British History
Royal Inspiration: The Story Behind the King Charles III 75th Birthday Coin Design – An Interview with Renowned Heraldic Artist, Mike Guilfoyle
Welcome to a behind-the-scenes encounter with a true artistic genius. Join us as we delve into an exclusive interview with renowned artist, Mike Guilfoyle. In this captivating interview, we’ll uncover the intricacies and insights behind his latest masterpiece– the King Charles III 75th Birthday Coin. Prepare to be enchanted by the inspiration, craftsmanship, and intricate details that make these coins a work of art, all revealed by the visionary behind the design.
You can explore the key features of the King Charles III 75th Birthday Coins, by clicking on the white dots on the interactive image below:
Click here to explore the whole King Charles III 75th Birthday Coin Range>>>
Celebrating 20 Years of Supersonic History: Remembering the Last Flight of Concorde
Today is a very significant day in aviation history! The iconic Concorde jet, renowned for its supersonic speed and luxury, bid its final farewell on October 24, 2003. This last commercial passenger flight G-BOAG took off from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, soaring through the skies at twice the speed of sound, and touching down at London’s Heathrow Airport.
On board were 100 passengers, including famous personalities and an adventurous Ohio couple who had secured two tickets on eBay for a staggering $60,300.
This final journey marked the end of an era, as the typical roundtrip trans-Atlantic fare, which cost around $9,000, was now history. Simultaneously, other Concorde flights embarked on their last voyages from Edinburgh and the Bay of Biscay, drawing large crowds of spectators.
Concorde’s Legacy
Concorde, a marvel of British and French joint innovation, took to the skies in January 1976 for its first commercial flight. It represented a significant leap in aviation technology and design, and its sleek, delta-winged design enabled it to complete the transatlantic journey between New York and London in a mere three and a half hours, cruising at an astonishing speed of 1,350 miles per hour. Concorde was more than just a means of travel, it was an emblem of speed and luxury, captivating the world’s imagination.
Challenges faced by Concorde
Despite its iconic status, Concorde was not without its challenges. Some individuals living under its flight path criticised the substantial noise it generated, disrupting their everyday lives. Tragically, a dark chapter in Concorde’s history unfolded on July 25, 2000, when an Air France jet crashed shortly after take-off from Paris. This catastrophic incident claimed the lives of all 109 people on board, as well as four others on the ground. Following the crash, all Concorde flights were suspended for over a year, with investigations, safety checks, and improvements taking place.
The final commercial flight of Concorde on October 24, 2003, marked the end of an era in aviation. This iconic jet, born from international collaboration, redefined the possibilities of air travel with its incredible speed and luxury. While Concorde had its share of challenges, including noise complaints and a tragic accident, it remains an iconic symbol of human ingenuity and ambition. Concorde’s legacy lives on, reminding us of the thrill of pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the skies.
To mark this significant day in aviation history and to celebrate the legacy of this legendary supersonic jet, we have curated a special range over the years for our collectors. Featuring Gold plated coins, Signed framed prints and Limited edition ingots, our Concorde Collectables range has something for everyone – See our Concorde Collectables range by clicking here.
BRAND-NEW UK Snowman™ 50p released!
Today, the Royal Mint have launched their brand-new SnowmanTM 50p coin, just in time for Christmas.
It’s safe to say this coin is destined for sell-outs, given that in the last five years EVERY edition has sold out in record time.
Read on to find out more about this year’s designs, and those tiny edition limits…
Designed by Robin Shaw
This years design features ‘The Boy’, James, and the Snowman dancing in a snowy forest in front of the Northern Lights.
It has been carefully illustrated by Robin Shaw, a renowned animator who has famously produced all of the images that have appeared on the Snowman UK 50p coins. The design is especially eye-catching in Silver, due to the advance colour-application that brings the Northern Lights to life.
Although the design may be stunning , it’s the edition limits that will be catching the eye of collectors…
Sell-outs expected…
The limited-edition Silver Proof coin has an edition limit of just 5,000.
To put that into context, the 2018 SnowmanTM Silver 50p sold out an edition limit of 15,000.
That means this year’s coin is three times as limited. When you think about it, should every collector who secured the first coin want this latest release, we are already 10,000 short.
And that’s not all, the Gold Proof coin has had a drastic edition limit cut from 300 coins last year, to a minute 100. Again, this coin has sold-out year on year and the small numbers wont be enough to satisfy demand.
How to secure yours
This UK 50p coin is available in three specifications: Gold Proof, Colour-Printed Silver Proof, and Brilliant Uncirculated Quality. A specification for every collector. Click here to secure the perfect christmas present before it’s too late >
