The Royal Mint launches its 2021 Britannia Collection – introducing a new ‘Premium Exclusive’ range and Gold Kilo
The Royal Mint today launches its 2021 Britannia collection – introducing a new range of Premium Exclusive editions and a gold Proof kilo Britannia for the first time.
Each year The Royal Mint produces a new Britannia collection that is inspired by different aspects of the nation. This year the collection celebrates Britain’s spirit of innovation, and for the first time will feature two designs – a Core range and a Premium Exclusive range – both of which have been designed by artist P.J. Lynch.
The core Britannia range is a continuation of the collection, and features the iconic female next to her lion guardian whilst looking out to the horizon with a trident and shield. The Premium Exclusive range is a new addition to the collection. In contrast to the core range, she is shown up close and in profile, whilst new minting technology gives the impression of moving waves in the background. Over the next four years The Royal Mint will continue to explore diversity through the Premium Exclusive Britannia range.
Britannia has been an icon of the British people for over 2000 years, first appearing on coins under Emperor Hadrian. The Romans depicted Britain as a strong female – a symbol that has endured and continues to grace the nation’s coins today, including the definitive £2.
Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of Commemorative coin for The Royal Mint, said: “Britannia is an enduring symbol of the people, and as the nation evolves it is right that her image should evolve too. Each year our Britannia series celebrates a different element of Britain and for 2021 we celebrate the spirit of innovation with two new designs.
“As well as continuing to offer our Core Britannia range, we have extended the collection to include a Premium Exclusive range which celebrates diversity and features the latest minting technology. We have also introduced a gold Proof kilo for the first time to meet the growing demand for larger, precious metal coins.”
P.J. Lynch, designer of the 2021 Britannia series, said: “Creating an original new design for an icon such as Britannia is a dream for an artist. For the core range, I started with a lot of sketching – lots and lots of thumbnail drawings of Britannia herself in different poses, sometimes with her lion guardian, and sometimes with her trident and shield on a rocky shore with waves splashing at her feet.
“For the Exclusive editions in the range, I decided it would be a good idea to go in close for a profile portrait of Britannia. I wanted her to look strong, resolute and attractive, but I also felt that her features should reflect something of the diversity of the people of Britain in the twenty-first century.”
The Britannia 2021 collection is available as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition alongside a range of precious metal editions, and offers a Premium Exclusive range for the first time. To view the full range visit www.royalmint.com/Britannia.
PNG President comments on ANA Dealer Day
Statement about ANA Dealer Day
by Richard Weaver
Professional Numismatists Guild President
As you may be aware, the current leadership at the American Numismatic Association declined to renew our contract for PNG Day this year for the first time in over 40 years. This was incredibly surprising, given that the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) and its members have always supported the ANA and its endeavors, including giving up the PNG Day format to support ANA’s request for a PNG/ANA Trade Show to prevent competition to the World’s Fair of Money®.
The recent move by the ANA to host a “Dealer Day” was made without any prior discussion or consultation with PNG. Not only were we not given the opportunity to negotiate, we were not even afforded the common courtesy of an explanation.
We feel strongly that this is a slap in the face to PNG and its members.
We need to remind the ANA that dealers and collectors – including PNG dealers and their customers — are a large part of what makes ANA events successful. Remember, the public could attend the PNG Day events on the eve of the ANA summer conventions, but the public will not be permitted to attend the August 9 ANA Dealer Day.
Fortunately, we have the perfect venue for our members to preview and trade the best inventory prior to the ANA Dealer Day: the PNG50, to be held at the Hyatt Regency DFW Hotel in Dallas, Texas, July 28 – 29. Bourse tables have been reduced to a special introductory rate of $199.00 per dealer. Lunch will be served on the trading floor, and non-table holders can enter the show with a $50 donation to ACEF. NGC will have representatives on-site to accept submissions, and Heritage Auctions will have complimentary shuttles to and from their new, nearby DFW offices to facilitate lot viewing.
PNG has negotiated a special discounted room rate of $129 per night for single or double occupancy. The hotel also provides complimentary 24-hour airport shuttle service. Reservations can be made at hyatt.com/en-us/group-booking/dfwap/g-png1, or by phone at 877-803-7534 (ask for the PNG50 Group rate).
New applicants to the PNG will receive a bourse table free of charge, as long as their membership application is received prior to the show dates. For additional information, or to download the bourse application, visit the PNG website, www.PNGdealers.org.
NEW VIDEO
These are selections from the David Lisot Video Library that feature news and personalities from the world of coin collecting. David has been attending coin conventions since 1972 and began videotaping in 1985. The Newman Numismatic Portal now lists all David’s videos on their website at: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/multimediadetail/522852
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Collectorama Show Features Coins, Currency & Collectibles During COVID Crisis 2021. VIDEO: 5:04.
Edward Kuszmar, President, Collectorama Coin & Currency Show, David Lisot, Interviewer, CoinTelevision.com. February 18, 2021.
During the last year many larger coin conventions have been cancelled due to the COVID Pandemic. Edward Kuszmar was able to satisfy government bureaucracies and collector concerns by holding the 70th Collectorama Coin & Currency Show in Lakeland, Florida while the Corona Virus was still a threat. Ed explains what precautions were taken and why this convention is different from a normal coin show.
Mr. Men Superfan gives seal of approval to The Royal Mint’s New Coin
Michelle Martinez with the Mr Men 50th anniversary coin from The Royal Mint
The coins feature the latest colour printing techniques showcasing the characters in vivid colour – capturing their vibrant personalities. The first coin in the series featuring Mr. Happy, has proved incredibly popular with its colourful aesthetic and undeniable charm, and by including such a recognisable and fun theme on the face of a coin, The Royal Mint hopes to inspire more people to take up coin collection as a hobby.
Clare MacLennan, Divisional Director for Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint comments, “As a business we have seen the success of our childhood character coins grow in popularity and with endearing and appealing themes including Peter Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh and now Mr. Men Little Miss. 50 years since the creation of the beloved Mr. Men characters we are delighted to capture such fun and joy on our latest coin.
“We’ve received positive feedback to the design of our initial Mr. Men Little Miss coin and as we launch the second coin in our new collection, we look forward to even more people taking up coin collecting as a hobby.”
Michelle said, “My mother actually started collecting Mr. Men memorabilia before I was born in 1971 and throughout my childhood, I received Mr. Men themed gifts for Christmases and birthdays. In 2012 the count was over 2000, and when packaged away it was just 45 crates. When it came out of the loft in January 2021 it was 95 crates! I have yet to recount the collection. That is the next mission.
“When I saw the coins were being released by The Royal Mint to celebrate the 50th anniversary, I instantly fell in love; the charming little characters are so vibrant and look right at home on the face of the coins. Although I’ve been a collector of Mr. Men for many years, these are my very first coins. I’m so excited to be adding them to my collection, and already can’t wait to get my hands on the next one! My partner, Stephen, and my parents are actually buying me some more Royal Mint products from the Mr. Men Little Miss Collection for my birthday this year.”
Amongst her collection, Michelle owns a Mr. Happy table lamp, Mr. Greedy Jelly Mould and a Mr. Men tea set with which she served orange squash to her whole family on Boxing Day when she was just six years old. Her favourite item is a Mr. Strong soft toy that she carried everywhere as a child.
All three coin designs in the collection have been created exclusively by Adam Hargreaves, son of creator Roger Hargreaves, to celebrate the characters’ 50th anniversary. Since the first publication hit the shelves, the popular series has gone on to sell over 250 million books in 28 different countries worldwide. Translated into 17 different languages, the timeless antics of the Mr. Men and Little Misses remain as popular today as ever.
The second coin in the series featuring Mr. Strong and Little Miss Giggles is available as gold and silver Proof editions, as well as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition and a special colour printed Brilliant Uncirculated edition, exclusively available from The Royal Mint. Visit www.royalmint.com/mrmen to view the full commemorative coin range. The coin will not be going into general circulation.
| Coin title | Mr. Strong and Little Miss Giggles – The 50th Anniversary of Mr. Men Little Miss 2021 UK £5 Brilliant Uncirculated Coin | Mr. Strong and Little Miss Giggles – The 50th Anniversary of Mr. Men Little Miss 2021 UK £5 Brilliant Uncirculated Coloured Coin | Mr. Strong and Little Miss Giggles – The 50th Anniversary of Mr. Men Little Miss 2021 UK Half-Ounce Silver Proof Coin | Mr. Strong and Little Miss Giggles – The 50th Anniversary of Mr. Men Little Miss 2021 UK One Ounce Silver Proof Coin | Mr. Strong and Little Miss Giggles – The 50th Anniversary of Mr. Men Little Miss 2021 UK Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof Coin | Mr. Strong and Little Miss Giggles – The 50th Anniversary of Mr. Men Little Miss 2021 UK One Ounce Gold Proof Coin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denomination | £5 | £5 | £1 | £2 | £25 | £100 |
| Issuing Authority | UK | UK | UK | UK | UK | UK |
| Alloy | Cupro-Nickel | Cupro-Nickel | 999 Ag Fine Silver | 999 Ag Fine Silver | 999.9 Au Fine Gold | 999.9 Au Fine Gold |
| Weight | 28.28g | 28.28g | 15.71g | 31.21g | 7.80g | 31.21g |
| Diameter | 38.61mm | 38.61mm | 27.00mm | 38.61mm | 22.00mm | 32.69mm |
| Obverse Designer | Jody Clark | Jody Clark | Jody Clark | Jody Clark | Jody Clark | Jody Clark |
| Reverse Designer | Adam Hargreaves | Adam Hargreaves | Adam Hargreaves | Adam Hargreaves | Adam Hargreaves | Adam Hargreaves |
| Quality | Brilliant Uncirculated | Brilliant Uncirculated | Proof | Proof | Proof | Proof |
| Additional Features | N/A | Digital printing on reverse | N/A | Digital printing on reverse | N/A | N/A |
| Limited Edition Presentation | Unlimited | 15,000 | 9,000 | 6,500 | 750 | 275 |
| RRP | £13.00 | £22.50 | £65.00 | £97.50 | £605.00 | £2,370.00 |
Diamond Anniversary 75th-Edition RED BOOK Will Be Available in Four Formats
(Pelham, AL) — The Diamond Anniversary 75th edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins (the hobby’s popular “Red Book”) will debut in four distinct formats on April 6, 2021. Each version features the same content, with 32,000 retail prices in multiple grades, historical information, 2,000 high-resolution full-color photographs, and guidance on collecting every type of American coin.
The convenient spiralbound softcover format was designed to lie flat when open on a desk or table. It measures 7.7″ by 6″ and is bound with a durable metal coil. “This is the most popular modern format of the Red Book,” said Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. “The first spiralbound-softcover Red Book debuted in 1997, with the 50th edition. It was next available in 1999, and we’ve offered the format every year since then. Collectors like it because you can set your coins out in front of you, and have your Red Book lying flat, open to whatever page you want to study.”
The spiralbound hardcover has the convenience of a coil binding with the durability of a board cover. It measures 8.2″ by 6″ and, like the spiralbound softcover, opens to lie flat for reading alongside a coin collection. This format was first issued in 2008, with the 61st edition, and has been available (alongside other formats) for every edition since. “The spiralbound hardcover is the Red Book I keep on my desk for day-to-day use,” said Senior Editor Jeff Garrett.
The classic red hardcover Red Book measures 7.7″ by 5.5″. The Diamond Anniversary edition features silver-foil title imprinting, instead of the usual gold-foil. Its back cover bears a silver-foil “75 Years” emblem. “The red hardcover is what many longtime collectors envision when they think of the Red Book,” said Editor Emeritus Kenneth Bressett. “In fact, hobbyists have considered the hardcover to be a collectible itself since at least the 1960s, when it started becoming popular to seek one of every edition.”
The newest format of the Red Book, the Large Print Edition, has been offered annually since the 63rd edition, published in 2010. This oversized version measures 11″ by 9.25″ and, in addition to being 45% larger in page size, features easy-to-read large-size print, and enlarged color photos. “The Large Print Edition has all the same content and information as the regular formats,” said Research Editor Q. David Bowers. “The coin values, the photographs, the mintage data and specifications, are all here.” The Large Print Edition is also spiralbound for ease of use.
All versions and formats of the 75th-edition Red Book can be pre-ordered online (including at Whitman.com), and after April 6 will be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide.
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- Hardcover
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- Special Logo on back cover
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- Large Print Edition
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- Hardcover Spiral Bound
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- Spiral bound
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