Posts Tagged ‘The Royal Mint’
The best £1 design ever?
It’s not often that such eager anticipation surrounds the issue of a new £1 coin, but the new Royal Arms £1 has captured the imagination of Change Checkers ever since it was revealed at the end of last year.
It is the fourth Royal Arms design since the £1 coin made its debut appearance in 1983 but in a recent Facebook vote, our fans have already hailed it as their favourite, months before its scheduled release date. And it is easy to understand why.
Timothy Noad’s new Royal Arms design is due to enter circulation later this year
Timothy Noad’s contemporary interpretation of the classic British emblem is both bold and original. His design covers a substantial portion of the coin’s reverse, bringing the smaller and normally indistinguishable details to life.
The traditional quartered shield is of course the same, but the crowned lion and unicorn flanking it are far more striking. Noad has also included a subtle twist on the usual design, with a rose, thistle, shamrock and leek at the bottom to represent the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom.
But the coin’s appeal does not stop at its design. It is the very first £1 coin to feature the new portrait of Her Majesty by Jody Clark. It could also be one of the final designs to feature on the pound coin as we know it. The new 12-sided shape will be introduced in 2017 and the window for new designs is getting ever smaller.
Can’t wait?
If you can’t wait to find the new Royal Arms £1 in your change, you can own not one but FIVE straight from the Mint – keep one and swap the rest! The Royal Arms £1 Swapper’s Pack is available now for just £10…
Is this the most important moment ever captured on a coin?
It’s not often that The Royal Mint commemorate an event which occurred as many as 800 years ago, but the Magna Carta warrants every bit of recognition in this very special anniversary year.
In 1215, after King John violated a number of the ancient laws and customs by which England had been governed, his barons forced him to agree to a new set of rules. They rebelled against excessive taxes, formed an army and captured London. John had no choice but to negotiate. To appease the rebels, he produced the Magna Carta and the Royal Seal was attached on 15th June of that year at Runnymede, near Windsor Castle.
The new Magna Carta £2 will enter general circulation later this year
That historic moment is captured on a new £2 coin and features King John holding the Magna Carta and flanked by two barons. Designed by veteran coin artist John Bergdahl, the very distinctive medieval-style lettering is also befitting of the era.
But the edge inscription FOUNDATION OF LIBERTY is the most accurate and succinct description of what the Magna Carta or ‘Great Charter’ represents.
It is certain that King John had not intended to produce a parchment enshrining the basic tenets of human rights, but the elements of the Magna Carta were just that. For the first time an English king had set detailed limits on royal authority and, crucially, made clear that the king was subject to the law and not above it.
The Magna Carta was arguably the most significant early influence on creating the rule of constitutional law today in the English-speaking world. In fact, it is still cited in many legal cases today – even in America.
The Magna Carta £2 is due to enter general circulation later this year – make sure you keep an eye out for one in your change!
Always ‘Pemember’ the facts about rare £2 coins
Every keen collector knows that it is worthwhile paying close attention to the small details of your coins – it’s the only way you can ever hope to spot an error. However, it’s also important to know when you have a genuine rarity. There are a few stories which crop up more often than others, and hopefully this post will help dispel some of the myths about the £2 coins you can find in your change.
2005 ‘Pemember, Pemember’ Gunpowder Plot £2
The edge inscription of the Gunpowder Plot £2 appears to be spelt incorrectly
The 2005 Gunpowder Plot £2 commemorates the 400th anniversary of Guy Fawkes’ failed assassination attempt on King James I, but the coin is more familiar to collectors for having a spelling mistake in the edge inscription. The timeless quote “Remember, remember the fifth of November” has been found with various combinations of Pemember, Pemembep, Novemebep and so on. The common factor here is the ‘R’ which appears as a ‘P’.
Sadly for collectors this is apparently not a striking error. The explanation from the Royal Mint is that the down-stroke of the R coincides with the milling around the edge, and as the coin has worn over time, the letter has become less defined. This categorical statement from the Mint means that any mark-up in price for a supposed ‘error’ is completely unjustified, and although it makes the coin more interesting, it is not the mistake which it is often perceived to be.
2007 Abolition of Slavery £2
There is a misconception that there were two types of the Abolition of Slavery £2 coin struck for circulation. It is true that two versions of the coins exist – one has a textured finish whereas the other has a smooth finish and features the artist, David Gentleman’s initials (circled). The key difference is that only the textured version was struck for circulation, and if you find one of the smoother types in your change, you have actually found a coin which has been taken out of a presentation pack. This makes it considerably rarer than the circulating version, so it is worth keeping rather than spending!
1997 Maklouf ‘Queen with a Necklace’ £2
The Maklouf ‘Necklace’ £2 was only issued in 1997
The ‘Queen with a Necklace’ £2 has an enduring legacy in the collecting world. The very first bi-metallic £2 coins were issued in 1997, just prior to the Queen’s portrait change in 1998. This meant that the older portrait by Raphael Maklouf was only used for one year: 1997. His version featured Queen Elizabeth II wearing a necklace, which is how the nickname was derived.
When the portrait change was announced, the new £2 coins were snapped up by collectors believing them to be a future rarity. As it turned out, a mintage of nearly 14 million means the ‘Queen with a Necklace’ £2 is not one of the rarest coins in circulation. Nevertheless, with only one year of issue, it still holds an undeniable interest for collectors.
It’s the little details like these that make collecting so interesting – and hopefully we’ve shed a bit more light on some of the most popular myths. Do you have any of these coins in your collection?
Own the UK 2007 Royal Mint Brilliant Uncirculated Pack
This Brilliant Uncirculated collection features nine coins which were released in 2007, including the Abolition of Slavery £2 coin.
Each coin in the pack is struck to the Royal Mint’s Brilliant Uncirculated quality, ensuring they are in superior condition compared to the coins you find in your change
Click here to buy yours today.