The Royal Mint releases coins into circulation to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Jan 21, 2022 | Announcements, Royal Mint

The Royal Mint has confirmed that a 50p coin celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be released into circulation via Post Offices across the UK from Monday 7 February.

The special 50p coin features a commemorative Platinum Jubilee design on the ‘tails’ side of the coin and will be circulated following the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the throne in 1952.

The collaboration with UK Post Offices ensures that members of the public will get the chance to receive the special 50p coin in their change at branches nationwide from 7 February onwards.

The Royal Mint has already started to strike the coins at their highly secure site in South Wales, with a pressure of around 60 tonnes striking up to 850 coins a minute.

It is the first time that a Royal event has been celebrated on a 50p, Britain’s most collectable coin, and the unique design has been personally approved by The Queen.

Designed by artists Osborne Ross, the coin features the number 70 with the Royal Cypher and the dates of Her Majesty’s reign framed inside the zero. On the opposite side is the fifth definitive portrait of The Queen, by Jody Clark, which appears on all circulating UK coin.

The Royal Mint’s Director of UK Currency Mark Loveridge said: “Coins tell the story of our nation and we are delighted to be working with the Post Office to mark this special Royal occasion. By issuing the Platinum Jubilee coin into circulation it ensures that this significant moment in history can be cherished for generations to come.

“This special 50 pence features an elegant and bold number 70 in celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee year, and we expect it to become one of the nation’s most collectable coins. We are delighted that 1.3 million coins baring this unique design will be accessible at Post Offices across the UK.”

Trusted by monarchs for 1,100 years, The Royal Mint has struck circulating coins for The Queen throughout her reign, including five definitive portraits of Her Majesty. The Platinum Jubilee 50p coins are expected to be highly sought after due to the limited release of 1.3 million for UK Post Offices. The maximum coin mintage is set at 5,000,070 coins – in a special nod to 70 years on the throne.

Nick Read, Chief Executive at the Post Office, said: “We are thrilled to be part of the celebrations for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee year and that our 11,500 Post Offices across the whole of the United Kingdom will exclusively start the circulation of this special 50p coin from Monday 7th February. Postmasters are at the heart of their local communities and have been throughout our 360-year history. I have no doubt that this will be a real honour and privilege for Postmasters and their teams.”

Members of the public can find details of their local Post Office by visiting its website. There will be limited supplies of this coin entering circulation. To be in with the chance of receiving the new 50p, a Post Office customer will need to purchase a product or service at the branch. It is not possible to swap a 50p coin for this special 50p coin at the Post Office counter.

The circulation news comes after The Royal Mint released a commemorative coin collection for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, featuring a unique design on both sides of the coin. Collectors can find out more about the Platinum Jubilee range, and the commemorative 50p, at The Royal Mint.

The Royal Mint unveils commemorative coins for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Jan 6, 2022 | Announcements, Royal Mint

The Royal Mint has unveiled a unique commemorative portrait of Her Majesty The Queen for the launch of the Platinum Jubilee coin collection, and the first collectable UK 50p to celebrate a Royal event.

Marking 70 years on the throne, the special obverse design, by esteemed artist John Bergdahl, depicts The Queen on horseback and will be struck on the ‘heads’ side of a new 50p and traditional £5 crown.

Representing Her Majesty’s fondness of nature, the design is reminiscent of the equestrian designs for the 1953 Coronation and 2002 Jubilee crown pieces and has been personally approved by The Queen.

The collectable 50p baring the new obverse design – and featuring the number 70 along with The Queen’s cypher designed by Osborne Ross on the opposite side – will be available today from £7 at The Royal Mint.

As part of the celebrations for Her Majesty’s Jubilee, The Royal Mint is gifting 7,000 coins to children who complete the special Jubilee edition of The Queen’s Green Canopy RFS Junior Forester Award, which aims to inspire young people to learn about the benefit of trees and assist in woodland management in their local community.

Junior foresters from Saltford C of E Primary School in Bristol joined in the launch of the new Platinum Jubilee 50p, showcasing the enduring memento of the occasion in the palm of their hands that will be cherished for generations.

The Royal Mint’s Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin Clare Maclennan said: “The Platinum Jubilee is an historic occasion and one that is particularly special for The Royal Mint, as the original maker of British Coins for 1,100 years.

“In celebration of this landmark event, the official Platinum Jubilee collection, including the new 50p and traditional £5 crown, features a unique commemorative design on both sides of the coin. Designed by esteemed artists and made with original craftsmanship, Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee coins are enduring pieces of art that will be collected, cherished and passed down for generations.

“From today, the Platinum Jubilee 50p is available from £7, commemorating a remarkable 70 years on the throne. We are also working closely with The Queen’s Green Canopy RFS Junior Forester Award to gift 7,000 coins to children showing their support for the environmental initiative close to The Queen’s heart; and marking the moment with their own piece of history on UK coin.”

The Royal Mint has told the story of Britain’s longest serving monarch on UK coins since her accession to the throne in 1952. Royal Mint Museum Historian Chris Barker added: “The Queen’s legacy on coins stretches the length of her momentous reign, with The Royal Mint striking five definitive portraits of Her Majesty on official UK coin and celebrating previous Jubilees. The 1977 Silver Jubilee crown was the first major UK commemorative coin produced at The Royal Mint’s Llantrisant home, after the minting in London ceased in 1975. Roughly thirty-seven million coins were produced at that time, and thousands were gifted to children across the UK as a memento of the occasion. Today’s launch marks another significant milestone, and The Royal Mint plays a proud part in the nationwide celebrations.”

Dan Rex, CEO, The Queen’s Green Canopy, said: “The Queen’s Green Canopy is honoured to accept this generous and unique gift from The Royal Mint which will be awarded to children from across the nation who complete the special QGC Jubilee Edition of the RFS Junior Forester Award. As the future custodians of the UK’s green spaces, forests and woodlands, this historic coin, which celebrates Her Majesty’s fondness for nature, is a fitting memento for young people participating in The Queen’s Green Canopy – a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.”

This is the first chance for collectors to own an individual 50p piece and £5 crown featuring the special equestrian obverse design, in a range of precious metal finishes. The 50p, designed by Osborne Ross, and £5, which features a heraldic design by John Bergdahl, launched earlier this week with the definitive Jody Clark portrait of the Queen in The Royal Mint’s 2022 Annual Set.

View the full Platinum Jubilee collection, including limited-edition coins featuring a crowned depiction of the Royal Cypher surrounded by the floral emblems of the United Kingdom, at The Royal Mint.

The Royal Mint reveals new coins for 2022 including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 50p

Dec 29, 2021 | Announcements, Royal Mint

The Royal Mint has today revealed five new coin designs for 2022, including a 50p and a £5 crown in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The release is the first chance for collectors to own a keepsake from the Platinum Jubilee collection, including the first 50p coin to celebrate a royal event. The commemorative £5 crown follows the tradition of marking previous Jubilees on crown pieces, while a special edition platinum set has been added to the range, representing a fitting celebration of a momentous 70 years on the throne.

The Royal Mint’s Annual Sets celebrate key events and anniversaries throughout the year, bringing milestones to life on a £5, £2 or 50 pence. Each of the coins features a new and unique design by a commissioned artist and the obverse portrait of Her Majesty the Queen, designed by Jody Clark.

The 2022 Annual Set will commemorate:

• The Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen on a 50p
• The Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen on a £5
• The Life and Legacy of Dame Vera Lynn on a £2
• The Life and Legacy of Alexander Graham Bell on a £2
• The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on a 50p

Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of the Consumer Division at The Royal Mint said: “Each year The Royal Mint unveils a series of commemorative coins to celebrate key milestones that helped shape Britain and this year’s Annual Set is particularly special with a new 50 pence, £5 crown and special platinum set in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

“As the Original Maker of UK coins, The Royal Mint has been trusted to strike coins for Her Majesty throughout an historic 70 years on the throne and celebrated royal milestones such as previous Jubilees on commemorative crown pieces. The Platinum Jubilee celebration is a spectacular first for the British monarchy and for UK coin, and it is fitting that this historic anniversary has been celebrated on 50 pence – which is Britain’s most loved collectable coin.”

The Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen 50p

Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be celebrated with a UK 50p coin – which is the first UK 50p to mark a royal event. Designed by Osborne Ross, the coin features a clean reverse design that comprises the number 70, The Queen’s cypher and the years that span her reign thus far.

The Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen £5

Her Majesty the Queen’s remarkable 70-year reign will be commemorated on a £5 crown, designed by John Bergdahl. The coin features a fittingly regal design centralised by the quartered shield of the Royal Arms. The precious metals versions also include the edge inscription ‘SERVE YOU ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE’ in reference to Her Majesty’s unparalleled longevity as monarch.

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dame Vera Lynn

Dame Vera Lynn’s iconic renditions of classic songs such as ‘We’ll Meet Again’ earned her eternal residency within the hearts of many. The reverse design of this UK £2 coin features a beautifully detailed portrait of Dame Vera as she appeared during the height of her fame.

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell revolutionised the world of communication through the development of his magnum opus, the telephone, This UK £2 coin celebrates this brilliant inventor in the centenary year of his passing. Featuring a design by Henry Gray, the reverse of the coin shows the dial of a push-button phone, along with the words ‘PIONEER OF THE TELEPHONE’ cleverly inscribed on the buttons.

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

The summer of 2022 sees the Commonwealth Games return to the UK, promising spectacular occasion for British sport. The reverse of this UK 50p features a design by The Royal Mint’s own Natasha Preece, who has captured the essence of Birmingham 2022 through a striking geometric design.

The 2022 commemorative sets will be available in a range of precious metal and base proof finishes, from 4 January at The Royal Mint website, with prices starting from £30. Each of the coins will be available individually in 2022, starting with the Platinum Jubilee coins which will launch on 6 January featuring a special commemorative obverse design to celebrate the momentous royal occasion.

Royal Mint Release Third Coin in ‘Great Engravers’ Collection

Dec 6, 2021 | Announcements, Royal Mint

The Royal Mint today (Monday 6th December) announce the third coin to be remastered as part of their Great Engravers series will be the reverse of the iconic Gothic Crown by renowned engraver William Wyon.

The original coin featured a cruciform arrangement of the Royal Arms in a Gothic style on the reverse (tails side) and the portrait of Queen Victoria on the obverse (heads side). In an unusual move, but one designed to delight keen collectors, The Royal Mint’s latest version will split the two sides of the original between two separate United Kingdom coins. The first will feature the reverse of the original coin featuring the quartered arms combined with the portrait of Her Majesty Elizabeth II designed by Jody Clark. An additional coin featuring the iconic Gothic Crown obverse is set to launch in the new year but will still be dated 2021, giving collectors a second chance to own the sought-after collectible, again combined with the current portrait of the Queen.

An extremely limited number of sets containing both the new and original coins will be created, and launched in line with the second of the two coins. One of the sets will be reserved for the Tokyo International Coin Convention where The Royal Mint, in partnership with Taisei Coins, will be holding an auction next year.

UPDATE: A limited number of sets containing both new commemorative coins will be reserved for the Tokyo International Coin Convention where The Royal Mint, in partnership with Taisei Coins, will be holding an auction next year. The full range is available on The Royal Mint’s website.

The Royal Mint launched their Great Engravers range in 2019 with Una and the Lion, followed by the Three Graces, both designed by William Wyon, originally produced in 1839 and 1817 respectively. Both are well known as being incredibly beautiful and intricate designs, and the Royal Mint’s Chief engraver Gordon Summers, together with his team, have revived the designs with state-of-the-art technology. The tooling for the modern coins has been taken directly from the original tools worked on by Wyon in the 1800s, remastered by The Royal Mint’s expert team, over 200 years after the original was created.

Introduced in 1847 on the silver crown, the Gothic Crown was created by William Wyon, former Chief Engraver at The Royal Mint. Queen Victoria’s portrait was portrayed in a medieval style, representing the fanciful splendour of the era. Only 8,000 were initially minted at the time alongside a very small quantity of gold.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint, comments: “The Great Engravers range offers collectors a rare opportunity to own a piece of numismatic art that details one of the great engravers of The Royal Mint and his most celebrated prolific designs, as we create the historic coins of tomorrow. The low mintages also make the coins in this range the perfect collectors’ piece.

“Wyon was the original designer and maker of this coin as well as the Three Graces and also the Una and the Lion, which are equally as beautiful and collectable. He is regarded as one of the most talented engravers in history and his work is testament to that title.”

The Great Engravers Gothic Crown will be available in five sizes in both Gold and Silver: 2kg, 1kg, 10oz, 5oz and 2oz. There will also be two 5kg struck in Gold and one 10kg.

For more information, visit https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/the-great-engravers/gothic-crown/.

The Royal Mint unveils unique commemorative 50p design for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Nov 28, 2021 | Announcements, Royal Mint

The first 50p to mark a royal event.

Trusted by monarchs for 1,100 years, The Royal Mint has struck circulating coins for the Queen throughout her reign and celebrated royal milestones, including the Silver, Gold and Diamond Jubilees, on a collection of commemorative crown pieces. The unique Platinum Jubilee 50p is a fitting tribute to a remarkable reign and will be available as a collectable coin in early 2022.

Marking 70 days to go until the anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne in 1952, The Royal Mint has unveiled imagery of the new design. The coin will feature the number 70, representing the number of years on the throne, and the Queen’s cypher framed within the zero, at the heart of the design.

Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, said: “The Royal Mint has a proud history of striking coins for British monarchs and 2022 sees one of the greatest celebrations of Her Majesty the Queen with the upcoming Platinum Jubilee.

“Marking 70 days until the anniversary of the Queen’s Accession to the throne, The Royal Mint is delighted to reveal the commemorative Platinum Jubilee 50p design ahead of its launch in the new year.

“In recognition of the landmark occasion, this is the first time a royal milestone has been commemorated on a 50p coin and is a fitting celebration for Britain’s longest reigning monarch.”

The first 50p to mark a royal event will be issued in 2022 to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. Photographed along with crown pieces commemorating the Queens previous Jubilees

New and current collectors can register their interest now for the Platinum Jubilee 50p, which will feature a special commemorative obverse design, at The Royal Mint.

The bespoke Platinum Jubilee obverse will be unveiled in 2022 across one of the largest collections made by The Royal Mint, which will also include a commemorative £5 crown.

The Royal Mint unveils the 2022 Sovereign – the first coin in its Platinum Jubilee collection

Nov 15, 2021 | Announcements, Royal Mint

The Royal Mint, the original maker of UK coins, has today unveiled the 2022 dated Sovereign – featuring a rare change of design in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

To mark Britain’s longest serving monarch, the 2022 Sovereign will feature a new interpretation of the Royal Coat of Arms created by esteemed artist Timothy Noad. The Sovereign is famous for its depiction of St George and the Dragon by Benedetto Pistrucci, and changes to the design are reserved for special moments in history such as the Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees.

The 2022 Sovereign is the first coin revealed in The Royal Mint’s Platinum Jubilee collection and is expected to be extremely sought after by collectors. It will be followed by range featuring a new, unique obverse portrait of Her Majesty and the first UK 50p coin to celebrate a royal event.

Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said: “We are delighted to unveil the 2022 Sovereign as the first coin celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The Sovereign is one of The Royal Mint’s flagship coins and has celebrated royal achievements throughout the centuries. As such, it was fitting to include the Royal Coat of Arms on the 2022 coin – celebrating Britain’s longest serving monarch with an original design.”

Timothy Noad, Designer of the 2022 Platinum Jubilee Sovereign said, “It’s a huge privilege to be chosen three times to design reverses for The Sovereign. The first time was 20 years ago, for Her Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee of 2002, and the second was the first new St George and the dragon since Pistrucci’s iconic design, in 2005. I’m very proud to be making it a hat-trick!”

In 1489, Henry VII ordered a ‘new money of gold’ that would serve to symbolise the might of the Tudor dynasty. That large gold coin was The Sovereign and it has since evolved to become one of the world’s most distinctive and recognisable coins. More than 500 years since its inception, the ‘chief coin of the world’ still shares a close relationship with the Crown and has become a flagship coin for The Royal Mint.

Interpretations of the Royal Coat of Arms have appeared on coins before – including the old £1- and its long-standing association with the Monarchy makes a fitting design for the 2022 Sovereign.

The Sovereign celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be available in a range of collectable sets as well as individually from The Royal Mint’s website www.royalmint.com/sovereign.

The Royal Mint commemorates the life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi on a new coin

Nov 4, 2021 | Announcements, Royal Mint

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has today unveiled a new UK coin celebrating the life and legacy of
Mahatma Gandhi – one of the world’s most influential leaders

It is the first time that Gandhi has been commemorated on an official UK coin, designed and made by The Royal Mint. Struck in the 75th year of India’s Independence, the coin features an image of a lotus, India’s national flower, and one of Gandhi’s most famous quotes – ‘My life is my message’.

Born in Porbandar, India, in 1869, Gandhi was instrumental in the movement for Indian independence. His followers called him ‘Mahatma’, which means ‘great soul’, and he is still widely remembered by that name.

The new coin, designed by Heena Glover, is available in a range of finishes including a gold one ounce, silver one ounce and a £5 ‘brilliant uncirculated’. It is part of a wider Diwali collection offered by The Royal Mint, which includes 1g and 5g gold bars in henna packaging, and the UK’s first gold bar depicting Lakshmi – the Hindu goddess of wealth.

The 20g gold Lakshmi bar was designed in partnership with the Hindu community in South Wales, and on Diwali The Royal Mint will join celebrations at the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Cardiff as worshippers offer prayers to Lakshmi and Ganesha for the coming year.

Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Master of the Mint, said: “This coin is a fitting tribute to an influential leader who inspired millions of people around the world for his social activism. As a practicing Hindu, I am proud to unveil this coin during Diwali. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the movement for Indian independence and it is fantastic to have a UK coin commemorating his remarkable life for the first time.”

Nicola Howell, Chief Customer Officer for The Royal Mint, said: “We are delighted to unveil the first official UK coin commemorating the life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. The beautiful design has been struck in the 75th year of India’s Independence, and builds on the enduring relationship and cultural connections between the UK and India.

“Working with the Hindu community in our heartland of South Wales, we have also created a beautiful 20g gold bar depicting Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. We hope it will be a treasured addition for Diwali.”

More information about the Mahatma Gandhi coin and the Diwali range of gold bars is available at: www.royalmint.com

The Royal Mint releases official Tigger 50p in collection inspired by Disney’s Winnie the Pooh

Nov 2, 2021 | Announcements, Royal Mint

The Royal Mint has released the next coin in the collectable series, inspired by Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, featuring the loveable character Tigger on an official UK 50p.

The sixth coin in a nine-coin collection, the commemorative 50p featuring Tigger follows the release of Owl, and Winnie the Pooh and his friends, respectively, on a 50p piece in 2021.

The collection began in 2020 with Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and Piglet, and the final three coins are set to be unveiled next year, at The Royal Mint.

The Royal Mint’s designer Daniel Thorne remastered Tigger for a 50p piece, based on the original watercolour decorations of E.H. Shepard, first published in the A.A. Milne’s classic tales 95 years ago.

As with each coin in the collection, the design depicts the iconic E.H. Shepard characters and Daniel Thorne’s signature bee motif, adding a special feature for collectors across the nine-coin range.

Available in gold, silver and brilliant uncirculated, and special-colour edition, the range combines The Royal Mint’s 1,100-year-old minting traditions with innovative colour printing technology.

Clare Maclennan, The Royal Mint’s Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin, said: “Winnie the Pooh is a family favourite which, just like the joy of coin collecting, unites generations. With so many loveable characters in the range, combined with the craftsmanship and innovation at The Royal Mint, the collection inspired by Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, is an excellent choice for coin collectors and Pooh fans, and a fitting tribute to the loveable bear and friends on the 95th Anniversary of the adventures in Hundred Acre Wood.”

The Tigger 2021 UK 50p is available to purchase as an individual piece or as part of a collection at The Royal Mint.

The Royal Mint and Taisei Coins Announce Joint Collaboration for Tokyo International Coin Convention 2022

Oct 25, 2021 | Announcements, Royal Mint

The Royal Mint, the original maker of UK coins, and Taisei Coins, Japan’s largest numismatic firm, have announced an exciting collaboration for the Tokyo International Coin Convention in 2022. Together the two leading numismatic companies will launch their first joint auction – bringing together the best of rare British, Japanese and international coins.

With the cooperation of both Japan Mint and Japan’s National Printing Bureau as its official supporters, the TICC which began in 1990 is renowned throughout Japan as the most prestigious coin show in the country and one of the biggest conventions of the numismatic calendar. The event itself provides a platform for coin dealers and collectors from around the world to purchase freshly minted coins and rare numismatic items in the annual auctions.

The annual event is a fixture of ‘Golden Week’ in Japan, typically spanning the late April and early May period, and will be taking place on 29th April 2022 at Royal Park Hotel, Tokyo. As the first live TICC since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event is sure to be a highly anticipated affair.

To pique the interest of potential bidders, The Royal Mint and Taisei Coins have revealed three beautiful items that will feature in the auction. The first is a Japanese rare Oban which is Tenshonaga Oban kin (天正長大判金). This 16th century coin was known as the world’s largest coin until Austria made 1000oz bullion coin in 2004.

The second is a Henry VII (1485-1509), fine gold Sovereign of Twenty Shillings, struck Tower Mint London, and issued circa November 1492 – Spring 1493. Other than this particular coin, there have been no instances of a Henry VII Sovereign Type II changing hands via auction in almost 40 years.

An additional coin that will feature in the auction is an outstanding example of a 1817 Three Graces Silver Pattern Crown, graded at PF65. A rare coin for any collector, William Wyon’s coveted Three Graces was inspired by Ancient Greek mythology, but Wyon recast them as figures representing England, Scotland and Ireland. Coming soon after the 1801 Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland, Wyon set out to convey the equality of the nations.

Only around 50 pattern coins featuring the design were ever struck and it never entered circulation.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint, comments; “The global standing of both The Royal Mint and Taisei Coins ensures that our joint auction will bring some of the most historic and rare coins to our customers. The Royal Mint has over 1100 years of history and we are so excited to bring British numismatic treasures, most of which The Royal Mint would have struck originally all those centuries ago, to the TICC. All British Historic coins will have been through the rigorous Royal Mint Authentication service so customers can be sure they are buying a genuine piece of British history. We want to create an exciting event showcasing a range of authentic and special coins for those in attendance at TICC. We are delighted to work with Taisei Coins and hope this collaboration will continue long into the future, and deliver the very best service to both our customers.

“Taisei Coins is a long-standing numismatic authority internationally and The Royal Mint is firmly established worldwide as ‘The Original Maker’ of coin, the collaboration between both parties makes for a perfect numismatic partnership.”

Masahiro Oka, President of Taisei Coins, comments: “Taisei Coins’ relationship with The Royal Mint has lasted for over 50 years and this joint auction is a testament to the mutual trust. We want to thank The Royal Mint and the Japan Numismatic Dealers Association, the organizer of TICC, for the permission and effort to make this possible.

“I think this joint auction has a particularly special meaning since it will be the first time for TICC to be held in two years. Taisei and JNDA acknowledges the significance of this joint auction and is making the necessary arrangements to make it a memorable event like exhibitions centred around The Royal Mint in 2022.”

A fixture of Japanese coin culture, Taisei Coins is a Japanese numismatics firm based in Tokyo and one of the most reputable names in the global coin industry. Over the years, The Royal Mint has developed a strong relationship with Taisei Coins, with Royal Mint products commonly featured within the pages of Taisei Coins’ prestigious monthly international coin magazine, Taisei Monthly.

For more information on this exciting new venture, visit https://www.royalmint.com/collect/auction/taisei/.

The Royal Mint reveals latest The Snowman™ 50p, with original illustration by Robin Shaw

Oct 18, 2021 | Announcements, Royal Mint

The Royal Mint has today revealed the latest commemorative 50p celebrating British Christmas icon, The Snowman™.

Following the popularity of the The Snowman™ coin series, the 2021 design features the moment James adds the finishing touches to the snowman by drawing his smile. This is the fourth commemorative Snowman coin released by The Royal Mint in collaboration with Snowman Enterprises Ltd and officially licensed by Penguin Ventures (part of Penguin Random House UK), with the first coin released in 2018.

The collectable coin range celebrates Raymond Briggs’ timeless picture book with a bespoke design created by Robin Shaw, award-winning animator and illustrator. Shaw was also the art director on The Snowman and The Snowdog animation, the heart-warming sequel to the original television adaption.

Included in the range is a limited edition print of original sketch by Shaw, as well as an exciting The Snowman™ advent calendar containing a brilliant uncirculated colour 50p.

Director of Commemorative Coin Clare Maclennan with gold proof The Snowman 2021 UK 50p

The Royal Mint’s innovative digital colour printing technology has brought The Snowman™ design to life on the brilliant uncirculated coloured 50p, keeping true to the hand drawn, nostalgic quality of Shaw’s original sketches.

Speaking about the design, award-winning animator and illustrator Robin Shaw said, “Because of the size of the finished coin, the design had to be very clear. I drew on the frames from the original picture book showing James building the snowman, as these capture the growing relationship between the two of them before the snowman has even come to life.

“They also needed to work perfectly as small, clear images that individually capture a moment. That’s ultimately what I wanted to achieve with this design; it’s all about showing the relationship between the little boy and his snowman.”

Last year, to celebrate the coin series, The Royal Mint worked with Robin Shaw to create an exclusive ‘sketch-a-long’ for fans. The free, online class, which is still available via The Royal Mint’s website, provides hints and tips to help budding animators create their own Snowman drawings and share them via #SnowmanSketchalong.

For more information, and to purchase The Snowman™ 2021 commemorative coin collection, please visit The Royal Mint website.