The latest Canadian $20 silver coin has now sold out its entire 250,000 edition limit
With its entire 250,000 worldwide edition limit now sold out, the Ice Hockey coin becomes the latest Royal Canadian Mint $20 silver coin to sell-out – securing the $20 coin as the world’s fastest-selling silver coin series.
A collecting phenomena
In just two years, the Canadian $20 silver coin series has caused an unprecedented collecting frenzy among collectors not just at home but worldwide with all seven coins selling out extremely fast. The first coin in the series featuring the Maple Leaf was issued in 2011 with a worldwide edition limit of 200,000 pieces. Just 29 days later, every single one had been sold.
Quick – but not the quickest
Surprisingly though, the Maple Leaf isn’t the fastest-selling coin in this series to date.
To cope with the unprecedented level of demand following the Maple Leaf’s success, 250,000 coins of each of the next 5 issues were struck. But as the mintage increased, so too did demand, particularly among Canadians. Once they had one, they simply had to have the next. And the next and the next – leaving many collectors disappointed.
The one to beat! The Polar Bear is the fastest selling coin of the series to date
Faster than the Diamond Jubilee issue
It was however the Polar Bear $20 silver coin that broke all previous records selling out in just 25 days – incredibly, that was 5 days faster than the celebrated 2012 Diamond Jubilee issue, which was comparatively slow at 30 days.
Collectors haven’t had to wait too long to catch a glimpse of the next coin in the series. There’s every reason to assume all 250,000 of the new 2013 Canada Wolf Silver $20 Coin, the eighth of the series, will also sell out in double-quick time.
The next coin in the hugely popular series features the Wolf
Now officially sold out worldwide.
The Royal Mail has today issued a new set of 1st class stamps to mark this year’s 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. The stamps feature each of the eleven actors who have played the lead role in the world’s longest-running science fiction series over the last five decades.
The time-travelling adventures of the Time Lord in his Tardis battling against his arch-enemies like the Daleks and Cybermen have entertained generations of families, and been a regular part of Saturday teatime TV since its first broadcast on 23rd November 1963.
William Hartnell played the first ever Doctor back in 1963
William Hartnell played the first ever Doctor back then. With no colour TV, his stamp, like those first ever episodes, is in black and white. The same goes for his successor, Patrick Troughton. It wasn’t until Jon Pertwee in 1970 that the popular TV show was first broadcast in glorious colour.
Matt Smith currently plays the famous Time Lord
Bringing the set right up to date is current Doctor, Matt Smith. With his distinctive tweed jacket and bow tie, he is the youngest actor ever to play the famous Time Lord, taking over from David Tennant in 2010 at the age of just 28.
Tom Baker has starred in the most episodes
The fourth incarnation, Tom Baker is the longest-serving Doctor to date, having starred in more episodes than anyone else between 1974 to 1981. This could in part explain why for many of us, he remains the archetypal Doctor with his uncontrollable curly hair, frock coat and unusually long scarf!
On 24th February 1923, the Flying Scotsman left the works for the very first time. Now, exactly ninety years later, to mark this very special anniversary, I decided to re-trace the famous locomotive’s most historic journey, from London to Edinburgh, taking with me 750 specially designed Flying Scotsman covers.
Starting off at London’s Kings Cross with the 750 Flying Scotsman covers packed away safely in my case!
As Philatelic Manager at The Westminster Collection, part of my job is to come up with unique and innovative ways to add value to our commemorative stamp products. Last year, for example, I arranged for a small number of covers to be carried on board one of the ships taking part in the River Thames Pageant for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It proved an instant hit with collectors.
My ticket dated 24th February, the exact 90th anniversary of Flying Scotsman’s first ever London to Edinburgh journey
So there I was on the 2.45pm train to Edinburgh. Got my ticket, my overnight bag and those all-important covers. Before boarding, I arranged for the Royal Mail English Definitive Stamps on the cover to be postmarked ‘London’ 24th February, and then we were off!
I’ve no idea what the weather was like in 1923 but today, unusually, it got warmer the further north. After just 4 hours 39 minutes, we arrived at our destination, Edinburgh’s Waverley Station. No delays, no leaves on the line and no replacement bus service, it had definitely been a lot quicker than that first 1923 journey!
To complete the Flying Scotsman cover, the following morning before starting my return journey to London, I made my way to Royal Mail’s Edinburgh Postmarking Office to have the second cancellation applied to a set of Scottish Royal Mail Definitive Stamps – this Edinburgh postmark was dated 25th February.
Applying the Edinburgh postmark dated 25th February
Due to the cover’s uniqueness and the fact that this one-day-only journey on 24th February 2013 will never be repeated, no more covers will ever be available once all 750 have been sold.
Order your Flying Scotsman Carried Silver Coin Cover here. The accompanying Certificate of Authenticity confirms it is one of just 750 that travelled from London to Edinburgh on the exact anniversary date.
For a full range of Flying Scotsman Commemoratives – click here.