100 years, 100 poppies. How this year’s Poppy coin perfectly marks the First World War Centenary.

The official new Poppy Coin has just been issued in support of The Royal British Legion and this year it features a stylised The Royal British Legion red poppy, with a poignant nod to the First World War Centenary. Upon closer inspection the singular poppy is made up of 99 individually engraved red ink poppies, making 100 poppies in total for the centenary year of WWI.

I caught up with designer Christopher Lloyd to ask him about the story behind his design:

Chris designing Poppy Coin for Blog - 100 years, 100 poppies. How this year’s Poppy coin perfectly marks the First World War Centenary.
2018 Remembrance Poppy Coin Designer, Christopher Lloyd

“Considering it’s an incredibly important year, the coin had to make reference to the centenary year. However, as it is the only official coin to support The Royal British Legion an essential part of the coin had to be the Legion’s stylised poppy.”

“I designed the coin to feature 99 poppies, all of which are highlighted in red ink and encompassed within one much larger poppy, to directly make reference to the First World War Centenary.”

“It has been an honour to design the 2018 Poppy coin. I hope it helps to support the important work of The Royal British Legion.”

A coin for every collection

Poppy drawing - 100 years, 100 poppies. How this year’s Poppy coin perfectly marks the First World War Centenary.
The 2018 Remembrance Poppy Coin Design Sketches

This year a whole range of different coin specifications are to be struck, meaning there is a coin for every collector. From a special Proof quality cupro-nickel £5 coin – right up to an astonishing 5oz Gold edition, the new Poppy Coin is undoubtedly a moving tribute to mark Remembrance Day during such an important centenary year.

Officially issued in support of The Royal British Legion

To support the work of The Royal British Legion, The Westminster Collection have organised for a donation from the sale of each coin to go directly to the charity, helping them to continue to provide financial, social and lifelong support to all who have served and are currently serving in the British Armed Forces and their families.

What’s more, since our partnership began we are on target to raise an incredible £1,000,000 in support of The Royal British Legion.


If you’re interested… 

The 2018 Remembrance Poppy Coins are available now. Click here for more details and to add one to your collection today >>

BIFF! BOP! THUDD! Own an original piece of Beano artwork on the NEW Silver-Plated Commemorative

Mint Editions Blog Banner 2018 - BIFF! BOP! THUDD! Own an original piece of Beano artwork on the NEW Silver-Plated Commemorative

The Beano turns 80 this year. I’ll just let that sink in.

I still remember running down to my old corner shop every Wednesday after school to pick up the brand new Beano comic for 2p (the mind boggles!), then running home to try and get a read of the first few pages before mum cleared the table for dinner.

Of all the Beano characters, there was one character I looked forward to reading about more than any other – my favourite mischief maker – Dennis the Menace.

And that’s why I have been so excited over the last few months to be able to work personally on an exclusive and highly collectable Beano Commemorative – especially as this year the comic turns 80.

Brand new never before seen Dennis illustration

As a special privilege for their 80th birthday, Beano have given us unparalleled permission to create some brand new Beano artwork.

That’s because, for the very first time, Dennis the Menace has been brought to life on a brand new and exclusive Silver-Plated Commemorative by actual Beano artist – Wayne Thompson.

 

AT Beano Silver Plated Medals Blog Dennis 1 - BIFF! BOP! THUDD! Own an original piece of Beano artwork on the NEW Silver-Plated Commemorative

 

As you can see, the medal is a perfect limited edition tribute to Dennis in his classic red and black sweater that you, I, and many generations of children have grown up to love.

And as I mentioned, the Dennis the Menace illustration has been specially commissioned exclusively for Mint Editions. No one has ever seen it before and it has come straight from The Beano studios, direct to us from their artist – Wayne Thompson.

A whole collection of beloved Beano favourites

Just as in the comics, Dennis is never far from his trusted companion Gnasher, who is also part of the collection of new medals featuring beloved Beano favourites.

 

AT Beano Silver Plated Medals Blog Gnasher Pack 1 - BIFF! BOP! THUDD! Own an original piece of Beano artwork on the NEW Silver-Plated Commemorative

 

The complete collection of eight medals also includes Bananaman, Plug, Minnie the Minx, Roger the Dodger, Danny and Pieface – and each Silver-Plated Medals all feature brand new never-before-seen illustrations from Wayne.

 

 


Your invitation to SAVE £10.00 when you order today

Beano Silver Plated Medals Dennis and pack 300x166 - BIFF! BOP! THUDD! Own an original piece of Beano artwork on the NEW Silver-Plated Commemorative

Today, I would like to personally invite you to start your collection with the Dennis the Menace Silver-Plated Medal – for JUST £14.99… that’s an exclusive £10.00 SAVING. What’s more, alongside your second delivery you’ll also receive a free collecting pack to house and protect each Silver-Plated Medal.

Click here for more information and to secure yours >>

This remarkable new Armistice Centenary issue is so unique its production techniques have been kept a closely guarded secret…

100 years ago this year, at 11 o’clock on 11th of November, the guns of war finally fell silent. The First World War was over.

While many fathers, sons, uncles and brothers came home, millions lay where they fell, on the Battlefields of Europe. Those who were lucky enough to be identified were placed in makeshift graves, often only identified by a rifle placed in the earth with his steel helmet placed on top as a final memorial.

To commemorate the Armistice Centenary, The Royal Canadian Mint have issued a remarkable new coin that honours each and every fallen soldier.

Struck in the shape of a WWI Brodie Helmet, it is more deeply curved surface than any other concave or convex-shaped coin I’ve seen before. The design is so unique in fact, that the Mint have kept the minting technique a closely guarded secret.

Canada 2018 Silver Helmet Coin Product Image Top - This remarkable new Armistice Centenary issue is so unique its production techniques have been kept a closely guarded secret…Although the original helmet would have been cast from Steel, this coin has been struck in the very finest .9999 or “four nines” silver, this is the purest grade of silver available. The Royal Canadian Mint is one of the very few Mints in the world with enough minting expertise able to strike coins with this incredible high relief finish. It’s an exceptional feat of craftsmanship.

What’s more the attention to detail is outstanding, each coin has been given a final antique finish and there are even engraved cracks and markings which complete the helmet’s battle-worn appearance. A reminder of the hardships endured by those who fought.

 

 

The amount of 2018 Silver ‘Helmet-Shaped’ coins available is very low. A worldwide edition limit of just 6,500 has been set by the Mint, but of course many of these won’t even make it out of Canada. Without any doubt, this has to be one of the most collectable issues ever struck.

The First World War will always be known as one of Man Kind’s darkest hours but poignant issues like this one allow us to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.


If you’re interested… 

We have just 500 WWI Lest We Forget Silver ‘Helmet-Shaped’ coins available for UK collectors, but to get one you’ll have to act quickly.

Click here for more details >>