New Issues
Doctor Who coin sells for 15 times its face value!
The New Zealand Mint were amazed when a Limited Edition Doctor Who Silver Coin, issued in collaboration with BBC Worldwide to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the legendary TV show, created a bidding frenzy!
The Mint had put the coin on eBay as part of a charity auction and when the auction ended the winning bid was an incredible 15 times more than its face value! It just shows how popular Doctor Who memorabilia, particularly coins, is with collectors all over the world.
However, it’s not just on eBay where collectors have been fighting to add a Dr Who Commemorative coin to their collection. Within just four weeks of general release the Mint had sold more than half of the Doctor Who Silver Coin’s 10,000 edition limit. And now, just three weeks after the fantastic ‘Day of the Doctor’ 50th Anniversary episode was aired it is unlikely that the Mint have any left at all.
A Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Gold coin follows the success of the Silver coin, and with a mintage of just 250 worldwide this one will not be available for long either.
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The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Silver coin.
Features the TARDIS in engraved relief on the reverse with coloured element. Comes in a special TARDIS presentation box complete with sound effects. Now sold out.
The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary 1oz Gold Coin
Features the TARDIS depicted in engraved relief on the reverse and presented in a deluxe wooden box. Now sold out.
Kate Gives Birth to a Collecting Frenzy
Managing Director, Ian Glen, helps you pick through the Royal Baby commemorative jungle.
The Limited Edition Royal Baby Silver Commemorative Cover
It’s 9.57 am. Less than 24 hours after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been blessed with a new baby boy and a nation with its future King.
The Prince has not even been given a name yet but already there is a vast array of commemorative memorabilia.
One of our most important jobs is to select for you the very best commemorative issues that will mark the birth our future King in the most appropriate way and create a lasting heirloom that you can pass down to your children and grandchildren.
But which of the hundreds of commemorative pieces will stand the test of time?
Well let me share with you some of the elements that I believe are most important when we select the pieces we recommend to collectors.
1. Capture a moment in time
The Official Royal Mail Postmark captures the moment in time forever as with this DateStamp (TM) coin.
When there is a momentous occasion like a Royal Birth, I’m always keen to tie commemorative items back to that moment forever, which is why in my mind stamps create such a perfect collectable.
For example, we arranged well in advance for Royal Mail to hold a number of covers and other philatelic items ready for them to postmark with the all-important birth-date, as soon as it was announced.
These are true never-to-be repeated commemoratives, unlike so many items that will be manufactured for months after the birth.
2. History and heritage
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The Gold-plated Commemorative features a timeless heraldic design and draws on hundreds of years of minting heritage.
By specialising in coins and stamps, we have already declared our hand that the best collectable items have a strong history and heritage. Coins, commemorative medals and stamps, of course, have long traditions as Royal Commemoratives and so make the perfect keepsake.
With much issuing information not yet in the public domain, you can also realistically expect British Isles issues, as well as coins and stamps from many key commonwealth countries to be announced over the coming days and weeks.
As always, the closer the links to the UK, typically the stronger the longterm heritage of the piece. And with a Christening some way off, I’m certain we have many important issues still to come.
3. Designed to stand the test of time
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The Silver Proof Royal Baby Commemorative incorporates the Prince’s birthstone – a ruby.
A commemorative piece should always be designed to create an enduring memory – something that you can pass down through the generations.
It is no coincidence that many of the most popular coins to be issued over the years feature heraldic representations. Rushed and imagined sketchy pictures of the Royal Couple and baby, bear little creative strength and over time risk looking tired and clichéd.
It’s also worth searching out something a little bit unusual – even unique – in the design, which is why I was delighted when we were able to select a silver commemorative design that actually contains the new Prince’s birthstone – a ruby – as an integral part of the design.
4. Edition limits that mean something
Just 2,000 22 Carat Gold Collector Cards have been issued. With an edition of just 2,000, they are tipped to be among the earliest sell outs.
Of course, many Royal Baby commemoratives will be issued in limited editions – but that is only of real importance if demand is actually going to exceed supply, resulting in collectors missing out.
Of course, there is no hard and fast rule but I like to ensure that we work hard to select commemoratives with edition limits that should see sell-outs, helping to ensure their long-term collectability.
Finally, there is just one other thing to add. Enjoy your collecting.
By owning a Royal Commemorative, you are ensuring that not only you, but also your children and grandchildren, will forever have an element of connection to the moment when a nation celebrated the birth of its future King.
click here to view our full Royal Baby Commemorative Range
Interest in Iron Lady memorabilia soars
Whether you loved or loathed her, the fact of the matter is that since her death, demand for Baroness Thatcher memorabilia has rocketed.
A huge amount appeared online just 24 hours after the announcement. Ranging from the downright bizarre to the slightly comical such as toby jugs, key rings and coasters, more genuinely sought-after items such as signed copies of her memoirs, photographs and Christmas cards are also proving popular.
The Margaret Thatcher NumisProof
Incredibly sought-after
Political memorabilia has always been in high demand and none more so than for Lady Thatcher, Britain’s first and only female PM.
Even before her death, her Northern Ireland “Battle Bus” sold for $26,000 in February this year. Last September, Christie’s sold her one of her trademark jade green wool business suits for £25,000 (they had also sold her famous, if rather unflattering, Spitting Image puppet for just over £2,000 in December 2007).
Special one-day-only commemorative cover postmarked 17th April, the day of Lady Thatcher’s funeral
Divided opinion
And if you’re thinking the Iron Lady’s unpopularity among certain factions means less interest and less demand, you couldn’t be more wrong.
The fact she was so controversial during her three consecutive terms as PM at No 10 – due largely to the poll tax, trade unions and the miner’s strike – has only fuelled interest further.
Available while stocks last, a selection of commemoratives, issued to mark the life of Baroness Thatcher, is now available exclusively from The Westminster Collection.