2 for your collection today!
The 2022 UK Annual Coins are HERE!
Each year, collectors eagerly anticipate the arrival of the 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!
With some momentous anniversaries coming up this year, the issues in the 2022 Annual Set are some of the MOST poignant yet.
So, let’s kick off the year with the coins we’ve all been waiting for, the 2022 Annual Set.
Platinum Jubilee 50p
Kicking things off with a UK FIRST, is the brand new 2022 Platinum Jubilee 50p.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch, with an incredible 70 years of service to the crown.
In tribute to this record-breaking achievement, The Royal Mint have issued the UK’s very first royal 50p!
Designed by Osborne Ross, the coin features a slick reverse design that shows the number 70, the royal cypher and the years that span her reign so far.
Her Majesty’s fifth portrait, by Jody Clark, also features on the obverse of this coin.
What an incredible anniversary for Her Majesty to be celebrating this year and I’m sure you’ll agree that this stunning 50p is a wonderful tribute to her.
The UK’s VERY FIRST Royal 50p will be issued individually in just two days’ time, on the 6th January. This version will feature a special obverse design not found in the Annual Set… Stay tuned to find out more!
Commonwealth Games 50p
The Commonwealth Games was first held in 1930 and with the exception of wartime (1942 and 1946) has taken place every four years since then!
In the entire 92-year history, 2022 marks only the third time that England has played host to the games! So to mark the occasion, The Royal Mint has issued this brand new 50p.
Featuring a design by Royal Mint designer Natasha Preece, this 50p represents the essence of Birmingham 2022 with a striking geometric design.
We think it’s the perfect tribute to Birmingham hosting the games for the very first time and a great way to wish all of the athletes good luck.
Alexander Graham Bell £2
Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish-born inventor, scientist, and engineer who patented the first practical telephone.
In the 100th anniversary year since his passing, The Royal Mint have issued this brand new £2 coin.
The coin features a design showing the dial of a push-button phone, alongside the words ‘pioneer of the telephone’ inscribed into the buttons.
It’s hard to image a life without our phones, but before Bell’s work, it was a complete unknown.
It was back in 1871 that Bell first started work on his harmonic telegraph, which allowed multiple messages to be transmitted over a wire at the same time.
And in 1876, he made his very first telephone call to Thomas Watson and was then granted his telephone patent.
The design of this coin perfectly celebrates all of Bell’s achievements in making real-time long-distance communication possible.
Dame Vera Lynn £2
In 2020, we received the sad news that Dame Vera Lynn had sadly passed away. The iconic wartime singer was famous for boosting the morale of British troops during WWII.
Coined as the forces sweetheart, her renditions of We’ll Meet Again, The White Cliffs of Dover and I’ll Be Seeing You, became synonyms with wartime.
Dame Vera Lynn played such a key role during wartime that Buckingham Palace sent a private message of condolence to her family.
And in 2022, to commemorate her life and achievements, The Royal Mint commemorates her on a brand new £2 coin.
Designed by The Royal Mint design team, this £2 features a detailed portrait of Dame Vera Lynn as she appeared during the height of her fame.
The popularity of her songs has carried across generations. In 2020, her songs still spoke to the nation with a similar level of emotion as they did in 1940 – a testament to her charm, skill, and beautiful voice.
Platinum Jubilee £5
In this very special anniversary year for Her Majesty, we have been treated to not one but TWO Platinum Jubilee coins.
This £5, designed by John Bergdahl features a stunning reverse design. The royal mantle appears as a surround, as it was used on the coinage of William IV!
Inheriting the throne at the age of just 25, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has remained a national constant as head of state since 6 February 1952.
Since then, the nation has watched her grow from a young queen to the much-loved monarch that she is today.
The dates 1952-2022 feature on the reverse design, in a poignant tribute to her incredible 70 years of service to the crown.
I’m sure you’ll agree that this year’s Annual Coin Set is the most impressive to date.
With some incredible anniversaries and events coming up this year, there’s no doubt these coins will be in high demand with collectors.
Don’t forget, the UK’s VERY FIRST Royal 50p will be issued individually in just two days’ time (6th January) – stay tuned to find out more!
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