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How a political blunder led to the Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall is perhaps the most iconic symbol of the Cold War. A tall concrete barricade that divided the citizens of Germany for almost three decades. Numerous people risked their lives to cross the wall, whether digging tunnels underneath, flying over in a hot air balloon, or even driving cars under checkpoint barriers! But in 1989 that all changed when the world watched a press conference that all went a bit wrong…
A press conference that went wrong
For many months throughout 1989, there was mounting pressure on the government to adjust the restrictions around the boarder wall in Berlin. On the evening of November 9th 1989, the East German Party leader held a press conference announcing some loosening of the restrictions. But he hadn’t been briefed properly.
Gunter Schabowski broadcast the relaxing of some of the travel laws, but when asked when the freedom of movement would happen, he simply shrugged his shoulders, glanced at his notes, and said “right away.”
And that was it. A single moment, the most iconic in recent history, caused by an accident.
After almost 30 years of physical separation, crowds of people swarmed to the Berlin Wall checkpoints in anticipation of reuniting with loved ones and passing into the West freely.
Because of the confusion, the East German border guards had not been warned and were utterly overwhelmed by the crowds. At first they were told to stamp passports with symbols that effectively revoked East German citizenship, but as the crowds grew larger it became clear that unless lethal force was used, that the wall was no longer impassable. And no one was willing to give that order.
The Night the wall fell
That evening saw celebrations throughout Berlin, with people climbing the wall and taking pickaxes and hammers to break it apart and pull it down. Pieces and fragments of the wall were chipped away, with many pocketing pieces as souvenirs.
Families and loved ones reunited, as those from East Berlin were greeted with flowers and food. After years with limited contact, media censorship and restrictions, the people of Berlin were free to travel as and where they wanted.
The official reunification
Almost a year later, on 3rd October 1990, the German flag was raised over the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. It symbolised the moment at which the two German countries were finally reunified as the unification treaty became official.
Every year the German Day of Unity is celebrated throughout the country, with fireworks, meals, concerts speeches, and of course commemoratives. This year marks the 30th anniversary, and despite the coronavirus restrictions around the world, the people of Germany will still be celebrating and remembering the moment the country was untied again.
If you’re interested…
Today you can commemorate the historic moment in which Germany was brought together again by owning THREE commemorative coins alongside an original piece of the Berlin Wall in the Reunification of Germany Collection.
This collection has a tiny edition limit of JUST 200. Considering the anniversary this year, and the popularity of difficult to source one-off historic products like this, the edition limit is expected to sell out completely.
Six icons we owe to the Sixties
An explosion of colour and culture, the sixties is easily one of the most vibrant decades of our past.
From the summer of love, winning the world cup, to flower power and moonlandings, no other decade has done as much to shape the course of history. So take a trip down memory lane and delve back into the past as we uncover six things we owe to the sixties…
ONE: The First decimal coins
You’d be correct if you questioned this one at first. Although the UK didn’t officially say goodbye to the old pounds, shillings and pence system until 1971, the Royal Mint issued the first decimal coins in 1968! On 23rd April, the British public would have found the 5p and 10p coins in their change for the first time. They were issued and circulated alongside the Florin and Shilling coins as part of a process to help the public acclimatise to the new decimal system, and are arguably one of the most important issues in UK numismatic history.
TWO: The First James Bond Film
The quintessentially British spy with the code name 007 first graced our screens in “Dr No” released in 1962. Since then there have been over 25 films with the legendary spy and his iconic gadgets. Without the first Bond film in the sixties, we may not have had the James Bond £5 Coins that were released earlier this year, or the ‘Bond’ 10p issued in 2016 by the Royal Mint!
THREE: The Beatles
Of course this wouldn’t be a sixties piece if I didn’t mention the Beatles and ‘Beatlemania’. Born out of rock and roll with new pop culture, the Beatles have become the defining sound of the sixties, with people all over the world still inspired by their music today.
FOUR: Doctor Who
The first ever Dr Who episode was released in 1963. From then on, every week, the nation joined the Doctor and his companion in the Tardis to adventure through space and time, encountering aliens, cybermen, and of course the dreaded Daleks. Dr Who has since given rise to thousands of commemoratives, including a special Royal Mail stamp issue in 2012!
FIVE: Colour TV
The sixties is remembered as a colourful and vibrant era, and what better defines that than colour TV! In 1967 BBC launched the first UK colour channel – a truly defining moment that has shaped the films and characters we see on screen today.
SIX: The Moonlandings
The end of the decade saw one of the most iconic moments in world history as Neil Armstrong became the first man to step foot on the moon. There isn’t a person alive today who can’t finish the phrase “one small step for man… “. As such an important moment, it gave rise to huge opportunities in space exploration and technology that we still see today.
Of course there is a never ending list of inventions, iconic moments, fashion, music, films, TV shows and more that we owe to the sixties. One thing’s for sure is that it shaped a generation and was a decade like no other.
If you’re interested
Save £10.00 and relive the Sixties with the collectors frame & memorabilia pack. Click here to order yours >>
Featuring a collection of coins straight out of the sixties, this beautifully designed collectors frame is the perfect tribute to an iconic decade. Plus you’ll even receive a memorabilia pack, filled with tickets, manuals, memories and more. Click here to order yours >>
Introducing the BRAND NEW Winnie the Pooh 50p Coin Range
The Royal Mint has just authorised for release 3 BRAND NEW UK 50ps featuring characters from the beloved children’s book Winnie the Pooh, created by A.A. Milne.
This is the first time these characters have featured on a UK coin, and are the first coins in a classic 9-coin collection that will be released over 3 years.
The coins feature a nostalgic design by The Walt Disney Company that’s reminiscent of the classic illustrations by E.H. Shepard which feature in the novels, and as such are sure to be adored by fans and collectors of all ages.
Take a look below at the full range available:
2020 UK CERTIFIED BU 50p
This is your chance to be ahead of the crowd and secure your 2020 Winnie the Pooh 50ps in superior Brilliant Uncirculated condition for just £4.50 (+p&p) each.
Each coin will come protectively encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging to ensure that their superior quality is preserved forever.
Click here to order the UK 2020 Winnie the Pooh CERTIFIED BU 50p now >>
Click here to order the UK 2020 Christopher Robin CERTIFIED BU 50p now >>
Click here to order the UK 2020 Piglet CERTIFIED BU 50p now >>
Official Royal Mint Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Pack
Each coin has been struck to Brilliant Uncirculated quality, so you know they will be free from any of the marks or blemishes you would find on coins in your change. They each come beautifully presented in bespoke packaging from The Royal Mint that is Winnie the Pooh themed, and are each available at The Royal Mint issue price of JUST £10 (+p&p).
Click here to order the UK 2020 Winnie the Pooh BU Pack 50p now >>
Click here to order the UK 2020 Christopher Robin BU Pack 50p now >>
Click here to order the UK 2020 Piglet BU Pack 50p now >>
Limited Edition UK 2020 Silver Proof 50p
Struck from .925 Silver to a pristine Proof finish, JUST 18,000 of each of these Silver Proof 50ps will ever be available worldwide. This small number of coins is sure to sell-out quickly. Especially as the edition limit is significantly LESS than the 25,000 edition limit of the SOLD OUT Gruffalo Silver Proof 50p.
Each coin is available today for The Royal Mint’s official issue price of ONLY £67.50 (+p&p).
Click here to order the UK 2020 Winnie the Pooh Silver Proof 50p now >>
Click here to order the UK 2020 Christopher Robin Silver Proof 50p now >>
Click here to order the UK 2020 Piglet Silver Proof 50p now >>
Each new 50p is also available in an extremely limited Gold Proof edition. However, we have already SOLD-OUT of our full allocation of the UK 2020 Winnie the Pooh Gold Proof 50p Coin and now only limited numbers remain of the Christopher Robin and Piglet Gold Proof 50p coins. These are still available to pre-order here, but you must act now whilst stocks last.
Don’t miss out on owning the new UK Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and Piglet 50p coins. Click here to view the full range now >>