Posts Tagged ‘Shakespeare’
The Shakespeare £2 coins have been released into circulation…
***MINTAGE FIGURE UPDATE***
In 2019 it was revealed that the previous mintage figures of two of the Shakespeare £2 coins weren’t correct..
Below are the correct mintage figures for all three of the 2016 Shakespeare £2 coins:
- Shakespeare Histories: 5,655,000
- Shakespeare Tragedies: 4,615,000
- Shakespeare Comedies: 4,355,000
It’s been confirmed that the Shakespeare £2 coins have been released into circulation, and this is your chance to find one… or all three!
After the exciting news last month that the Peter Rabbit 50ps had been released into circulation in certain parts of England, it seems to be happening again.
Getting your hands on a brand new coin is an achievement, and we’re certain these Shakespeare £2 coins will be just as popular as the Beatrix Potter 50p’s, so it’s best to be quick.
To mark the 400th anniversary of the most influential literary figure in British history, three £2 coins have been released to honour the work of William Shakespeare.
The brand new Shakespeare £2 coins have been amongst the favourites of the coins due for release in 2016 and when the designs were revealed back in November, the Skull design received a lot of attention, not just from collectors.
The three different £2 coins honour Shakespeare’s tragedies, comedies and historical works and have been released into circulation just in time for the 400th anniversary of his death on the 23nd April 2016.
The coins have gone into the tills at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon where Hamlet is currently being performed.
Stratford-upon-Avon was where William Shakespeare spent the beginning and end of his life. It is where he was born and bought up, and it also appears it is the place in which he spent the last three years in retirement, with his wife and three children before he died in 1616.
The coins pay tribute to each of Shakespeare’s major genres and the reverse designs take inspiration from his most famous plays, including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth.
If you’re interested in coin collecting, our Change Checker web app is completely free to use and allows users to:
– Find and identify the coins in their pocket
– Collect and track the coins they have
– Swap their spare coins with other Change Checkers
Sign up today at: www.changechecker.org/app
First look: New Royal Mint coin designs for 2016
The Royal Mint have unveiled the new themes and designs for all 2016 circulation coins, and Change Checkers can look forward to some very significant British anniversaries being commemorated.
The Great Fire of London will feature on a new £2 coin next year
£2 – 350th Anniversary of the Great Fire of London
Undoubtedly one of the worst disasters in Britain’s history, the Great Fire of London started on 2nd September 1666 and lasted for nearly five days. It had a devastating effect on the lives of Londoners, and it took about 50 years to rebuild the ruined city. It was a tragic event but was key in shaping the city which we know today.
The new Battle of Hastings 50p features King Harold with an arrow in his eye – taken from the Bayeux tapestry
50p – 950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings
On 14th October 1066, King Harold II was defeated by the Norman forces of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. It was a pivotal moment in medieval history. From here, William marched onto London which submitted to his rule, and he was crowned as the first Norman King, bringing significant cultural transformation to England.
Three coins will be issued in 2016 to commemorate William Shakespeare
3 x £2 – 400th Anniversary of the Death of William Shakespeare
The most influential literary figure in British history, William Shakespeare is someone who needs little introduction. His works are an important part of Britain’s cultural heritage and next year he will be honoured with a series of three £2 coins which pay tribute to each of his major genres: Tragedies, Comedies and Histories. The reverse designs take inspiration from his most famous plays, including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth.
The 2016 UK WWI £2 Coin
£2 – 2016 First World War Centenary – The British Army
The third issue in the Royal Mint’s five year First World War Centenary series will commemorate the role of the Army. Friends and neighbours across Britain enlisted together and the camaraderie of these so-called ‘Pals Batallions’ are honoured on a new £2 coin.
Next year’s pound coin will be the very last round version before the new 12-sided shape in 2017
£1 – The Last ‘Round Pound’
The Royal Mint have also confirmed that next year will be the final ’round pound’, calling time on a coin which was first issued more than thirty years ago. The reverse design will feature four animals representing each of the four constituent UK countries.
Meanwhile, the Queen’s 90th Birthday milestone has been reserved for the new £5 coin, and you can read more about this in our previous blog.
The announcement of next year’s coins is always an exciting moment for Change Checkers, particularly when the anniversaries are as significant as these.
And now we can now start looking forward to finding these new designs in our change!
All new coins coming soon to www.changechecker.org…