2011 50p coins

[scott]

they cant, they would have to use a lower denominations, these american projects are on coins that are more like our 20p's which have a high mintage every year, i can't see them doing it on 50p's, looking at the genral minting figures... its usualy around 30-40 million, the olympic stuff is what 82 million? its not possible.

i do like the designs on the 2011 issues though, the WWF is 2011 issue in the sets, and is quite a nice design.

shame the £5 has prince phillips face on it.. instantly making an ugly coin

[Peckris]

they cant, they would have to use a lower denominations, these american projects are on coins that are more like our 20p's which have a high mintage every year, i can't see them doing it on 50p's, looking at the genral minting figures... its usualy around 30-40 million, the olympic stuff is what 82 million? its not possible.

i do like the designs on the 2011 issues though, the WWF is 2011 issue in the sets, and is quite a nice design.

shame the £5 has prince phillips face on it.. instantly making an ugly coin

Has there ever been one - just one - £5 design that hasn't been plug ugly? I can't think of one.

[scott]

there are quite a few designs i like

2001, 2003, 2005, 2008 (liz 1) and 2009 shame they cost over face

and you can buy a worn victoria OH penny for £2.95 off the mint O.O

cant help but think the mint make things harder for us by charging £3 each for these 50p's and saying they are very rare... collecting circulating coins is boyant but WAY too much overpricing going on.

[Sylvester]

they cant, they would have to use a lower denominations, these american projects are on coins that are more like our 20p's which have a high mintage every year, i can't see them doing it on 50p's, looking at the genral minting figures... its usualy around 30-40 million, the olympic stuff is what 82 million? its not possible.

i do like the designs on the 2011 issues though, the WWF is 2011 issue in the sets, and is quite a nice design.

shame the £5 has prince phillips face on it.. instantly making an ugly coin

Never say never Scott. With the way inflation is going what is 50p worth these days? I certainly don't think of it as a high denomination coin any more, you'd struggle to buy a chocolate bar with a single 50p these days! Even a £5 note doesn't go very far now when you go shopping.

Anyway as with the State quarter program they could roll it out over a long period. One or two counties per month, remaining 50ps needed could be made up with the standard issue. Technically they're already doing this every year with 50p and £2 coin already, most years sees 2 or 3 designs (one/two commem plus the standard design) for each coin.

Personally I miss the good old days when commems didn't really exist, the only time you got a £5 or something like that was during either a monarch change or a design change (every 20 or 30 years). Back then commems actually were special, the rot set in around 1927 when the wreath crowns arrived minted merely to sell as gifts for Christmas. Then the awful 1935 commem, followed by 1951 and then down hill it went.

The only commem I really like is the Gothic Crown, depending which reason for its striking you are inclined to believe.

[RobJ]

Oh dear.

29 designs, shallow clip art reliefs, reminds me of the US State Quarter project, which was such a money spinner that it then went on to many other similar themed projects. It wouldn't surprise me if the Royal Mint decide to make a regular thing out of this, using the 50p for lots of different clip art designs every year. Just think; a design for every county, historic buildings/monuments, monarchs, Prime Ministers etc. Certainly a shrewd business move.

they cant, they would have to use a lower denominations, these american projects are on coins that are more like our 20p's which have a high mintage every year, i can't see them doing it on 50p's, looking at the genral minting figures... its usualy around 30-40 million, the olympic stuff is what 82 million? its not possible.

I'm not so sure if I'm honest. I know that these set of Issues are to Commemorate a specific one off event, but that may not stop the Royal Mint from creating future set or sets in BU only.

As Sylvester states there are a multitide of possible designs that could be created and issued. However, if they were to be Special BU Issues only then it may not be very profitable for the mint to create them, after all they are a Business looking to maximise their profits.

Then again as Scott mentions to release them each year would be very hard as well due to the annual Minting requirements.

I do hope that mass Issues such as these are kept to those very special events of significance. Otherwise, in a few years time we may all be looking to complete a set of 1979 Conservative Cabinet Ministers and getting over excited if we find a 'Michael Heseltine.' lol

[Sylvester]

I shouldn't laugh though, it'll probably come to that. I'll swap you my Clement Atlee for your Douglas Hurd!

[RobJ]

shame the £5 has prince phillips face on it.. instantly making an ugly coin

Has there ever been one - just one - £5 design that hasn't been plug ugly? I can't think of one.

I think that there have been a few nice designs on the £5 Commemorarive Coins.

My favourite by far is the 2004 'Entente Cordiale' Issue. I do really like that design. The 2001 Queen Victoria and the 2009 Henry VIII are also quite nice designs too.

As for the rest, I could take them or leave them personally.

[RobJ]

cant help but think the mint make things harder for us by charging £3 each for these 50p's and saying they are very rare... collecting circulating coins is boyant but WAY too much overpricing going on.

I do agree with you Scott. The prices that the Royal Mint charge in general for any Commemorative Issue are overpriced. I do understand that a BU coin is of a higher quality than a standard Circulation coin, etc. However to charge many times the face value of the coin is excessive to say the least.

The 2012 Olympic Games 50p Issues at £2.99 are actually quite cheap compared to the other 50p Annual Issues which are around £6.99!

[RobJ]

I shouldn't laugh though, it'll probably come to that. I'll swap you my Clement Atlee for your Douglas Hurd!

Sorry Sylvester, my Douglas Hurd isn't up for swapsies, lol

Seriously though, with the number of 'Special Collectable Medals' etc that have been recently released by the Royal Mint, I wouldn't be surprised if it happend either!

[davidrj]

The Paris mint did some nice 1 franc coins, reprising some of the classic designs from previous issues, for example the Dupre obverse from the 5 centimes an5 to an9, pretty damn well true to the original

Be nice to see some of our classic designs reissued, but sadly I see coin design degenerating in the same way our stamps have (Machin definitives excepted)

David

[scott]

yea they did, they used the designs from the late 19th century on the 1960-euro francs as well.

although if the mint did some of the victorian designs then fantastic or the edward VII florin

[Sylvester]

Oh I'd love to see a reissue of the Edward VII florin, that was one design sadly cut short by Edward's death. All of his other designs had either been carried forward into Edward's reign from Victoria's (bronze, 3d, 6d & gold), or were carried forward into George V's reign (1/-, 2/6d albeit modified, and the new 6d a beautiful adaptation of the then current shilling design). Sadly the iconic florin was the only design that hadn't been done to death (like the dull wreath 6d) that was discontinued.

Actually some modern virtual copies of old coins could be welcome, I always thought the 1989 sovereign issues were very well executed (pity they're not available in bog standard BU, since I don't like proof finish coins, always look a bit like tacky 'cheap bling' to me, especially gold proofs).

I'd love to see the 1911 halfcrown reverse reused, a beautiful design, especially with the slightly concave field. Gothic florin £2 coin anyone? Una and the Lion cupro-nickel £5 coin? Britannia reverse 2p? Pistrucci's Geo IV farthing design on the 1p?

Quarter guinea design on the 5p?

[RobJ]

That is quite a nice idea actually. Reissuing some of the older designs on the newer coins.

I do think however that unless they were on the £5 Coin or the £2 Coin that there would be no justice given to the designs.

[Sylvester]

That is quite a nice idea actually. Reissuing some of the older designs on the newer coins.

I do think however that unless they were on the £5 Coin or the £2 Coin that there would be no justice given to the designs.

Or at least on a size of coin approximate to the original (where possible). Kinda screwed on the 50p though, nothing was heptagonal before that arrived.

Now how about a reissue of the gold florin of Edward III on a £5 coin? You know i'd even buy one of those. Or a half noble on a bimet £2 coin.

[RobJ]

Or at least on a size of coin approximate to the original (where possible). Kinda screwed on the 50p though, nothing was heptagonal before that arrived.

Now how about a reissue of the gold florin of Edward III on a £5 coin? You know i'd even buy one of those. Or a half noble on a bimet £2 coin.

It is a nice idea. Sadly however, I can imagine the Royal Mint producing them as Special Commemorative 'Medal' Issues as opposed to Circulating Coins. No doubt charging a vastly overpriced premium for them in the process!

As for the 50p, you and I both know that they have been earmarked for the upcoming 'Wives of Ian Beale' Commemorative Issues.

[Peckris]

Oh I'd love to see a reissue of the Edward VII florin, that was one design sadly cut short by Edward's death.

Oh, but it has! The standing Britannia is a feature of the "Britannia' series of coins since the late 80s - check out Spink S4281 and S4500 for example. Whether it is as remarkable as the Edward florin would be the subject of a big debate here I'm sure, but I think it is an excellent design. One of the best of the recent designs.

[RobJ]

Oh, but it has! The standing Britannia is a feature of the "Britannia' series of coins since the late 80s - check out Spink S4281 and S4500 for example.

Also, if you look closely at the 2004 'Entente Cordiale' £5 Coin, you will see 'Edward's' Britannia there as well.

Whether it is as remarkable as the Edward florin would be the subject of a big debate here I'm sure, but I think it is an excellent design. One of the best of the recent designs.

I must admit that I rather like the 'Britannia' Issues. S4500 Is really quite breathtaking.

You are right to say that it would be a subject of much debate with the Edward VII Britannia Design.

If I'm honest I rather like S4503 as well (Minus the lettering.) I think that it is a superb design!

[Sylvester]

Oh I'd love to see a reissue of the Edward VII florin, that was one design sadly cut short by Edward's death.

Oh, but it has! The standing Britannia is a feature of the "Britannia' series of coins since the late 80s - check out Spink S4281 and S4500 for example. Whether it is as remarkable as the Edward florin would be the subject of a big debate here I'm sure, but I think it is an excellent design. One of the best of the recent designs.

I had actually forgotten all about those (as you'd probably surmised ) I actually do really like the design but I don't class any of the Britannia serieses as real coins, so I tend to ignore that they exist. Same with the British trade dollars!

[Peckris]

I actually do really like the design but I don't class any of the Britannia serieses as real coins, so I tend to ignore that they exist. Same with the British trade dollars!

Good point. I don't normally collect non-coins but I liked that design so much I actually do have one large silver Britannia!

[RobJ]

I actually do really like the design but I don't class any of the Britannia serieses as real coins, so I tend to ignore that they exist.

Good point. I don't normally collect non-coins but I liked that design so much I actually do have one large silver Britannia!

I thought that the Britannia issues were in fact Legal Tender Coins? Or am I missunderstanding your definitions of what makes a coin?

Sorry to ask, I'm just being curious.

[davidrj]

I thought that the Britannia issues were in fact Legal Tender Coins? Or am I missunderstanding your definitions of what makes a coin?

Sorry to ask, I'm just being curious.

They may be legal tender, but in my view they are only a coin, is someone goes into a shop and uses it to buy an ice cream, a packet of fags or whatever

If not they are NOT coins

David

[RobJ]

They may be legal tender, but in my view they are only a coin, is someone goes into a shop and uses it to buy an ice cream, a packet of fags or whatever

If not they are NOT coins

David

That is a very fair point of view David.

It is also one that I personally share. Even though it is Legal Tender, if it is not used in every day transactions then it doesn't qualify as a coin.

As I said, I asked out of curiosity to try to find out what peoples definitions were on what makes a coin

[davidrj]

They may be legal tender, but in my view they are only a coin, is someone goes into a shop and uses it to buy an ice cream, a packet of fags or whatever

If not they are NOT coins

David

That is a very fair point of view David.

It is also one that I personally share. Even though it is Legal Tender, if it is not used in every day transactions then it doesn't qualify as a coin.

As I said, I asked out of curiosity to try to find out what peoples definitions were on what makes a coin

I do however think some of the Brittanias are very pretty, just not my thing

It's the same with stamps, although I no longer collect them; I always considered a nice postally used specimen far more desirable than mint unhinged that seems now to be the preferred option for collectors.

Edited January 6, 2011 by davidrj

[£400 for a Penny ?]

A Britannia's face value is £2.

Seeing as how they are going on fleabay for around £30 though, you would have to be a piece of work to want to spend it for face value.....

[declanwmagee]

A Britannia's face value is £2.

Seeing as how they are going on fleabay for around £30 though, you would have to be a piece of work to want to spend it for face value.....

be a laugh though, wouldn't it? I bet a lot of people wouldn't accept one for £2!