The Royal Mint reveals Britain’s rarest 50 pences in 2020 Mintage Figures

Sep 15, 2021 | ,

The Royal Mint has today posted the mintage figures for the calendar year of 2020, providing the official guide to the rarest coins in circulation.

In 2020, over 330 million coins were released into circulation, including new 50 pence designs commemorating ‘Diversity Built Britain’ and the UK’s Withdrawal from the European Union. Ten million of each design were released into circulation, making them widely accessible.

The 50 pence is Britain’s most collectable coin and provides the ideal canvas for commemorative designs – with more than 50 different versions released into circulation since 1969. The famous 2009 Kew Gardens 50p remains the most coveted coin in circulation, with a mintage of just 210,000. Other rare designs include the 2011 Olympic 50p’s and the highly collectible Peter Rabbit series.

In January 2020 The Royal Mint issued a new 50 pence to mark the UK’s departure from the European Union, featuring the inscription “Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations” as a symbol of continued unity. In October 2020 a fifty pence was issued to celebrate ‘Diversity Built Britain’ as part of Black History Month. To accompany the release The Royal Mint issued a coin and education pack to every primary school in England and Wales.

The Royal Mint’s Director of UK Currency, Mark Loveridge, comments: “As the original maker of UK coins, we are delighted to play our part in celebrating the story of the nation.

In 2020 two important new designs were issued on fifty pences, commemorating British diversity and the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

“Coin collecting remains a popular hobby in the UK, and finding a special design in your change adds to the excitement. If you are lucky enough to find a commemorative 50 pence you can find more information about its history, design and mintage on our website.”

As well as the coins found in your change, The Royal Mint issues a range of commemorative coins each year to celebrate landmark events, anniversaries and individuals that have shaped the nation. In 2021 that has included collectable coins celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s 95th birthday, Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics and the 50th anniversary of Mr Men and Little Miss.

The Royal Mint’s Top 10 Rarest 50p Coins in Circulation

Coin Mintage
2009 Kew Garden 210,000
2011 Olympic Wrestling 1,129,500
2011 Olympic Triathlon 1,161,500
2011 Olympic Judo 1,161,500
2011 Olympic Football 1,161,500
2018 Flopsy Bunny 1,400,000
2018 Peter Rabbit 1,400,000
2011 Olympic Tennis 1,454,000
2011 Olympic Goalball 1,615,500
2011 Olympic Shooting 1,656,500

In celebration of coin collecting, The Royal Mint will host its’ annual ‘Collect Week’ from 20th September. The event features a host of expert webinars and behind the scenes content – all of which is free and can be streamed from home.

For the full mintage figures, also see The Royal Mint’s website: https://www.royalmint.com/currency/uk-currency/mintages/

The Royal Mint launches official 50p coin to honour British inventor Charles Babbage

Sep 13, 2021 | ,

The Royal Mint, the Original Maker of UK coins, is celebrating the life and legacy of Charles Babbage with a commemorative 50p coin, released to mark the 150th anniversary of his death.

As part of The Royal Mint’s ‘Innovation in Science’ series, which pays tribute to some of Britain’s greatest minds, the Charles Babbage 50p follows collectable coins in honour of John Logie Baird, Rosalind Franklin and Stephen Hawking.

An influential scientist, Charles Babbage was a lifelong inventor who believed that scientifi­c advancement should bene­fit everyone. He was best known for his mechanical calculator, or ‘Difference Engine,’ and conceived the Analytical Engine, that had many essential features found in modern digital computers.

Designed by Nigel Tudman and Jas Bhamra, the latest collectable coin honours Babbage’s legacy with a design that links his machinery to the digital age on the canvas of a 50p piece. The making of the Charles Babbage coin, available in brilliant uncirculated, gold, silver piedfort and silver, combines traditional minting skills and modern technology.

Clare Maclennan, The Royal Mint’s Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin, said: “Known as the Father of the Computer, Charles Babbage’s inventions have influenced the way we all work and play today, and there is possibly no greater example of the importance of his legacy than in recent times with the reliance of digital media during the pandemic.”

She added: “The collectable Charles Babbage 50p is the latest tribute to some of Britain’s greatest scientific inventors on official UK coin. Our Innovation in Science series has proved extremely popular with coin collectors and we are delighted to add Charles Babbage to the collection, marking 150 years since his death.”

Difference Engine edition of coins, designed and produced by The Royal Mint. Photographed on-gallery at the Science Museum in London, by Difference Engine No.2

Speaking of the coin design, London-based graphic designer Nigel Tudman said: “The Charles Babbage coin brief has been my favourite so far as it involved expressing the development of an idea; taking a complex subject and stripping it back to the essentials to create an attractive yet simple design that contains a subtle message or brain teaser.

“Our aim was to achieve a timeless design created in low relief on the canvas of a 50p which celebrated Babbage the inventor and took inspiration from his Difference Engines. Using a geometric modernist typeface and suggesting the horizontal and vertical bars and numbers from the original machine, the design reflects the movement and flow of the calculations in motion, adding the extra twist of encoding Babbage’s name.”

The coin is available to purchase from today in a range of precious metals and brilliant uncirculated at The Royal Mint website.

George H.W. Bush Coin and Chronicles Set Available on September 17

Sep 11, 2021 | ,

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) will accept orders for the Coin and Chronicles Set–George H.W. Bush on September 17 at noon EDT. This special set includes:

  • One 2020 George H.W. Bush Presidential $1 Reverse Proof Coin (available only in this set)
  • One George H.W. Bush Presidential 99.9 percent silver medal produced in San Francisco (no mint mark)
  • One Barbara Bush First Spouse 1 5/16″ bronze medal
  • One U.S. postage stamp issued in 2019 in honor of President Bush, and
  • One biographical booklet including images from his life and presidency.

The $1 coin, silver medal, bronze medal, and stamp are displayed in a custom-designed folder with slip case. The Certificate of Authenticity is printed on the back of the packaging.

The obverse (heads) of the George H.W. Bush $1 Reverse Proof Coin was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Elana Hagler and sculpted by Chief Engraver Joseph Menna. The design features the likeness of President Bush with the inscriptions “GEORGE H.W. BUSH,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” “41st PRESIDENT,” “and “1989-1993.”

The coin’s reverse (tails), designed and engraved by former Mint Lead Engraver Don Everhart, depicts a striking rendition of the Statue of Liberty, with the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “$1.” “2020,” “S” (mint mark), and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are incused on the coin’s edge.

The Presidential Silver Medal is 99.9 percent silver and features the same designs as the Bush Presidential Bronze Medal. Designed and engraved by former Chief Engraver John Mercanti, the obverse features the President’s portrait with the White House in the background. The inscription “GEORGE BUSH” is centered along the top left border.

The medal’s reverse was designed and engraved by former Medallic Artist Chester Martin. The design depicts the Presidential Seal, flanked by draped, burning torches of liberty. The inscription “OUR TIME IS A TIME OF HISTORIC CHANGE, WHEN MEN AND NATIONS CAN TRANSFORM HISTORY” is centered at the top of the medal. The inscription “INAUGURATED JANUARY 20, 1989” is centered along its lower border.

The Barbara Bush First Spouse Bronze Medal bears the same central image as the First Spouse Gold Coin issued in her honor. The obverse depicts a portrait of Mrs. Bush with the inscriptions “BARBARA BUSH,” “41st,” and “1989-1993.” The design was created by AIP Designer Benjamin Sowards and sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist Phebe Hemphill.

The reverse depicts a person reading, with an open road symbolizing literacy, knowledge, and life’s journey. The sun represents the promise of a brighter future. The reverse design was created by AIP Designer Barbara Fox and sculpted by former Mint Medallic Artist John P. McGraw.

The George H.W. Bush Coin and Chronicles Set is priced at $120. Production is limited to 35,000 units, with orders limited to one per household for the first 24 hours. To set up a REMIND ME alert, visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/coin-and-chronicles-set-george-herbert-walker-bush-20PA.html (product code 20PA). This product will not be offered through the Mint’s Authorized Bulk Purchase Program.

Additional products honoring President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush are available at https://catalog.usmint.gov/coins/coin-programs/bush-presidential-coins/. View the Mint’s complete selection of products at: https://catalog.usmint.gov/.

Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, the United States Mint will not accept and will not honor orders placed prior to the official on-sale date and time of September 17, 2021, at noon EDT.

To reduce the risk of employee exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, the Mint’s sales centers are closed until further notice. Please use the United States Mint catalog site at https://catalog.usmint.gov/ as your primary source of the most current information on product and service status.

Legend Numismatics Buys Eliasberg 1894-S Dime For $1.8 Million, Now In Bruce Morelan’s Collection

Sep 10, 2021 |

Morelan completes “numismatic trifecta” with fabled coin acquired by Legend from Kevin Lipton and John Albanese

(Lincroft, New Jersey) September 8, 2021 — An 1894 San Francisco Mint silver dime that once belonged to a legendary collector known as “The King of Coins” has been acquired by Legend Numismatics of Lincroft, New Jersey (www.LegendNumismatics.com) for $1.8 million. It is a record price for this particular example of the nine known surviving 1894-S dimes.

The branch mint proof, graded PCGS PR65+ BM CAC, was acquired by Legend on behalf of prominent collector Bruce Morelan from dealers John Albanese and Kevin Lipton. Albanese, co-founder of Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC), called it his favorite 1894-S dime because “it has the strongest, most collector-friendly eye appeal.”

This Eliasberg provenance 1894-S dime, graded PCGS MS65+ CAC, is now in the collection of Bruce Morelan after being acquired for him by Legend Numismatics for $1.8 million, a record price for this particular example. (Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service.)

“Bruce Morelan now owns the trifecta of United States numismatics: an 1804 Draped Bust dollar, a 1913 Liberty Head nickel and an 1894-S Barber dime,” said Laura Sperber, president of Legend Numismatics. “We are looking at the possibilities of exhibiting all three together at a major show.”

Among this 1894-S dime’s prominent previous owners was Baltimore financier and civic leader Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. who became known as “The King of Coins” for assembling before his death in 1976 an example of every date, metal, denomination, and mint mark United States coin known to collectors at the time.

“I’m very excited at the opportunity to own this magnificent coin,” stated Morelan. “It joins the 1804 Class I dollar and 1913 Liberty Head nickel in my collection. Very few collectors have ever owned all of the top three most famous American rarities and I’m proud to join that very exclusive group that includes Eliasberg, Col. E.H.R. Green and Dr. Jerry Buss.”

Mint records indicate only 24 dimes were struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1894, and today only nine of them are known to still exist.

This was the third 1894-S dime acquired for collectors by Legend since the company’s founding in 1987.

“When I started in the coin business in 1978, I dreamed of handling maybe one 1894-S dime,” said Sperber. “I did not think I would ever handle three of them; the so-called Ice Cream example, the Simpson coin and now Eliasberg! Even though the Simpson example is graded a little higher, PR66, this latest 1894-S dime has always been the best looking in my opinion. It’s an honor to handle such an important piece of numismatic history.”

For additional information, contact Legend Numismatics, Inc. by phone at 800-743-2646, by email at Legend@LegendCoin.com or visit online at www.LegendNumismatics.com.

The Royal Mint to auction rare samples for first time in its history – including Kew Gardens 50p

Sep 9, 2021 | , ,

For the first time in its history, The Royal Mint is offering collectors the chance to own exceptionally rare ‘trial pieces’ featuring designs such as the highly collectible Kew Gardens 50p and the iconic ‘Three Graces’ – a collection that sold out in 25 minutes in December 2020. These bespoke items are expected to drive high levels of interest from collectors and art enthusiasts when they go to auction later this month.

A trial piece is one of the first samples struck using a new die, and is carefully inspected by coin makers at The Royal Mint to ensure it meets their exacting standards. The trial pieces are then stored for posterity and the design is officially approved by Her Majesty the Queen before coin striking can begin.

To ensure authenticity, each die trial piece bears a hallmark stating the quality of the metal and a unique latent security feature – designed by The Royal Mint’s Chief Engraver, Gordon Summers. A die trial piece is one of the first coins struck and sets the standard for all coins issued. They are used to prove tooling, and clarity of design and detail for proof coins, ensuring they are accurate enough for a perfect strike to be used in production.

These pieces do not form part of the standard issue limit and have not been put on sale before by The Royal Mint.

On 26th September, The Royal Mint will offer 60 rare examples of trial pieces to the public for the first time following growing demand from collectors.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint, said: “Each year The Royal Mint introduces a range of original new coin designs celebrating British milestones, anniversaries and themes. Each of these designs requires a trial to ensure the design meets our exacting standards, and results in a handful of trial pieces.

“This month we are delighted to offer a sample of our trial pieces at auction for the first time. Each of the trial pieces has played an integral role in creating the final coin, and offer collectors the chance to own a part of numismatic history.

“Interest in trial pieces has grown significantly over recent years, as customers increasingly seek out exclusive and rare items for their collections. Many customers will treasures the trial pieces as part of a collection or even investments – so we have added a security feature to safeguard their provenance.”

The trial pieces auction is the pinnacle of The Royal Mint’s Collect Week, an annual celebration of collecting. This year’s Collect Week includes a series of free webinars, awards and virtual events for collectors across the globe, all hosted on the Royal Mint’s website.

To learn more about the intricate world of die trial pieces and what makes them so special, the Royal Mint is holding a free webinar with New Product Technical Manager Dan Thomas and Chief Engraver Gordon Summers, who will discuss the process and detail of how die trial pieces are used to help maintain the high production standards. Held on Monday, 20 September 2021 at 11am, this webinar is suitable for both budding numismatists and seasoned collectors interested in gaining an insight how our 1,100-year-old organisation makes its coins.

For more information visit The Royal Mint’s website www.royalmint.com/collect/auction.

The full list of pieces in the auction is as follows:

  • The Piedfort Sovereign 2019 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Three Graces 2020 UK Two-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Three Graces 2020 UK Five-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Three Graces 2020 UK Gold Proof Kilo (Trial Piece)
  • Three Graces 2020 UK Two-Ounce Silver Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Three Graces 2020 UK Five-Ounce Silver Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Three Graces 2020 UK Silver Proof Kilo (Trial Piece)
  • Three Graces 2020 UK Ten-Ounce Silver Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Three Graces 2020 UK Ten-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • 50 Years of the 50p 2019 UK 50p Gold Proof Piedfort (Trial Piece)
  • Pay Attention 007 2020 UK Two-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Shaken Not Stirred 2020 UK Two-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Shaken Not Stirred 2020 UK Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Queen’s Beasts The Falcon of The Plantagenets 2019 UK Five-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Britannia 2019 UK Five-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Britannia 2021 UK One Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Britannia 2020 UK Two-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Britannia 2021 UK Five-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Britannia 2019 UK One Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • C – Cricket 2019 UK 10p Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • David Bowie 2020 UK One Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • David Bowie 2020 UK Two-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • David Bowie 2020 UK Five-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • David Bowie 2020 UK Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • D-Day Landings 2019 UK 50p Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The 75th Ann D-day Normandy Landings 2019 UK £2 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Elton John 2020 UK Five-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Elton John 2020 UK Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • A Celebration of the Reign of George III 2020 UK Two-Once Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • A Celebration of the Reign of George III 2020 UK Five-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • A Celebration of the Reign of George III 2020 UK £5 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Team GB 2020 UK 50p Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Britannia New Pence 2019 UK 50p Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Bond, James Bond 2020 UK One Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Pay Attention 007 2020 UK One Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Shaken not stirred 2020 UK One Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • 007 Special Issue 2020 UK Five-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Bond, James Bond 2020 UK Two-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Kew Gardens 2019 UK 50p Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Kew Gardens 2019 UK 50p Gold Proof Piedfort (Trial Piece)
  • The 400th Anniversary of the Voyage of the Mayflower 2020 UK £2 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Queen 2020 UK Five-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Queen 2020 UK Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • 50 Years of the 50p 2019 UK 50p Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Queen’s Beasts The White Horse of Hanover 2020 UK Five-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • Queen 2020 UK One Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Queen Victoria 2019 UK Five-Ounce Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The 200th anniversary of the Birth of Queen Victoria Celebration Sovereign (Trial Piece)
  • The Five Sovereign Piece 2019 Brilliant Uncirculated (Trial Piece)
  • The Double Sovereign 2019 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Double Sovereign 2020 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Five Sovereign Piece 2019 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Five Sovereign Piece 2020 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Half-Sovereign 2019 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Half-Sovereign 2020 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Quarter-Sovereign 2019 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Quarter-Sovereign 2020 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Sovereign 2019 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The Sovereign 2020 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)
  • The 75th Anniversary of VE Day 2020 UK £2 Gold Proof (Trial Piece)

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