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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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S2PND 2020 G.britain White Lion of Mortimer First Releases
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NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
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TANZANIA
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500S 2014 SHEIKH ABEID AMANI KARUME 1ST PRESIDENT OF ZANZIBAR
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NGC MS 63
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The Royal Mint had minted coins for Tanzania before, but this undertaking was markedly different. The process began 2 years prior in 2012 with the Royal Mint starting the bidding process to strike the 500 Shillingi coin for Tanzania. This was featured in a case study PDF on the Royal Mint website and this PDF highlights the unique challenges of this undertaking.
First, this was a conversion coin - Tanzania had been using a 500 Shillingi banknote and found it was not cost effective since it was replacing soiled and damaged notes so frequently. Also, the coin needed to be produced in a manner that allowed other mints to compete so a mono-ply nickel-plated steel coin was chosen. The Royal Mint has a name for this process, aRMour, that is a registered trademark. Finally, the RM undertook a marketing campaign to educate the population on the new coin to ease its acceptance. The coins have a lifespan of 25+ years according to the RM. Over 100 million of these coins were struck for the government of Tanzania by the Royal Mint over the course of about 18 months. The coin has a unique security feature where the denomination, 500, is seen from one angle and as the coin is turned the acronym, BOT for Bank of Tanzania, is seen from the other angle. This hologram effect should make the coins difficult to counterfeit.
The 2014 500 Shillingi coin from Tanzania is the first coin that Royal Mint engraver Jody Clark had a hand in designing for the Royal Mint that was struck for use. The design needed to incorporate elements from the 500 Shillingi note, so Clark was confined to using an African Water Buffalo, but this would prove to be good practice for animal designs on coins given his involvement in the Queen's Beasts series 3 years later.
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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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S50PND 2015 G.britain BRITANNIA
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NGC MS 69 DPL
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2015 was a year of milestones for the Royal Mint. In that year the image of the iconic personification of Great Britain, Britannia, returned to circulating UK coinage, the UK celebrated the longest reigning monarch in Britain's history, and it was a year of numismatic firsts for the mint. This is the first 50 Pound coin the Royal Mint produced in a series of silver coins sold at face value that began with 20 Pound denominated silver coins sold for 20 Pounds featuring the same design of the gold sovereign where St. George slays the dragon. In addition to this being the first 50 pound coin sold at face value it is the first Royal Mint coin produced featuring Jody Clark's designs on both the obverse and reverse. The fifth definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II first appeared on 2015 coinage as seen on the obverse of this coin and Jody Clark's popular 2014 Silver 2 Pound Britannia Proof design graces the reverse. It is not unusual for a design to be reused, but it is quite the nod to Jody Clark who joined the Royal Mint as an engraver only in 2014. This coin has a mintage of 100,000.
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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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2PND 2015 G.britain BRITANNIA
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NGC MS 67
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This is the first year (2015) and the largest denomination (2 pounds) of a coin in circulation featuring the 5th definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Royal Mint engraver Jody Clark. There are 5 pound coins minted in business strike and included in the mint sets sold by the mint, but these are not meant for circulation and are struck as commemoratives. There also were coins minted in 2015 meant for circulation with the older portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley (IRB), which means the first year and last year of each portrait will circulate alongside each other.
Jody Clark won a contest of anonymously submitted designs for the 5th definitive portrait of the Queen and is the first Royal Mint engraver in 100 years to have their design chosen for a royal portrait. The reception of the portrait was mixed when reading through the comments on the Royal Mint's website announcement page. Some think it is too similar to the IRB design - more of an update of his portrait than a new design - and others thought it was exceptionally well done, staying true to the Queen's likeness. One interesting aspect of this portrait is that Queen Elizabeth II seems to have a smirk and this gives her a warmer appearance. Another unique aspect of this portrait is that Clark created it entirely digitally. The initial renderings of the design feature the Queen with a necklace, but this is absent from the image that graces British coinage.
While this portrait will now feature on all coinage from the royal mint starting in 2015, this particular coin is important for a few other reasons. First off, it is a coin meant for circulation, which means millions of people will admire, handle, and spend this little pocket size work of art by Jody Clark. Also, there were only 650,000 2 Pound coins featuring the Britannia design struck. This makes it as of March 2017 the 4th rarest coin produced by the Royal Mint meant for circulation and one of 19 different coin variations the royal mint produced in 2015 for circulating coinage. Finally, this is a reappearance for Lady Britannia back into circulation. The last time an image of Britannia appeared on British pocket change was in 2008 on a 50 Pence coin. The edge of the 2 pound Britannia coins have an inscription which states QUATUOR MARIA VINDICO (I will claim the four seas).
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ISLE OF MAN 1971 TO DATE
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5PND 2017 Is.of Man
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NGC MS 67
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These coins are the first produced under a new contract for the Isle of Man by the Tower Mint for circulating currency. The previous 40+ years the Pobjoy Mint produced Manx coins for circulation, but as of April 1, 2017 the Tower Mint started its 10 year contract for the island nation. In addition to this unique fact, this is the first year Jody Clark's effigy of Queen Elizabeth II is used on the obverse. This is a different design than developed for the Royal Mint in the UK as the 5th definitive portrait and shows the Queen's shoulders facing outward, a very large necklace, a different neckline, and slightly different hairstyle. This same effigy will be on other British Overseas territories' currency such as Gibraltar.
The Tower Mint was founded in 1976 by the designer of the second, and arguably most popular, effigy of Queen Elizabeth II - Raphael Maklouf.
This is the largest denomination of a circulating coin issued for the Isle of Man, 5 pounds, and 2017 is the first year the coin is being minted not as a commemorative, but as a true coin meant for everyday use. In years past the 5 pound coin was only struck in limited quantities for commemorative events and sold in mint sets. However, the 2017 5 pound coin will have a mintage of 20,000 - a substantial amount for an island with a population of only 85,000 - yet still a very low mintage coin considering it is meant for circulation. The reverse depicts the armored legs of the triskelion; a celtic symbol of the Isle of Man. This coin is struck in a metal composition the Tower Mint refers to as "Alpaca" which is an alloy that might be some combination of nickel-brass and has a light gold hue.
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ISLE OF MAN 1971 TO DATE
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NOBLE 2017 Is.of Man Silver
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NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
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This coin was purchased on eBay in original mint packaging as part of a set. Only 500 sets were produced, but the mintage figures of the coins are as follows: 5000 Reverse Proof 1 ounce Silver Nobles and 500 Proof 1 ounce Silver Nobles. There is no indication the 5000 reverse proof coins were excluding the 500 combination sets, but it seems likely this is total mintage. This is the first 1 ounce Silver Noble produced since 2011. 2012 through 2016 had no silver mintages.
These coins are the first produced under a new contract for the Isle of Man by the Tower Mint. The previous 40+ years the Pobjoy Mint produced Manx coins, but as of April 1, 2017 the Tower Mint started its 10 year contract for the island nation. In addition to this unique fact, this is the first year Jody Clark's effigy of Queen Elizabeth II is used on the obverse. This is a different design than developed for the Royal Mint in the UK as the 5th definitive portrait and shows the Queen's shoulders facing outward, a very large necklace, a different neckline, and slightly different hairstyle. This same effigy will be on other British Overseas territories' currency such as Gibraltar.
The Tower Mint was founded in 1976 by the designer of the second, and arguably most popular, effigy of Queen Elizabeth II - Raphael Maklouf.
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ISLE OF MAN 1971 TO DATE
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NOBLE 2017 Is.of Man Silver
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NGC RP 70
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This coin was purchased on eBay in original mint packaging as part of a set. Only 500 sets were produced, but the mintage figures of the coins are as follows: 5000 Reverse Proof 1 ounce Silver Nobles and 500 Proof 1 ounce Silver Nobles. There is no indication the 5000 reverse proof coins were excluding the 500 combination sets, but it seems likely this is total mintage. This is the first 1 ounce Silver Noble produced since 2011. 2012 through 2016 had no silver mintages.
These coins are the first produced under a new contract for the Isle of Man by the Tower Mint. The previous 40+ years the Pobjoy Mint produced Manx coins, but as of April 1, 2017 the Tower Mint started its 10 year contract for the island nation. In addition to this unique fact, this is the first year Jody Clark's effigy of Queen Elizabeth II is used on the obverse. This is a different design than developed for the Royal Mint in the UK as the 5th definitive portrait and shows the Queen's shoulders facing outward, a very large necklace, a different neckline, and slightly different hairstyle. This same effigy will be on other British Overseas territories' currency such as Gibraltar.
The Tower Mint was founded in 1976 by the designer of the second, and arguably most popular, effigy of Queen Elizabeth II - Raphael Maklouf.
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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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S2PND 2017 G.britain THE LION EARLY RELEASES
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NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
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This is the first in a 10 coin series of Queen's Beast coins struck as 1 ounce silver proof coins with a limited mintage of 8,500. The same design is found on 2016 mint state, or business strike, coins that are 2 ounce silver coins, as well as 1 ounce and fractional gold coins. The 5th image of the Queen's effigy and the Lion of England were both designed by Royal Mint engraver Jody Clark. Clark used The Lion of England design as well as the next "Beast" in the series, the Griffin, as part of his two design submission to the RMAC (Royal Mint Advisory Committee) to win a competition to produce the 10 designs of the series. This design was shortlisted, then made into a model by Clark, submitted for final review, and then chosen as the winner of the competition.
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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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S2PND 2017 G.britain UNICORN OF SCOTLAND EARLY RELEASES
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NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
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This is the second proof coin struck by the Royal Mint in the series of 10 Queen's Beast coins. However, it is not the second design released. The start of the series was the Lion of England in 2 ounces of fine silver along with fractional gold options in business strike and then was expanded to gold and silver proofs. The Griffin of Edward III was released second in 2 ounce fine silver followed by the Red Dragon of Wales. So, the Unicorn of Scotland - though the second coin to appear in 1 ounce silver proof - is actually the fourth design in the series. The Lion of England and the Unicorn of Scotland have appeared on coinage before and are represented on UK passports. This coin has a mintage of 6,250 coins in silver 1 ounce proof, over a thousand coins fewer than the Lion of England proof coin.
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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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S2PND 2018 G.britain Red Dragon of Wales Early Releases
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NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
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This is the 3rd design out of 4 Queen's beast designs and the 3rd proof coin issued in the Queen's beast series, but only because a proof version of the Griffin of Edward III hasn't had a proof coin minted yet. The Red Dragon of Wales is featured on the reverse designed by Jody Clark while the obverse features the 5th definitive portrait designed by Jody Clark. This is the first proof coin in the silver 1 ounce Queen's Beast series for 2018. 6,000 of these proof coins were minted, which is the lowest mintage so far in the series and 2,500 coins fewer than the inaugural proof issue of the Lion of England.
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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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S2PND 2018 G.britain Black Bull of Clarence First Releases
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NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
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View Coin
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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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S2PND 2019 G.britain Falcon of the Plantagenet First Releases
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NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
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View Coin
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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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S2PND 2019 G.britain Yale of Beaufort First Releases
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NGC PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
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