British History
Why King Charles III Coronation coins will be worth collecting
As the United Kingdom prepares for King Charles III’s coronation this year, we can expect worldwide mints to issue coins marking the historic event. But how sought-after will they be?
Well, when you look to recent royalty coins, including those featuring His Majesty’s portrait, there’s sure to be sell-outs.
FIRST UK King Charles III Coins Sell-Out in HOURS
Following Queen Elizabeth II’s sad passing in September 2022, a new UK 50p and £5 coin were issued to commemorate her incredible life and legacy.
These were the first ever UK coins to feature King Charles III’s portrait on the obverse, and the first time we’d seen a new obverse portrait on coins in 70 years.
And, these coins were in such high demand that all premium limited specifications sold out at The Royal Mint within JUST HOURS of release.
This isn’t surprising considering The Royal Mint had queues of over 66,000 collectors on their website, each wanting to secure these coins for their collections.
The First King Charles III Sovereign
The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Sovereign was the first ever UK Sovereign to feature King Charles III’s portrait on the obverse. It was also the first time a memorial sovereign had been issued.
These factors made an already popular coin extremely sought-after by collectors.
It proved so popular with collectors that the Gold Proof, Gold Proof Quarter-Sovereign and Gold Proof Half-Sovereigns all becoming best sellers at The Royal Mint.
Prince Charles 70th Birthday £5
In 2018, The Royal Mint issued a £5 coin to celebrate King Charles III’s 70th birthday. What makes this coin unique is that it was the last UK coin to feature the portrait of His Majesty as ‘Prince’ before he became King.
Since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we’ve seen demand for this coin increase as collectors look to build their King Charles III collections.
The Brilliant Uncirculated version has been listed on eBay for nearly 10 times its face value, whilst the silver proof version is being listed for more than £249.
Dual-Plated National Anthem Platinum Jubilee 50ps
Prior to Charles’ accession to the throne, Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee was the most significant royal event in history.
To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the Isle of Man issued a set of National Anthem Platinum Jubilee 50ps.
The National Anthem collection included a dual reverse design, featuring the words of the iconic National Anthem on the left, and the Queen’s heraldic Beasts on the right.
These coins proved extremely popular with collectors – the initial release of 2,000 dual-plated National Anthem 50ps selling out in less than 2 hours.
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2023 Annual Sets SELLING OUT fast!
The 2023 Annual Set issued earlier this morning was rumoured to be the most sought-after commemorative annual set to date…
…and the rumours were true.
The coins are the very first 2023 dated coins to feature King Charles III’s portrait on the obverse and collectors have been racing to guarantee them for their collections.
Record breaking sell outs
Within just 16 minutes of release, the Silver Proof and Silver Piedfort specifications of the 2023 Annual Set were no longer available to order at The Royal Mint.
The Premium Proof and Proof 2023 Annual Sets were also in high demand, becoming unavailable to order at The Royal Mint in less than an hour of release.
A new era of UK coinage
The 2023 Annual Set includes two brand new 50p coins, two £2 coins and a new £5 coin.
Each of the coins in this highly sought-after set feature King Charles III’s portrait on the obverse. And importantly, this is the first time His Majesty‘s effigy is seen on a UK £2 coin.
The issue of the 2023 Annual Coin Set marks a new era of UK coinage. You can still secure the set in Brilliant Uncirculated quality here.
Have you got THESE £2 coins in your collection?
Since its inception 25 years ago, the familiar bi-metallic £2 coin has become the commemorative canvas for some of the most exciting and collectable coin designs of our time. Sit tight for a quick-fire countdown of my top 5 £2 coins and why you should add them to your collection… if you’re lucky enough to find them.
5. The 2016 Great Fire of London £2 Coin
Issued to mark the 350th anniversary of the fire, it was later revealed that its mintage figure was mistakenly listed.
With 3.5 million less than originally thought in circulation, it’s in fact one of the rarest £2 coins in circulation.
4. The 2014 First World War (Lord Kitchener) £2 Coin
Issued to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, over 5,700,000 of these coins entered circulation, making it an easy design to stumble across.
However, a small number of these coins supposedly entered circulation without the ‘Two Pounds’ denomination anywhere on the coin. In March 2020 one of these so-called ‘error’ coins sold at auction for £500. A hefty return on a £2 coin!
[Image credit: The Sun]
3. The 2012 London Olympics Handover £2 Coin
Undoubtedly one of the greatest national events in my lifetime. London hosting the Olympic Games in 2012 will remain etched in my memory forever.
Unsurprisingly, the event has been immortalised on official UK coinage. The London 2012 Handover £2 coin was issued to mark the handing over of the flag to the next host city, Rio. Just 845,000 of these historic £2 coins entered circulation.
2. The 2022 25th Anniversary £2 Coin
It would be remiss of me not to mention the coin issued to mark this year’s special 25th anniversary. This is a re-issue of the first ever definitive UK £2 coin.
Despite not entering circulation, this could be the last Commemorative UK £2 coin to feature the effigy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Undoubtedly, this one will hold great importance for collectors for years to come.
1. The 2021 UK H.G. Wells £2 Coin
As a fan of The War of the Worlds, taking the top spot is last year’s HG Wells £2 coin. This was issued to mark the 75th anniversary of his passing.
But there’s another reason.
Eagle-eyed collectors will call this an ‘error’ coin. Spotting an additional leg on the Martian, famously known to be a tripod but controversially depicted on the coin with a fourth leg!
To celebrate this year’s 25th Anniversary of the £2 coin, you can own the UK 2021 HG Wells £2 Coin for JUST £2 (+p&p) when you trial the Best of British £2 Coin Collection. There’s no obligation to continue collecting – cancel at any time.
Click here to claim your HG Wells £2 Coin for JUST £2
Alternatively, if you’d like to collect the latest UK £2 coins issued by The Royal Mint and receive them as soon as they’re released, you can visit our sister brand Change Checker and sign up to the Official £2 Coin Subscription: www.changechecker.org/subscription