Latest News from The Collector's Trove
Celebrating a Music Icon
Pop music has been one of the United Kingdom's most successful exports in recent decades, influencing people and cultures all over the world. In 2020 The Royal Mint is celebrating some of the country's most important artists – individuals and bands who have helped shape our love of music. No such collection would make sense without the inclusion of Elton John, the superstar who has been delighting fans for more than half a century.
Born Reginald Dwight, Elton John displayed remarkable musical talent at a very young age. This underlying musicality and a passion for rock ‘n’ roll drove him to breakthrough from playing in pubs to become a global sensation. His record shows that he has made more than 4,000 performances in over 80 countries and sold in excess of 300 million records worldwide. Elton John is without doubt a British music legend.
Available as a one ounce and quarter-ounce gold Proof coin, one ounce colour-printed and half-ounce silver Proof coin, as well as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition, the Elton John coin is a great way for fans to honour this incredible artist.
Tales of the Earth
Countless books, films and games have helped to fuel our fascination with dinosaurs, some of the most aweinspiring animals to have ever walked the planet. British anatomist Richard Owen was the first scientist to realise that the fossilised remains of three creatures uncovered in nineteenth-century England shared common characteristics. He used the term 'Dinosauria' to describe this new group of animals in a paper published in 1842.
This coin is the latest release in the Dinosauria Collection and depicts Hylaeosaurus, one of the three extinct creatures that Owen realised were closely related. Available as a gold Proof, silver Proof, colour-printed silver Proof and a Brilliant Uncirculated edition, priced at £13.00, it shines the spotlight on one of Britain's less wellknown scientific triumphs.
The Adventure Concludes
After observing the Transit of Venus from Tahiti, Captain Cook opened sealed orders that directed him to search for the fabled Southern Continent. Finding nothing, he turned west, making for the North Island of New Zealand. Overcoming the initial hostility of indigenous Maori tribes, he was able to chart both islands, before crossing the Tasman Sea to Australia.
Anchoring in Botany Bay on 29 April 1770, Cook and his crew mapped the eastern coastline of 'New Holland', before beginning the journey home, finally arriving back in July 1771. They had in their possession a wealth of new found knowledge of these far and distant lands.
To mark his best known voyage of discovery, a unique design that spans three £2 coins has been created by designer and sculptor Gary Breeze. When the coins are placed together, the design can be seen as a whole. Available in gold Proof, silver Proof and as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition, this is the third and final coin in the series.
United in Celebration
8 May 1945, known as Victory in Europe (VE) Day, saw the beginning of the end of the Second World War ? the conflict that claimed the lives of millions and reshaped the future of countries and continents. With Germany defeated, victory celebrations took place across the free world. The relief was palpable: after nearly six years of conflict, the war in Europe was finally over.
75 years on, VE Day is recalled by the last of the generation that were there and celebrated by the many generations that followed. In 2020, we remember the first hopeful steps towards lasting peace and the promise of a brighter future. Available as limited-edition gold Proof, silver Proof and silver Proof Piedfort editions, as well as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition, a £2 coin commemorates this milestone for the nation. The range is complemented by a special edition of The Sovereign struck on the day of the anniversary itself ? a prestigious and permanent record of this landmark moment in British history.
The fifth and last UK coin to feature the mischievous bunny
Beatrix Potter's series of little tales are much loved by children and adults around the world, and there's one blue- jacketed bunny in particular that is undoubtedly the star of them all. Always on a new adventure, Peter Rabbit hops into the lives of other characters from the world that Beatrix Potter created. Over the past five years, Peter Rabbit and his friends have appeared on a number of 50p coins. Each year a new design has shown a different aspect of Peter Rabbit's cheeky personality and brave but mischievous nature.
For 2020, the spotlight is firmly on our favourite bunny as he appears on his fifth and last UK 50p coin, and is the only character featured in the collection for this year. The coin has been struck in three editions, including a gold Proof, silver Proof and Brilliant Uncirculated edition. Silver Proof editions feature vibrant colour printing and are presented in a beautifully printed acrylic block.
Tales of the Earth
Countless books, films and games have helped to fuel our fascination with dinosaurs, some of the most awe- inspiring animals to have ever walked the planet. British anatomist Richard Owen was the first scientist to realise that the fossilised remains of three creatures uncovered in nineteenth-century England shared common characteristics. He used the term 'Dinosauria' to describe this new group of animals in a paper published in 1842.
This coin is the second release in The Dinosauria Collection and depicts Iguanodon, one of the three extinct creatures that Owen realised were interrelated. Available as a gold Proof, silver Proof, colour silver Proof and a Brilliant Uncirculated edition priced at £10.00, it shines the spotlight on one of Britain's less well-known scientific triumphs.
Four new coins and four new stories, beginning with the White Tower
The Tower of London Collection from The Royal Mint began in 2019 with four coins celebrating almost a thousand years of history. The collection continues in 2020 with four new £5 coins featuring original designs by the heraldic artist Timothy Noad. Each coin explores a different element of the Tower of London's history - from the imposing White Tower to the palace's role as a Royal Menagerie, The Royal Mint and a notorious prison.
The first coin for 2020 explores William the Conqueror's White Tower - a symbol of power designed to impress and intimidate. Today the monumental building still stands tall, housing the awe-inspiring Royal Armouries collection, including the Line of Kings which showcases the armour of some of Britain's most famous monarchs.
The first coin in the 2020 collection is available now, struck in gold, silver Piedfort and silver editions, finished to our finest Proof standard and presented in a Royal Mint case. The coin is also available as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition housed in a fold-out wallet. Both come with packaging which includes tales from the Tower, created in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces.
Lines of Beauty and Wonder
William Wordsworth is one of the most popular poets to have written in the English language. Many people love the poem titled 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud', commonly known as "Daffodils", and it has been voted among the nation's favourites.
Wordsworth was born on 7 April 1770 and grew up near the Lake District in England. This beautiful landscape was his constant inspiration and led to him writing poetry credited with beginning the English Romantic period in literature. Lyrical Ballads, authored with Samuel Taylor Coleridge and published in 1798, is considered a stylistically ground-breaking collection of poems. The Prelude is Wordsworth's major work, a romantic epic that he worked on through his adult life. Wordsworth died in 1850 and is buried in his beloved Lake District, a short distance from where he was born.
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Wordsworth, The Royal Mint has struck a £5 coin celebrating his life and poetry.
A coin collection for 007 - celebrating the world's most famous spy
From Dr No to No Time To Die, James Bond has been depicted by six actors and appeared in 25 films with endless gadgets. Now, as the latest 007 film is released, The Royal Mint is celebrating the quintessentially British spy with a new coin collection exploring the technology, luxurious lifestyle and iconic imagery of the movies.
The collection begins with coins featuring the Aston Martin DB5 - the classic Bond car. A coin designed by graphic design partnership Christian Davies and Matt Dent shows the DB5 in profile and will be followed by two more coins, which, when placed together, will reveal a very famous motif. The coin is available in several editions, from a Brilliant Uncirculated coin to precious metal coins, plus Inspired Innovation editions which have an ultra-high relief and feature state-of-the-art micro-text.
Each coin is presented in specially designed, sophisticated packaging, perfect for any fan of James Bond, espionage or the classic films.
Tales of the Earth
Countless books, films and games have helped to fuel our fascination with dinosaurs, some of the most awe- inspiring animals to have ever walked the planet. British anatomist Richard Owen was the first scientist to realise that the fossilised remains of three creatures uncovered in nineteenth-century England shared common characteristics. He used the term 'Dinosauria' to describe this new group of animals in a paper published in 1842.
This coin is the first in an exciting new series celebrating the discovery of dinosaurs and depicts Megalosaurus, one of the three creatures that Owen realised were closely related. Available as a gold Proof, silver Proof, colour silver Proof and a Brilliant Uncirculated edition, priced at £10.00, it shines the spotlight on one of Britain's less well-known scientific triumphs.
The coin is available as:
- 50p Brilliant Uncirculated coin
- 50p Silver Proof coin
- 50p Silver Proof Printed coin
- 50p Gold Proof coin
A Coin to Observe a Key Moment in UK-EU History
On 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom officially withdraws from the European Union. The action comes as a result of a public referendum on 23 June 2016. To observe this moment in history The Royal Mint is issuing a 50p coin featuring the inscription 'Peace, prosperity and friendship to all nations'.
The coin is available as:
- 50p Brilliant Uncirculated coin
- 50p Silver Proof coin
- 50p Gold Proof coin
- Strike n the Day Sovereign
This coin is the first in a new series celebrating British Music Legends.
Emerging from the hard rock scene of the early 1970s, Queen developed a unique sound and theatrical stage presence that propelled them to global stardom. Loved by legions of loyal fans all over the world, almost 50 years after the classic line-up came together, new artists continue to be inspired by the band’s enduring legacy.
The coin is available as:
- £5 Brilliant Uncirculated coin
- 1/2oz Silver Proof coin
- 1oz Silver Proof coin
- 1/4oz Gold Proof coin
- 1oz Gold Proof coin
Britain's Longest Reigning King
The Royal Mint has struck a £5 coin to celebrate the life and legacy of George III - the first king of the United Kingdom and remains the longest reigning king in British history.
The coin is available as:
- £5 Brilliant Uncirculated coin
- £5 Silver Proof coin
- £5 Silver Proof Piedfort coin
- £5 Gold Proof coin
Monumental Stories in Miniature
The 2020 Annual Sets commemorate both the historic sailing of the Mayflower on its voyage to the 'New World', and Victory in Europe (VE) Day, towards the end of the Second World War. They also celebrate Dame Agatha Christie's murder mysteries, Team GB's participation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, as well as the reign and legacy of George III.
The sets are available as:
- UK Definitive Set
- UK BU Annual Coin Set
- UK Collector Proof Coin Set
- UK Premium Proof Coin Set
- UK Silver Proof Piedfort Coin Set
- UK Silver Proof Coin Set
- UK Gold Proof Coin Set