Posts Tagged ‘Star Wars’
Which Star Wars™ 50p design is your favourite?
The first Official UK Star Wars™ 50p was released on 10th July, the first coin in a 4-coin series celebrating the iconic movie franchise. And we couldn’t be more excited!
The first 50p in the series features R2-D2™ and C-3PO™ pictured inside the famed Millennium Falcon. The other 3 coin designs have also now been revealed, and they feature other iconic character duos from the original Star Wars™ trilogy.
Vote for your favourite design
Now that all four Star Wars™ 50p coin designs have been revealed, we want to know which is your favourite.
Vote below to let us know which Star Wars™ character duo you’re most excited to see on UK coins!
Secure your R2-D2™ and C-3PO™ 50p for JUST £4.99 (+p&p)
The R2-D2™ and C-3PO™ 50p is available to add to your collection now. You can also pre-order the other coins in the series alongside the R2-D2™ and C-3PO™ 50p.
Official UK Star Wars™ 50ps RELEASED!
For the first time, iconic characters from the original Star Wars™ trilogy feature on official UK coins in a four-coin collection celebrating 40 years since the release of Return of the Jedi™.
Darth Vader™ & Emperor Palpatine™ 50p
The eagerly awaited second coin in the UK Star Wars™ 50p series has finally been released, and this one takes us over to the Dark Side…
That’s right, the latest coin in the UK Star Wars™ series features the deadly duo of Darth Vader™ and Emperor Palpatine™. A far cry from the loveable R2-D2™ and C-3PO™ who featured on the very first UK Star Wars™ coin.
Special design features
This brand new UK 50p features enemies of the Rebel Alliance, Darth Vader™ and Emperor Palpatine™, as well as a special lenticular feature. On the Darth Vader™ and Emperor Palpatine™ 50p, this unique feature shows the symbol of the Galactic Empire when tilted one way, and the Death Star when tilted the other way.
We rarely see this minting technology on UK 50p coins, which is bound to add to the collectability of these already popular coins.
Darth Vader™ can be seen wielding his lightsaber in the foreground, whilst a cloaked Emperor Palpatine™ lurks in the background. In terms of villains in the Star Wars™ franchise, no duo is more memorable than Vader™ and Palpatine™, so it’s only fitting that they represent the Dark Side on this coin.
R2-D2™ & C-3PO™ 50p
The collection began with a design featuring R2-D2™ and C-3PO™, which appeared on the first official UK coin dedicated to the iconic movie franchise.
This lovable duo can be seen inside the famed Millennium Falcon, but eagle-eyed collectors will notice a special feature appearing on this new 50p…
The special lenticular feature on the R2-D2™ and C-3PO™ 50p changes between Tatooine and the Rebel Alliance Starbird when tilted in different ways.
Discover a new galaxy of coins
Created in partnership with the Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm, a total of four coins will be released in the Star Wars™ 50p series.
The remaining coins will feature Luke Skywalker™ & Princess Leia™ and Han Solo™ & Chewbacca™, and can be pre-ordered now.
What’s more, each coin in the UK Star Wars™ 50p series comes housed in new, bespoke packaging, which fits perfectly into your Change Checker Album.
Find out how you can add these coins to your collection here >>
Huge demand expected
Many collectors will want to add these 50ps to their collection simply because they’re new UK releases.
But as they’re also the FIRST official UK coins celebrating Star Wars™ which is such a huge worldwide phenomenon, we’re expecting an additional surge in demand from enthusiasts all over the world!
And, as the Star Wars™ movie franchise has such strong ties right here in Britain, UK collectors will want to act fast to secure these coins.
Will you be adding the new Star Wars™ 50ps to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!
Continue your Star Wars™ 50p collection!
Don’t miss this chance to add the brand new 2023 UK Star Wars™ Darth Vader™ and Emperor Palpatine™ 50p to your collection for just £4.99 (+p&p)!
Why is Star Wars™ being celebrated on UK coins?
2023 sees the release of the UK’s FIRST EVER Star Wars™ 50ps, and collectors are eager to get their hands on them. The first 50p will feature the lovable duo C-3PO™ and R2-D2™, you can find out all you need to know about these coins here >>
But with Star Wars™ being such a hugely popular global franchise, you might find yourself asking ‘Why is Star Wars™ being celebrated on a UK 50p?’…
Filmed in the UK
Back in 1973 when the idea of Star Wars™ was pitched by then up and coming director George Lucas, many major studios passed on producing the film. Nevertheless, Lucas began working with designers in Kensal Rise, England with no funding to create props and sets. Soon after they began buildings sets at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Despite struggling themselves at the time, 20th Century Fox took a chance on Lucas and started production on Star Wars: A New Hope. Filming started in several locations across the world, but returned to Britain where the interior scenes were filmed at Elstree Studios and Shepperton Studios in Surrey. Filming in the UK took 14 and a half weeks in total!
A British cast
Despite Star Wars™ being the brainchild of American director George Lucas, a large percentage of the cast was made up of British actors. Several homegrown actors topped the billings, giving Star Wars™ a very different accent from many other big-budget franchises.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The British accent began to signify the Empire, with actors such as Ian McDiarmid, Christopher Lee and Kenneth Colly all portraying characters from ‘the dark side’. David Prowse’s Norfolk twang never quite made it into Darth Vader’s repertoire, however.
Harrison Ford once told the BBC that working with a British crew was essentially the same as working with Americans, apart from the fact that they “drink more tea”. It wasn’t just tea that was being enjoyed by the cast and crew however as it’s said that they fully immersed themselves into the ‘after work pub visit’ culture.
Returning to the UK
The franchise returned to the UK for the Phantom Menace, which was largely filmed at Leavesden Studios by British cinematographer David Tattersall.
The late Richard Marquand became the first British Star Wars™ director on Return of the Jedi, a baton picked up by Gareth Edwards for Rogue One many years later.
In more recent years, the Sequel trilogy has seen British talent take centre stage, with the likes of Daisy Ridley and John Boyega taking on leading roles.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Don’t miss out
With so many ties to the UK, it’s no wonder the global Star Wars™ franchise is being celebrated on UK coins. Don’t forget to sign up for updates about the new UK Star Wars™ 50ps to make sure you’re one of the first to get yours hands on them!
