Posts Tagged ‘unusual coins’
The coins with THREE different dates on them…
Have you heard about the coins with THREE different dates?
- It was approved by Queen Elizabeth II in 2022
- It was re-approved by King Charles III in 2023
- It features ‘1922’ as a date on the obverse
And if these circumstances weren’t unusual enough, the coins releases also missed the 100th anniversary they were commemorating.
These three dates can be seen on the brand new Tutankhamun 50p coins. If you can’t wait to add them to your own collection, click here >>
Otherwise, continue reading to discover how this happened and why the coins are set to become the most collectable coins in years…
How do the coins have three dates?
In 1922, Howard Carter uncovered a step in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt.
That step ended up being the start of a staircase that led to a tomb – the tomb of Tutankhamun.
To mark the anniversary of the incredible discovery, a brand new set of 50p coins were authorised in 2022 by the Isle of Man.
These 50ps then went to Buckingham Palace for approval.
The Queen approved the coins, but that ended up being one of her last official acts before her sad passing on 8 September 2022.
Her death put all new coins on hold.
Mints around the world halted production to observe the mourning period and await palace instructions.
When this came, the Isle of Man was instructed to re-submit an application to the Palace, this time for the approval of His Majesty King Charles III.
The problem? This was late in 2022. Would the Isle of Man get approval from the King before the year of the anniversary passed?
In short, no.
Palace approval came through in January 2023.
The coins features the same reverse, showing 1922 and 2022 commemorating the centenary anniversary.
But the obverse – now featuring the first British Isles King Charles III portrait – carries the year 2023.
So that’s how the coins came to have three dates on it. But what does this mean for it’s collectability?
The power of strange…
Quirks like this are very few and far between… In fact, i’ve never heard of a coin like these.
The closest example came about due to the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
When the Olympic Games were postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to the pandemic, it led to a design quirk that created a collecting frenzy for a particular 50p.
Issued in the 2020 Annual Coin Set, the Team GB 50p was issued to mark our athletes participation in the upcoming Tokyo Games.
So, when the games were postponed, so was this coin’s individual issue.
Eventually issued in 2021, this 50p become one of just a handful of coins to feature a dual-date – 2020 on the reverse and 2021 on the obverse.
The coin sold out in a flash.
So considering the popularity of the dual-dated Team GB 50p, you can understand why coins with THREE dates, such as the Tutankhamun 50ps, are a must-have.
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11 of the world’s most oddly shaped coins…
One of the most fascinating things about coin collecting is of course the design on the coin – but what about the shape of the coin itself? As minting technology continues to advance, coins are being struck in all kinds of exciting and innovative shapes.
So I’ve put together selection of 11 unusually shaped collectable coins from around the world…
1. The WWI Brodie Helmet coin …
To commemorate the Armistice Centenary, The Royal Canadian Mint issued a remarkable new coin to honour each and every fallen soldier.
Struck in the shape of a WWI Brodie Helmet, it is more deeply curved surface than any other concave or convex-shaped coin I’ve seen before. The design is so unique in fact, that the Mint have kept the minting technique a closely guarded secret.
2. The FIRST rugby coin of its kind…
To mark the Rugby World Cup in 2015, France issued the first ever coin shaped like a rugby ball.
The concave coins proved to be extremely popular with collectors worldwide, with many keen to add a coin with such a unique pedigree to their collections.
3. A coin shaped like a country…
The Perth Mint regularly issue map-shaped coins, taking advantage of their country’s unique and recognisable outline.
This series makes use of purpose-built tooling and die design to give the coin its distinctive shape.
The first coin in the series featured the Kookaburra and was issued in 2012. Since then there have been a variety of different animals to feature on the coin, with the most recent being the Dingo.
4. The ‘Imperial Egg’…
This impressive looking coin boasts beautiful enamelled colour and a shimmering gemstone inlay.
The ‘Imperial Egg’ Coin is based on the work of Fabergé and proved to be very popular with collectors, especially during the Easter period.
5. You’ll be lucky to find one of these…
You certainly won’t find this Four-Leaf Clover Coin in a field, no matter how hard you look! Legend has it that Eve took a four-leaf-clover from paradise as a memento for the wonderful time she had spent there – they’ve been considered lucky ever since.
Struck in gold to a proof finish, this cleverly produced coin could certainly be regarded as lucky by collectors who have one in their collection – as it is now highly sought-after.
6. The Earth-shattering coin…
The extra-terrestrial chondrite that has been set into the centre of this coin was sourced from a meteorite that crash-landed in Morocco in 2005. The space rock shattered into several pieces when it entered the Earth’s atmosphere.
The coin itself has been struck in a concave shape to represent the crater in which the piece of meteorite landed.
7. Is it a coin or is it a bar? It’s both…
This rectangular silver coin-bar features one of the world’s most iconic landmarks – London’s Tower Bridge.
It’s not often that you see coins minted in this shape as the ‘bar’ format is usually reserved for bullion.
This stunning coin boasts an intricately detailed engraving and tiny details can be seen on the Tower Bridge to create windows, clock and brickwork.
8. The poppy-shaped remembrance coin…
This coin’s unique shape and rich red printing on the reverse takes inspiration from the poppy, which has become synonymous throughout the world as a symbol of remembrance and the charitable work of The Royal British Legion.
Issued to commemorate the end of the First World War and to Remember the Fallen, the Poppy Coin is a significant issue that is poignant to many.
9. The coin that sold out in two days…
This remarkable coin is shaped like the iconic Canadian maple leaf, and proved so popular that it sold out at the Royal Canadian Mint in just 2 days.
Canadian Maple Leaf coins are some of the world’s most recognised Silver coins. This issue takes the design to a whole new level and comes complete with a special wooden display case.
10. The coin that combines heaven and earth…
Issued in China since 221 BCE, the Chinese Lucky Cash Coin features a square hole at its centre to represent Earth, while the circle symbolises heaven. This combination of heaven and earth make the coin a symbol of harmony and prosperity.
Chinese fortune-tellers would use cash coins, a tortoise shell, and their skill at numerology to tell the future. Because of their association with mystical prediction, these coins from China are thought to bring good luck.
11. And last but not least…
The playful Russian ‘Matryoshka Dolls’ first appeared in the late 19th century, now they’ve been immortalised on a silver coin.
This oval issue is displayed within special bespoke packagingwhich consists of two traditional wooden nesting dolls placed one inside the other – the coin and packaging are both something that I’ve never come across before!
Are you lucky enough to have any of these coins in your collection, or perhaps you’ve seen another coin that you think should be on the list? Let me know in the comments below
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