The Isle of Man TT returns! New £2 coin issued to celebrate

The Isle of Man TT races, an annual tradition since 1907, returns this year. Riders and spectators from around the world will travel to the island for what has 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. 2023 is no exception, as this year we’ll see a brand new Isle of Man £2, issued to mark 100 years since the sidecar entered the races.

But the most exciting news for collectors is that it’ll be the FIRST EVER King Charles III TT £2 coin!

The design

In 1923, the first Sidecar was 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.

2023 Isle of Man TT £2 coin reverse
2023 Isle of Man TT £2 coin reverse

For the first time ever on an Isle of Man TT coin, the obverse features King Charles III’s effigy. Since the first King Charles III coin was issued last year, we’ve seen demand for new UK coins soar. With every Isle of Man TT coin since 1981 having featured Queen Elizabeth II, this change is sure to catch the eye of collectors wanting to add a highly collectable issue to their collection.

2023 Isle of Man TT £2 coin obverse
2023 Isle of Man TT £2 coin obverse featuring King Charles III

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, a 15,000 2023 Isle of Man TT £2 coins will be released into circulation on the island. So it’s time to beat the crowds and add this coin to your collection now >>

Numismatic history of the TT races

The first Isle of Man TT coin was a 50p issued in 1981, and a new TT 50p 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 hefty amounts on the secondary market.

Here are a few of our favourite Isle of Man TT coins.

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.

2019 Steve Hislop Isle of Man TT £2 Coins
2019 Steve Hislop Isle of Man TT £2 Coins

2018

2018 Mike Hailwood Isle of Man TT £2 Coins
2018 Mike Hailwood Isle of Man TT £2 Coins

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

1981 Joey Dunlop Isle of Man TT 50p
1981 Joey Dunlop Isle of Man TT 50P. Credit: eBay

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 the 2023 Isle of Man TT Races £2 Coin for your collection!

2023 Isle of Man TT £2 banner

Your 2023 Isle of Man TT £2 Coin has been struck to a Superior Brilliant Uncirculated condition and is carefully encapsulated in official Change Checker packaging.

We only have a small initial allocation, so now’s the time to join the race to secure your 2023 Isle of Man TT £2, whilst stocks last!

The Isle of Man TT is back! Brand new coin collection JUST issued!

The Isle of Man TT (or Tourist Trophy) races have been an annual tradition on the island since the first one in 1907 and attract riders and spectators from around the globe.

The races are coined as one of the most dangerous races in the world, known to motoring enthusiasts as the ‘Ultimate Road Race’.

Isle of Man TT Races 1992, crowd watching as racer comes round the bend.
Isle of Man TT Races 1992.
Credit: Christof Berger, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The races have taken place annually since 1907, only ever cancelled during wartime, the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak and the Covid-19 pandemic.

But this year, the Isle of Man TT races return, with their 101st event!

To celebrate their return after 2 cancelled years, the Isle of Man have issued a collection of brand new coins!

The 2022 Isle of Man TT £2 Coin Pair

The first design features the iconic TT Grandstand which marks the start and end of the race!

The original 1920s wooden Grandstand structure was demolished in 1986 and replaced with a new and improved Grandstand complex, complete with wider lanes, a race communications tower, and seating.

The second £2 coin features a representation of a volunteer TT races marshal waving the chequered flag.

Most TT marshals are volunteers and often motorsports enthusiasts themselves, meaning they can get a little closer to the action, whilst keeping spectators and riders safe.

Previous Isle of Man TT coins have always been a hit with collectors and excitingly 15,000 of each will be released into circulation on the island.

However, with such small mintages compared to their UK counterparts and the fact that they are not legal tender in the UK, you’d have to be incredibly lucky to find one in your change…

Your Isle of Man TT £2 Coin Pair has been struck to a Superior Brilliant Uncirculated condition and carefully encapsulated in official Change Checker packaging.

We only have a small initial allocation, so now’s the time to join the race to secure your Isle of Man TT £2 coins, whilst stocks last!

Click here to own yours for just £25 (+p&p) >>

The 2022 Isle of Man TT Crown Coin

As the excitement builds for the return of the races this year, the Isle of Man have also released a NEW Crown Coin in celebration of the event!

The design features the official TT logo with the outline of the iconic TT race route map, surrounded by a laurel wreath, signifying victory, against a checkered flag background.

What’s more, due to the complexity of the design, this coin features a frosted Brilliant Uncirculated finish to highlight the exquisite detail.

As with the £2 coins, we only have a small initial allocation, so you’ll have to pip the thousands of interested collectors to the post to secure yours.

Secure yours here for JUST £14.99 (+p&p) >>

Isle of Man TT numismatic history

Since the first Isle of Man TT coins were issued in 1981, they have proved incredibly popular amongst collectors and motoring enthusiasts alike, with some selling for over £700 on eBay!

The first Isle of Man TT coin was a 50p which featured famous motorcyclist Joey Dunlop and 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!

A new TT 50p has been released most years since 1981 by the Isle of Man, however commemorative £2, £5 and Crown coins have also been issued to mark the event, which just goes to show how important and incredibly popular the TT races are.

1981 Joey Dunlop Isle of Man TT 50p
1981 Joey Dunlop Isle of Man TT 50P. Credit: eBay
2018 Mike Hailwood Isle of Man TT £2 Coins
2018 Mike Hailwood Isle of Man TT £2 Coins

These coins were issued in 2018 to celebrate racing legend Mike Hailwood’s 60th year since his first TT race and 40th year 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.

In 2019, the Isle of Man released two £2 coins marking 112 years since the first TT race in 1907.

The reverse designs feature 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.

2019 Steve Hislop Isle of Man TT £2 Coins
2019 Steve Hislop Isle of Man TT £2 Coins

Another famous race that takes place annually on the island, this time for cars, 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. There are now less than 50 of these remaining, secure yours HERE!


Do you have any Isle of Man TT races coins in your collection? Let us know in the comments below!


Secure the Isle of Man TT Races £2 Coin Pair for your collection!

Your Isle of Man TT £2 Coin Pair has been struck to a Superior Brilliant Uncirculated condition and carefully encapsulated in official Change Checker packaging.

We only have a small initial allocation, so now’s the time to join the race to secure your Isle of Man TT £2 coins, whilst stocks last!

Click here to own yours for just £25 (+p&p) >>

Relive a history of racing action with the Isle of Man TT coins!

This year, two brand new Isle of Man £2 coins were released for the special anniversary year of the Isle of Man TT, commemorating racing legend Mike Hailwood’s 60th year since his first TT race and 40th year since his triumphant return.

The coins have proved incredibly popular among collectors and motoring enthusiasts alike, which is a common theme from the previous TT coins, some of which have sold for £500 on eBay!

So all this has got us interested in the history of the TT coins and some of the most popular ones you could find in your change.

 

Where it all began

The Tourist Trophy first started in 1907 and has been celebrated with coin issues since 1981 when the first Isle of Man TT 50p was released.

This coin featured famous motorcyclist Joey Dunlop within the traditional sprigs framing the coin.

Only 5,000 coins of this design were struck and it can be found selling on eBay well above face value.

1981 Joey Dunlop Isle of Man TT 50p. Credit: eBay

Not just 50ps

Since then, there have been 50ps released to mark the event on most years, as well as a selection of crowns and a special commemorative £5 coin in 2017 to commemorate 110 years of the TT.

This coin featured the Roman God, Mercury, the Winged God of the Messengers. It can also be found for more than face value on eBay, with some sellers including the official Isle of Man TT packaging.

2017 £5 Isle of Man TT in official packaging. Credit: eBay

 

Isle of Man TT Crowns

 

Design

The common theme among each coin design is of course the iconic motorcycle, synonymous with the TT event. A range of famous bikes have featured on the coins, including Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha and this year the Ducati.

The 50p coins are framed by the traditional sprigs and some feature the official TT logo, whilst other simply have the words ‘TT’ inscribed upon them.

Which design is your favourite?

Isle of Man TT 50ps

 

Popular TT coins

Isle of Man 50p coins are not legal tender in the UK. They are only released into circulation on the Isle of Man, and often with a low mintage figure, meaning they very rarely turn up in UK change.

This, along with the fact that they are themed around a hugely popular event, means that the coins often prove to be very sought-after.

Mintage figures for these coins are not easily found, meaning it is very difficult to determine which is the ‘rarest’, however it seems that one of the most popular designs is the 1997 Philip McCallen Isle Of Man TT 50p, currently listed on eBay by one seller at £745!

Of course, the actual value of this coin very much depends on its condition and how much an individual seller is willing to pay.

1997 Isle of Man TT 50p listed for £745. Credit: eBay

 

It’s fair to say that the Isle of Man TT coins have been, and continue to be very collectable.

The unmistakable motorbike design causes these coins to stand out from any other coin and has created a link between the world of coin collecting and the world of motorbike racing, as avid collectors and racing fanatics alike enjoy finding these striking coins.


Secure your 2018 Isle of Man TT £2 coins today!

To celebrate this special anniversary year, two new Isle of Man TT £2 coins have been released by The Royal Mint, depicting Mike Hailwood’s famous Ducati.

Order yours today >>