The Royal Mint celebrates 100 Years of Insulin on official UK coin

Oct 14, 2021 | Administrative Info, Royal Mint

Designer Iris De La Torre reveals The Royal Mints 100 Years of Insulin 50p

The Royal Mint has launched a commemorative 50p coin in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, marking the historic medical breakthrough for the first time on official UK coin.

The 100 Years of Insulin 50p celebrates the life-saving treatment for diabetes discovered by researchers; Dr John Macleod, Sir Frederick Banting, Dr Charles Best and Dr James Collip in 1921.

Designed by renowned artist Iris De La Torre, the contemporary design is an artistic interpretation of the structure of insulin along with its molecular formula.

Inspired by an image of human insulin crystals through a microscope, the design features a geometric pattern repeat using hexagons and circular shapes on the canvas of an official UK 50p coin.

The new 50p coin, available in brilliant uncirculated and precious metals, is the fifth release in The Royal Mint’s ‘Innovation in Science’ series, which pays tribute to some of the greatest scientific discoveries.

The latest 50p follows commemorative coins in recognition of the life and work of inventors Charles Babbage, John Logie Baird, Rosalind Franklin and Stephen Hawking, as part of the collectable series.

The Royal Mint’s Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin Clare Maclennan said: “The collectable 100 Years of Insulin 50p, designed by artist Iris De La Torre, is a beautiful piece of art which celebrates the importance of the ground-breaking discovery of insulin on an official UK coin. A landmark medical breakthrough of the twentieth century, it has transformed the lives of people with diabetes for 100 years and is a fitting addition to our Innovation in Science collectable series, marking the greatest scientific innovations and the remarkable people behind them.”

Designer of the 100 Years of Insulin 50p, artist Iris De La Torre, said: “Coins are pieces of art and maintainers of history and tradition and so to see my design on an official UK coin that celebrates and raises awareness of such an important discovery is a dream come true.”

Speaking of the design, she added: “I came up with a design inspired by images of an accurate segmentation of single-isolated human insulin crystals for in-situ microscopy that I found in a medical document online. The image shows segments of human insulin crystals in the form of hexagons. It is a beautiful image and inspired a pattern repeat which worked well on the 50p coin.”

Professor Mirela Delibegovic, Director of the University of Aberdeen’s Cardiovascular and Diabetes Centre, consulted with The Royal Mint on this project, adding: “The insulin breakthrough is one of the most significant in medical sciences and was led by a team which included University of Aberdeen graduate JJR MacLeod. We are delighted to see this legacy recognised on a UK coin. This beautiful design is a fitting tribute to the Toronto research team and for all the researchers who have followed in their footsteps by working on new ways to treat and manage diabetes.”

The 100 Years of Insulin 50p coin is available to purchase from today at The Royal Mint website.

The Royal Mint in collaboration with the Imperial War Museums reveals a commemorative coin dedicated to marking Remembrance Day

Oct 11, 2021 | Announcements, Royal Mint

The Remembrance Day 2021 UK £5 Silver Proof Coin reverse – UK21RDSP

The Royal Mint, the original maker of UK coins, in collaboration with the Imperial War Museums, has today revealed a commemorative coin dedicated to marking Remembrance Day.

This year’s Remembrance Day commemorative coin features a reverse design created by the acclaimed artist Gary Breeze. Alongside symbolic red poppies, the coin carries an inscription from the famous fourth stanza of Laurence Binyon’s enduring poem ‘For the Fallen’, a tribute to those who died during the First World War.

Using the latest innovative technology, the poppies that feature on the coin have been digitally printed to add the vivid red colour that is commonly associated with the flower.

Clare Maclennan, Director of the Commemorative Coin Division at The Royal Mint said, “We are honoured to be revealing this year’s Remembrance Day commemorative coin in collaboration with the Imperial War Museums. The Royal Mint’s Remembrance Day commemorative coin provides a poignant tribute to all who served in both world wars as well as a reminder of the brave men and women in our Armed Forces – past and present.”

Designer of the Remembrance Day coin, Gary Breeze, reveals his inspiration behind this year’s design, “In 2015, I produced a commemorative stamp for the Royal Mail featuring the same fragment of the poem ‘For The Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon. I find the words incredibly moving – there is perhaps no greater sadness than that which is felt on waking up and this is expressed so economically in that single sentence. I wanted the inscription on the coin to be incised, like lettering on a war memorial, and the style is inspired by lettering from the interwar period.”

The first Remembrance Day was held on 11 November 1919 – exactly one year after the signing of the Armistice with Germany. Remembrance Day provides veterans and the public with an opportunity to come together to honour the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families.

The coin is available to be purchased in Silver Proof and Brilliant Uncirculated editions from www.royalmint.com.

The Royal Mint unleashes The Royal Tudor Beasts onto a new range of collectable and bullion coins at Hampton Court Palace in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces

Oct 7, 2021 | Announcements, Royal Mint

The Royal Mint unveils its new Seymour Panther coin, the first release from The Royal Tudor Beasts collection, at Hampton Court Palace in Richmond upon Thames.
Photo credit: Matt Alexander/PA Wire

The Royal Mint, the original maker of UK coins, and Historic Royal Palaces have today unveiled a new range of collectable and bullion coins celebrating The Royal Tudor Beasts. The first coin in the collection, the Seymour Panther, was unveiled at Hampton Court Palace– where the original Royal Beasts still welcome visitors today.

The Royal Tudor Beasts collection will be released over five years, with customers able to build their very own collection celebrating the ten beasts chosen by King Henry VIII to line the Moat Bridge of Hampton Court Palace.

The collectable and bullion collection celebrating The Royal Tudor Beasts follows on from The Royal Mint’s Queen’s Beasts Collection that celebrated the ten ancestral beasts that lined the entrance to Westminster Abbey at Her Majesty The Queen’s coronation.

Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said: “We are delighted to be introducing a new range of collectable and bullion coins celebrating The Royal Tudor Beasts – the ten beasts chosen by Henry VIII. This exciting new range has been developed with Historic Royal Palaces and follows on from our popular Queen’s Beasts range.

To celebrate the launch, we felt it was only right to unleash the first beast, the Seymour Panther, at the original home of the Royal Tudor Beasts – Hampton Court Palace. We hope collectors across the globe are equally as excited as we are for the launch of our latest range of collectable and bullion coins.”

Emma Saunders, Senior Licensing Manager at Historic Royal Palaces commented: “We are very proud to be launching another new collection of coins in partnership with The Royal Mint. The Seymour Panther is inspired by one of the majestic Royal Beasts on the Moat Bridge at the entrance to Hampton Court Palace and symbolises the union of Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour.

As an independent charity, each sale of Historic Royal Palaces’ collectible coins helps support our cause and contributes to the future of the incredible buildings and collections in our care, which is more important now than ever before.”

The Royal Mint unveils its new Seymour Panther coin, the first release from The Royal Tudor Beasts collection, at Hampton Court Palace in Richmond upon Thames.
Photo credit: Matt Alexander/PA Wire

The whole collection has been designed by artist David Lawrence. Each coin design is a unique balance of the naturalistic elements of the creatures with a stylised, heraldic depiction incorporated into the design.

David Lawrence, designer of The Royal Tudor Beasts said: “It was an honour to be chosen to depict the heraldic beasts on a coin and bullion collection as well as a huge challenge. Each royal beast comes down to us with centuries of heritage and meaning attached to them, so my task was to find a new vision that is still true to the past.”

The Seymour Panther was a heraldic symbol belonging to Jane Seymour, Henry VIII’s third wife. Given to her by the king from the treasury of royal beasts, it is thought that a panther had been part of the collection since the reign of Henry IV. As Henry VII’s mother, Margaret, was a Beaufort and a panther also appeared on the Duke of Beaufort’s arms, both Henry VII and Henry VIII used the beast as a symbol of their lineage.

The coin is available in a range of precious metal Proof editions, as well as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition. Visit www.royalmint.com/tudorbeasts to view the full collection. The Royal Tudor Beasts will also be available as bullion coins in the coming months.

The Royal Mint’s latest research shows new interest in childhood character coins

Oct 4, 2021 | News, Royal Mint

Owl 2021 UK 50p Silver Proof Coin reverse edge – UK21OWSSP

The Royal Mint has revealed the results of a survey which found that childhood character coins are attracting new and younger coin collectors to take up and share the popular hobby.

As well as minting the coins found in our pockets, The Royal Mint makes collectable coins celebrating key themes and milestones and featuring some of Britain’s most-loved childhood characters on UK coin.

The new findings mark the launch of the latest coin in the collection inspired by Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, which features Pooh’s trusted friend Owl on a 50p at The Royal Mint.

According to the new research, more than half of 35–44-year-olds said that childhood character coins were the main reason for starting a collection. The childhood character coins also inspired almost three quarters of Royal Mint’s collectors aged 18-24.

  • 51% of 35- to 44-year-olds state childhood character coins as the main reason for collecting
  • 74% of 18- to 24-year-olds consider character coins as one of the reasons for collecting

The research also found that the timeless hobby of treasuring Britain’s favourite collectable item remains an interest which is passed down through generations – 45% started collecting because a grandparent or older relative introduced a collection to them, according to the survey results.

Mum of two, Januarie Braganza, from London, is a keen childhood character coin collector, on behalf of her 75-year-old mother Sunny Hall and children; 2-year-old Blaise and 1-year-old Winnie. She said:

My children Winnie and Blaise collect coins with their Nanna Sunny, who has been collecting coins for years. It is a wonderful hobby they can enjoy together, and they regularly speak on Facetime and show their new coins. It makes her so happy to see the children sharing her passion and helps to keep her mind sharp.

Speaking of the launch of the latest Owl 50p which celebrates 95 years of Winnie the Pooh with a design based on the original E.H Shepard decorations, she added:

We love the Winnie the Pooh coins best as my daughter has the same name! The latest Owl 50p coin is beautiful, and the colour really brings the character to life. We’re so excited to receive this coin as part of Blaise and Winnie’s collection and Nanna Sunny loves it too!

Earlier this month, The Royal Mint revealed that coins are officially the most popular collectable item in the UK, with over a third of collectors having a passion for coins (36%). Stamps (30%) and books (26%) came in second and third most popular. The Royal Mint’s Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin Clare Maclennan said:

Coins are Britain’s favourite collectable item, and their appeal continues to reach new collectors with the increasing popularity of our childhood character coins which celebrate some of the greatest childhood stories and characters we know and love on official UK coin.

The collectable Owl 50p is the latest release in Winnie the Pooh series, marking the 95th anniversary of the lovable bear. Inspired by the original watercolour decorations of E.H. Shepard, and available in a vibrant special colour edition, the coin is itself a beautiful work of art for collectors of all ages, and we’re so thrilled to see these pieces are inspiring new and younger collectors to get involved.

The Owl 2021 UK 50p is the fifth release in the nine-coin Winnie the Pooh and Friends collection. See the full Winnie the Pooh commemorative collection, and others, at The Royal Mint.

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

Sep 15, 2021 | News, Royal Mint

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 | Announcements, Royal Mint

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.

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

Sep 9, 2021 | Announcements, Auctions, Royal Mint

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)

The Royal Mint’s Shēngxiào Coin Collection continues with a coin celebrating the Year of the Tiger

Sep 6, 2021 | Announcements, Royal Mint

Lunar Year of the Tiger 2022 United Kingdom £5 Brilliant Uncirculated Coin pack front open – UKT22BU

The Royal Mint, The Original Maker of UK coins, continues its popular Shēngxiào collection with a collectable coin celebrating Lunar Year of the Tiger – an animal that has long been regarded as a symbol of power and strength in Chinese culture.

The Lunar Year of the Tiger collectable coin blends elements of traditional British design with ancient Chinese culture and has been designed by renowned artist David Lawrence.

The coin’s design depicts the tiger face on with its Chinese symbol positioned to the right. When inspecting the design closely an additional symbol can be seen on the tiger’s forehead. The symbol represents the pictogram for ‘king’ – ‘王’. The symbol ‘王’ is said to be the written character for king and originates from the pattern on the tiger’s head.

The Royal Mint’s Shēngxiào Collection is a celebration of the UK’s diverse multi-cultural society, lending a unique British angle to this ancient custom. During Chinese New Year it is common to exchange tokens and gifts of money in red envelopes symbolising good wishes for the recipient’s health, wealth and prosperity.

Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said: “The Royal Mint began our Shēngxiào Collection in 2014, combining centuries of British craftsmanship and artistic skills with a centuries-old Chinese tradition – creating the first official UK Lunar coins. Ahead of Chinese New Year, we are thrilled to introduce the latest coin as part of the collection celebrating the Year of the Tiger. The coin’s design is a beautiful fusion of British and Chinese tradition featuring the tiger as a prominent feature of the coin.”

The Chinese zodiac follows a 12-year cycle with each year characterised by a different animal. Ancient legend tells of a Great Race between the animals. Several variants of the story exist, but in one popular interpretation the Jade Emperor, ruler of the heavens, declared that the first 12 animals to sign up would be eligible to take part, and the order they finished in would determine the order of the lunar calendar.

The Tiger is considered one of the most beloved and respected creatures in Chinese culture. Characteristically brave and unyielding, the tiger is one of the most significant symbols in Chinese culture. Hailed for symbolising power, strength, and bravery, the animal also represents majesty and righteousness. Those born in the Year of the Tiger are thought to possess many of these traits and are said to be confident and courageous, meaning people born under this sign are thought of as natural leaders.

The Lunar Year of the Tiger collectable coins are available in a range of precious metals finishes. Visit www.royalmint.com/lunar to view the full collection.

The Royal Mint celebrates Disney’s Winnie the Pooh and Friends on official UK coin

Sep 2, 2021 | Announcements, Royal Mint

The Royal Mint, inspired by Disney, has today unveiled the next coin in their Winnie the Pooh and Friends collection. The latest collectable 50p coin features a group shot of the loveable characters, celebrating 95 years since the beloved bear first began his adventures.

Created by the Original Maker of UK coins, the commemorative design features Winnie the Pooh and his trusted friends; Piglet, Owl, Eeyore, Rabbit, Tigger, Kanga and Roo on a 50p piece. Last year, The Royal Mint released the first three designs, featuring Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and Piglet.

The design of the coin is inspired by the original decorations of E.H. Shepard taken from the pages of A.A. Milne’s classic tales, first published in 1926.

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

The Royal Mint’s designer Daniel Thorne is the maker behind the nine-coin Winnie the Pooh series, which, in 2021, will also see ‘wise’ Owl and ‘wonderful’ Tigger brought to life on official UK coin.

Throughout the series, Thorne stayed true to the iconic E.H. Shepard decorations, while also adding his own special twist, with a bee motif which features on each design in the series.

To celebrate the buzz of the launch, The Royal Mint’s design studio has been a hive of activity with fellow designer Laura Clancy creating a bespoke piece of coin art out of the latest collectable 50ps, honouring Thorne’s special bee motif.

Clare Maclennan, The Royal Mint’s Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin, said: “Winnie-the-Pooh is a treasured children’s classic which, much like the popular hobby of coin collecting, has been passed down through generations. As we celebrate 95 years of Winnie the Pooh, the latest design featuring Pooh and friends is a fitting tribute to the much-loved adventures.

She added: “Fans of Winnie the Pooh can enjoy the coins individually, or as part of the nine-coin collection released over three years. We are buzzing with excitement to bring these wonderful characters and memories to life on a collectable 50p coin series.”

Daniel Thorne, The Royal Mint’s product designer for the Winnie the Pooh coins, said: “Using inspiration from the original decorations of E.H. Shepard has been a fantastic experience but one that has also tested me as a designer. With each design, so much care and attention has been given to remastering the iconic decorations for the canvas of a coin while staying true to the texts people know and love.

“I also wanted to add something extra special for collectors, with the bee motif. Inspired by the original decorations the buzzy bee from the storybooks features on each of the nine coins in the collection. I hope collectors can appreciate the beauty in each design in the range and enjoy the special colour editions.”

The 2021 collection is exciting news for collectors of the 2020 range which already sees Winnie the Pooh and his favourite honey, Christopher Robin and Piglet respectively on the canvas of a 50p piece. Find out more about the collection at The Royal Mint.

Royal Mint Launch Next in Range of Investment Products Inspired by Myths and Legends

Aug 17, 2021 | News, Royal Mint

The Royal Mint has today launched a new addition to their Myths and Legends bullion collection, featuring Maid Marian. The Maid Marian bullion coin follows on from the launch of the Robin Hood coin released in March, which proved extremely popular.

The Royal Mint has recently experienced a 96% increase in sales for bullion coins and bars as investors have taken advantage of the recent dip in the gold price. Bullion coins are world-renowned for their value, tradability and liquidity, making them options worth considering by investors wanting to diversity their portfolio. The Royal Mint’s range of gold bullion coins benefit from VAT exemption, while all gold, silver and platinum bullion coins are exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents.

The coin’s design draws depicts Maid Marian with a bow and a quiver of arrows on her back, against the backdrop of Sherwood Forest. The Maid Marian bullion coin is available as a One Ounce Gold and One Ounce Silver. In addition to the detailed design of Maid Marian, the coin features a secure, micro-dot background texture, emphasising the craftsmanship and security associated with The Royal Mint’s gold products.

Andrew Dickey, Divisional Director of Precious Metals at The Royal Mint, comments: “At The Royal Mint, tradition has long gone hand in hand with innovation. For an investment fit for the future, The Royal Mint is looking to Britain’s legendary past. Our latest bullion coin collection is inspired by classic stories of myth and legend – combined with the latest innovation and security features. We are delighted to be unveiling the next bullion coin in the range featuring Maid Marian. Bullion coins are an attractive option for many investors looking to diversify their investment portfolio due to their value, tradability and liquidity. Gold, silver and platinum bullion coins from The Royal Mint also benefit from being exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents due to their legal tender status.”

Andrew continues, “As a leader in precious metals, The Royal Mint’s bullion range is recognised by investors across the globe and admired for the standards of quality and accuracy that you’d expect from a world-leading mint.”

The Royal Mint has been synonymous with precious metals for over 1,100 years and is the trusted home of gold in the UK. They are the primary producer of bullion coins and bars in Britain, as well as offering digital investment opportunities and safe storage, combining a flair for design with expertise in metalwork. The form has evolved from coin to bar to digital asset, including DigiGold and physically backed, exchange-traded commodities, as well as Little Treasures, a gold-backed savings account specifically for children, yet the value and appeal has been consistent.

To view the range, visit the website: https://www.royalmint.com/invest/bullion/uk-coin-ranges/myths-and-legends/

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