Tag Archives: The Royal Mint

The Royal Mint unveils Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland coin collection with the V&A

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The Royal Mint has unveiled the first official Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland coin collection developed in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum and inspired by illustrations from the original book by the English novelist, Lewis Carroll.

A special £5 crown featuring Alice and the Cheshire Cat is now available for collectors to get their hands on. The coin was revealed alongside the original illustrations by Sir John Tenniel at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition held at the Victoria and Albert museum.

Featuring the edge inscription “Curiouser and Curiouser,” the intricate design is one of the most detailed coins produced by the 1,100-year-old Makers.

Launched in base metal (known as brilliant uncirculated), and also available in gold and silver, the Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland keepsake is part of a two-coin collectors’ range created by The Royal Mint Designer Ffion Gwillim and Sculptor Emma Noble. The second coin, featuring Tweedledum and Tweedledee, will launch later this summer in celebration of 150 years of Through the Looking-Glass – the sequel to the original Lewis Carroll book.

Clare Maclennan divisional director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said: “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a true classic, cherished by generations of adults and children of all ages and is still as popular today. In collaboration with the V&A, we have commemorated this treasured tale for the first time on an official UK coin.

“Inspired by Sir John Tenniel’s original illustrations, the beautiful £5 crown has been crafted to the finest quality, combining traditional minting skills with innovation in design technology. I’m sure the Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland range will become a popular choice for collectors, capturing the imagination of people of all ages, launching at the awe-inspiring Victoria and Albert Museum during the 150th anniversary of Through the Looking-Glass is a fitting celebration.”

Amelia Calver, research and development manager, V&A Brand Licensing, added: “We’re delighted to be celebrating the global phenomenon beloved by all ages, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, with the 2021 commemorative coins. The designs masterfully capture the charm of Tenniel’s original illustrations and pay homage to some of the Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass characters that Alice meets along the way.

“The 2021 coins are set to give fans the chance to add to their existing collections and inspire new readers of the book to discover the magic of Carroll’s stories and embark on wondrous journeys of their own.”

The Who becomes latest rockers to join The Royal Mint’s Music Legends series of commemorative coins

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The iconic British band, The Who has become the latest to join The Royal Mint’s ‘Music Legends’ series with the launch of a new range of collectable coins, joining an esteemed list that features Queen, Elton John, and David Bowie.

The mark the launch, co-founding member and lead singer of The Who, Roger Daltrey visited The Royal Mint to strike on of the very first coins, giving the band’s seal of approval on the new coin and its design.

The coin’s dynamic design includes some of the most iconic symbols from the band’s live and loud performances, including a union flag, Mod logo and speaker-smashing Rickenbacker guitar. Together, the symbols on the coin form a pinball table, a nod to the single Pinball Wizard and album Tommy, one of the band’s most famous creations.

With the latest colour printing technology, elements of the coin have been digitally printed to showcase the vibrant red, white and blue of the band’s emblem. Meanwhile, using the latest innovative technology and manufacturing techniques, a number of coins will feature a special ‘shockwave’ effect, radiating from the speaker – elevating the detail of the coin.

Designers and craftspeople at the Mint have developed this effect in honour of The Who’s record-breaking loud concert – a record that was held for a decade.

Clare Maclennan, divisional director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, said: “The Who are an iconic British band with an incredible musical legacy, so it felt right to honour them with an official UK coin. The Who coin is the latest in our show stopping Music Legends series, which celebrates legendary British artists through original new designs.

“It was a privilege to have Roger Daltrey visit the Mint to strike one of the first coins and meet the team of makers that have created this wonderful design. Our Music Legends series is engaging new generations of coin collectors, and we hope this design will become a cherished part of fan’s memorabilia.”

Daltrey said: “It’s an honour to have a coin produced to celebrate The Who’s musical legacy. The coin’s design captures the true essence of the band and what we represent. It was a fantastic moment being able to strike one of the very first pieces in the collection and see the range of technologies and processes involved in the making of the coin.”

Pete Townshend, lead guitarist of The Who, added: “I am delighted that the band’s work is being recognised by this fantastic range of coins from The Royal Mint.”

The Who began with three schoolboys who all shared a love of music, from jazz and skiffle, to rock and rhythm & blues. The band was initially made up of John Entwistle, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and later joined by Keith Moon. With a musical legacy spanning more than 50 years, the band boasts an impressive record of a 100 million albums sold worldwide, and over a billion global streams, while it’s also a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame.

Brought together by The Royal Mint and Bravado, Universal Music Group’s leading merchandise and brand management company, The Who coin is available as limited-edition precious metal proof editions as well as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition.

Peter Rabbit hops onto new £5 crown in latest Penguin Random House partnership with The Royal Mint

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The Royal Mint has extended its partnership with Penguin Random House and Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit to bring the titular hero to the commemorative £5 crown and one-ounce coins for the first time.

Peter Rabbit and his friends have previously appeared on the 50 pence piece and have been one of the most popular commemorative coin collections from The Royal Mint. The iconic character has now made the hop over to the a new coin, to feature on the reverse of the £5 crown, as well as silver and gold one ounce coins.

The larger surface area of the £5 crown has allowed The Royal Mint to explore the timeless narrative of The Tale of Peter Rabbit and capture more detail.

The Royal Mint’s own Ffion Gwillim created the design using original storybook illustrations, settling on an image showing the whole Rabbit family together.

Gwillim said: “What I really like about this particular illustration is that it has a great narrative element. As a designer I always look to tell a story, just as Beatrix Potter did in her unique and wonderful way. It was a lot of fun to revisit The Tale of Peter Rabbit. It’s such a timeless classic and Peter’s antics never get old.”

Thomas Merrington, creative director, Penguin Ventures, part of Penguin Random House, added: “Peter Rabbit has had an exceptional adventure with The Royal Mint over the past five years. His appearance on the £5 crown marks a new chapter for our partnership and provides an exciting opportunity to showcase Beatrix Potter’s original illustration in a creative new way.”

The new commemorative coin features a charming scene of the Rabbit family from an early part of the story when Peter’s mother warns him not to get into any mischief. Capturing the warmth and charm of the original illustration, the coin is set to be key piece for collectors.

Clare Maclennan, divisional director for Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, said: “The £5 crown is truly a wonderful piece for collecting, with the larger surface area showcasing The Royal Mint’s abilities as designers and creators of coinage. It has also allowed us to capture the magical world of Peter Rabbit, which deserves the space to be able to tell such a timeless narrative. Peter Rabbit has been a key part of our commemorative coin journey, and we are pleased to offer him a new platform on a new denomination.”

For fans of the Peter Rabbit commemorative coins, the 2021 coin design will be a popular addition to collections, marking a new chapter for the loveable rabbit. This will be the only release featuring Peter Rabbit this year.

The coin is available as gold and silver Proof editions, as well as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition, available from The Royal Mint.

Please visit royalmint.com/peter-rabbit  to view the full commemorative coin range.  The coin will not be going into general circulation.

The Royal Mint celebrates 50 years of Mr Men Little Miss with commemorative coin collection

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The Royal Mint has launched a commemorative coin collection honouring 50 years of the Mr Men and Little Miss characters, as the half-century celebrations continue to roll out across the UK and worldwide.

The new Mr Men Little Miss commemorative coin collection features Mr Happy, Little Miss Sunshine, and Little Miss Giggles, with Mr Strong on a £5 crown. All three coin designs have been created exclusively by Adam Hargreaves, son of the kids’ books creator, Roger Hargreaves.

The Brilliant Uncirculated edition of the coin features the latest colour printing techniques showcasing the Mr. Men Little Miss characters in vivid colour. The Royal Mint will also be hiding 50 golden Mr Tickle tickets among all three of the colour brilliant uncirculated commemorative coins.

Every customer that finds a gold Mr Tickle ticket will be entitled to a Mr Men and Little Miss prize bundle. 

The partnership was put into place when Clare Maclennan, divisional director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint spoke with Adam Hargreaves in a zoom call, during which the two discussed the designs and characters, the excitement around Mr. Men Little Miss turning 50, and what steps The Royal Mint takes to produce a coin that celebrates an occasion such as this.

Maclennan, said: “Each year we celebrate British icons, anniversaries and moments from history on commemorative coins, and this is a fun new addition to the collection. With this year marking the 50th anniversary since the Mr. Men Little Miss characters were introduced to the world, it felt right to celebrate the loveable characters on their own commemorative coins. 

“All three coin designs have been designed exclusively by Adam Hargreaves, son of Roger Hargreaves the original creator and illustrator of the Mr. Men Little Miss. I had the pleasure of chatting to Adam in a recent zoom call and it was brilliant to hear his positive feedback on the range.”

Adam Hargreaves, son of Roger Hargreaves, main author and illustrator of Mr. Men and Little Miss and designer of the Mr. Men Little Miss commemorative coin collection, said: “It is an absolute honour to not only have the Mr. Men Little Miss characters’ feature on official UK commemorative coins but to have the opportunity to create the designs that feature on the coins too.

“Over the past 50 years Mr. Men Little Miss characters’ have grown to become a global favourite among many and I am delighted to be celebrating 50 years of fun with The Royal Mint and I hope fans of the Mr. Men Little Miss series will be just as thrilled with this commemorative coin collection as I am.”

Created by prolific illustrator Roger Hargreaves in 1971, the Mr. Men Little Miss books and their ever-growing world of ‘Happyland’ have become a global favourite among many. The inspiration came in the form of a simple question: what does a tickle look like? The answer was Mr. Tickle, who is now one of more than 90 characters in an ever-growing collection, read in multiple languages in more than 24 countries around the world.

Today, the Mr. Men Little Miss characters are illustrated by Roger’s son, Adam, captivating a new generation of fans with each passing decade.

The first coin in the series features Mr. Happy and is available as gold and silver Proof editions, as well as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition and a special colour printed Brilliant Uncirculated edition, exclusively available from The Royal Mint.

Visit www.royalmint.com/MrMen to view the full commemorative coin range.  The coin will not be going into general circulation. 

The Royal Mint unveils its Winnie-the-Pooh commemorative coin collection

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The Royal Mint has partnered with Disney to reveal its latest commemorative coin, bringing the original and much-loved illustrations of the beloved Winnie-the-Pooh to the 50 pence for the first time. The new coin forms forms part of a wider collection of special 50p coins featuring Winnie-the-Pooh and friends.

Developed in collaboration with Disney, the 50 pence coin uses the original watercolour illustrations of E.H. Shepard, with the first coin in the series featuring Winnie-the-Pooh alongside his jar of honey.

The limited edition coin is available in a range of finishes, including base metal, Silver and Gold. Shepard’s illustrations have been digitally printed on each, which the Royal Mint says ‘brings them alive in vivid detail and colour.’

Daniel Thorne, product designer at The Royal Mint and part of the collaboration to have worked on the Winnie-the-Pooh collection, said: “Working with original illustrations from E.H. Shepard, supplied to us by Disney, my biggest priority with the coin’s design was to ensure we do these wonderful images justice.

“As the original maker of coins, The Royal Mint has a long history of exquisite craftsmanship and this coin is no exception. Bringing the illustrations of E.H. Shepard to life took a lot of craft and care.

“From the honey bee motif that runs throughout the series, to the grassy mound Pooh is sitting on, we tried many different techniques to create the flawless effect of watercolour on the coin, eventually settling on the one you’ll see on the final version.

“I’m honoured to have been able to work on this exciting coin. Winnie-the-Pooh was a huge part of my childhood and forms some of my fondest memories. So I wanted to make sure this series of coins truly encapsulated the spirit of Pooh Bear and all his friends.

“Creating these coins was a labour of love and I hope that collectors can appreciate the beauty in each and every design in the range.”

James Campbell at The Shepard Trust, added: “It’s wonderful to see the beloved Winnie the Pooh immortalised on an official UK coin for the first time. The craftsmanship involved in replicating E.H. Shepard’s original watercolour illustrations is truly remarkable.

“The Royal Mint has done an exceptional job in creating a collection that will be treasured for years to come by Winnie the Pooh fans of all ages.”

Clare Maclennan, divisional director of Commemorative Coin and The Royal Mint Experience, at The Royal Mint, said: “Over our 1,100-year history we’ve minted coins to commemorate key moments and figures in Britain’s history, including literary icons, like Shakespeare and Wordsworth through to Beatrix Potter’s mischievous Peter Rabbit, and we’re delighted to now add A.A. Milne’s loveable Winnie-the-Pooh to the list.

“Our childhood character coins are encouraging a new generation of coin collectors and we’re delighted to add this iconic character and his friends, to our range. We’ve all grown up with Winnie-the-Pooh and he remains a cherished character, not only in Britain but across the world.

“We anticipate the coins being hugely popular, especially in the lead-up to Christmas and look forward to both children and adults alike, enjoying the collection.”

Along with the Winnie-the-Pooh coin, The Royal Mint also revealed the next two coins in the collectable series, which feature Christopher Robin and Piglet respectively. These will be available later in the year.

Winnie-the-Pooh was first published in 1926 by A.A. Milne and was inspired by his son, Christopher Robin Milne, who was born 100 years ago this year. Winnie-the-Pooh was based on Christopher’s teddy bear, Edward.

Father and son then named him ‘Winnie’ after a black bear called Winnie that lived in London Zoo and ‘Pooh’, after a swan they met on holiday.

These stories from a father to his son have now been published in countries across the world, making Winnie-the-Pooh a global icon and a key part of the childhood and lives of millions of people.

Golden Goose welcomes new product director Rebeckah Dalton as Phillippa Green takes up role at The Royal Mint

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Golden Goose is bidding a fond farewell to its product director Phillippa Green who is leaving the licensing agency to take up the role of licensing manager at The Royal Mint. Green has held her position with the outfit for the past five years.

Among the latest changes to the Golden Goose team, it’s TLC’s former head of product development, Rebeckah Dalton, who now joins the company to take on the management of the Original Stormtrooper licensing programme.

Adam Bass, director of Golden Goose, said: “It’s going to be very, very hard to say goodbye to Phillippa who has been such an excellent member of the team for the last five years, the clients and I will miss her.

“On the plus side though, we are excited to have Rebeckah coming on board and we look forward to adding her input, insight, and experience to the successful Original Stormtrooper licensing programme and other new clients joining our portfolio.”

Golden Goose’s new product director, Rebeckah Dalton, said: “It’s great to be joining such a professional company and to be working on such a great property. I can’t wait to get started.”

 

The Royal Mint celebrates Elton John with new commemorative coin

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Music icon and Rocket Man, Elton John is to be celebrated on a new commemorative coin courtesy of The Royal Mint. Available from today, the design is the latest addition to The Royal Mint’s new Music Legends series.

With a career spanning more than 50 years, the new coin to celebrate Elton John’s legacy has been designed by artist Bradley Morgan Johnson. Featuring unmistakable Elton John iconography, Bradley has used musical notes to create an image of glasses and a straw boater’s hat, inspired by one of Elton John’s most iconic looks. A Union Jack flag background punctuates the design.

The commemorative coins will be available to purchase in Gold proof, Silver proof and Brilliant Uncirculated editions with prices ranging from £13 for the Brilliant Uncirculated coin up to £64,950 for a Kilo Gold proof coin.

The Royal Mint has developed advanced striking and tooling techniques for the high end, premium coins in this collection. These designs feature a pulsating star pattern in the glasses’ lenses and a high relief finish on the hat, glasses and bow tie that further enhance the appearance of each coin.

Elton John said: “It really is a fabulous honour to be recognised in this way. The last few years have contained some of the most memorable moments of my career, and this is another truly humbling milestone on my journey.”

Clare Maclennan, divisional director of commemorative coin and The Royal Mint Experience, said: “Elton John is without a doubt a British music legend and is recognised as one of the most successful singer-songwriters of his generation. We are delighted to honour Elton’s significant contribution to British music on a UK coin.

“This is the second coin in The Royal Mint’s new Music Legends series, marking the work of our exceptional British musicians.”

In addition to the coin collection, The Royal Mint and Elton John are also working together to create a special one-off collector’s piece, which will be auctioned later this year. The unique coin will help raise vital funds for the Elton John Charitable Trust at a time when the wider charity sector has been hit with a reduction in donations.

The collaboration was brought together and facilitated by Bravado, Universal Music Group’s leading merchandise and brand management company.

Commemorative Coin Collection:

£5 Brilliant uncirculated coin cover Rocket Man – £13
£5 Brilliant uncirculated coin cover Dodgers Stadium – £15
£5 Brilliant uncirculated coin cover Illustration – £15
£5 Brilliant uncirculated coin cover The Very Best Of – £15
Half Ounce Silver Proof Coin- £60
One Ounce Silver Proof Coin – £90
Two Ounce Silver Proof Coin – £180
Five Ounce Silver Proof Coin – £485
Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof Coin – £555
One Ounce Gold Proof Coin – £2,195
Two-Ounce Gold Proof Coin – £4,310
Five-Ounce Gold Proof Coin – £10,695
Kilo Gold Proof Coin – £64,950

Peter Rabbit hops back onto 50p coin for final roll out with The Royal Mint

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Peter Rabbit is hopping back onto UK commemorative 50p coins for one last time, the Royal Mint has detailed this morning, with a 2020 design featured on Brilliant Uncirculated, Silver Proof and Gold Proof 50p coins.

First introduced onto UK coins in 2016 to celebrate Beatrix Potter’s 150th anniversary, Peter Rabbit has also appeared on UK coins in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

The new 2020 design has been developed in collaboration with Penguin Ventures on behalf of Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd, Beatrix Potter’s original publisher, and depicts the famous rabbit in his trademark blue jacket sneaking under the gate in search of lettuces.

The hand-painted style of Beatrix Potter’s original illustration has been carefully engraved by The Royal Mint’s coin designer, Emma Noble, to immortalise the mischievous rabbit on the 2020 version of the coin. In addition to previous Beatrix Potter collections, Noble has previously designed coins commemorating the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s coronation, Remembrance Sunday, and King George I.

Clare Maclennan, divisional director of the Commemorative Coin division at The Royal Mint and The Royal Mint Experience, said: “The Royal Mint has celebrated Peter Rabbit on 50p coins for five years and this year for the final time, the nation’s favourite bunny will feature on a new UK commemorative 50p coin.

“We are delighted to be continuing the tales of Peter Rabbit and capturing his latest adventure on UK coins, giving fans the opportunity to complete their Beatrix Potter UK 50p commemorative coin collection.”

Thomas Merrington, creative director at Penguin Ventures (part of Penguin Random House UK), added: “It’s been incredible to see Beatrix Potter’s beloved Peter Rabbit lead the way in commemorative character coins.

“Over the past five years The Royal Mint has brought Potter’s characters to life in a fantastically successful collection which has been treasured by fans around the UK. While Peter will be bowing out of the 50p series I am excited about our future partnership with The Royal Mint.”

The 2020 Peter Rabbit commemorative 50p coin is available in a variety of precious metal and base proof finishes from www.royalmint.com, with prices starting from £10.

This is a commemorative coin and will not be entering general circulation, so this is the only way to own this special coin.

Queen becomes first rock band to receive The Royal Mint commemorative coin

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Rock band Queen is to be celebrated with the launch of a commemorative coin collection, marking the first time that The Royal Mint has brought the likeness of a British rock outfit to the UK’s coinage.

Available from today, the design is the first in The Royal Mint’s new ‘Music Legends’ collection.

Queen is now being celebrated for pushing the boundaries with its own unique style and approach to music throughout its year. Notably, it is Queen’s layered sound and flamboyant anthems that continue to influence a new generation of musicians’ decades after it was formed.

Perhaps the most striking example of the band’s determination was in its decision to release a six-minute quasi-operatic single, Bohemian Rhapsody, in 1975.

Before the release of the song, the label was determined to cut the length of the single significantly. However, the foursome refused and the risk paid off, with the single spending nine consecutive weeks at the top of the charts.

In 2002, 27 years later, the single was voted as Britain’s favourite song of all time. Today, the opening notes of Bohemian Rhapsody are so well recognised, that The Royal Mint’s coin designer, Chris Facey, decided it was a fitting tribute to showcase these by featuring the keys on the piano pressed down.

The coin commemorates all four members of Queen, in recognition of their contributions to the band’s success. This is done through the portrayal of each member’s instrument. The Bechstein grand piano – which Freddie Mercury played for Bohemian Rhapsody – features at the top of the coin, while the group’s logo is placed at the centre of the design and is underscored by the singer’s signature mic stick.

Brian May’s ‘Red Special’ guitar – which he still plays using an old sixpence to give his unique sound – features alongside John Deacon’s Fender Precision Bass, while finally, Roger Taylor’s Ludwig bass drum is decorated with the Queen crest, as it appeared in the band’s early days.

Brian May from Queen said: “This is a big ‘Who could have imagined it?’ moment for us. When we began as Queen, even the first rung of the ladder to recognition seemed remote and unreachable.  To have our band recognised and our music celebrated in this way is very touching – a real honour.”

Queen’s Roger Taylor, added: “Marvellous, all this fuss over our band. I feel entirely spent.”

The release marks the first in a line of coins celebrating other British Music Legends, more of which will be launched later this year.

Nicola Howell, chief commercial officer at The Royal Mint, commented: “Queen was one of the most influential bands of their generation, and its timeless classics are still enjoyed by millions of fans around the world. That’s why we’re so pleased to be honouring their great contribution to British music with their very own coin, which will be the first time a British band has been celebrated on UK coinage.

“British music is one of our greatest contributions to culture around the world, and its musicians like Queen who are at the forefront of this. We’re looking forward to announcing other coins in our new ‘Music Legends’ collection later this year, marking the work of other exceptional British musicians.”

The collaboration was brought together and facilitated by Bravado, Universal Music Group’s leading merchandise and brand management company.

The first in an exciting new series celebrating innovation and success of British music, the commemorative coins will be available in Gold proof, Silver proof, and Brilliant Uncirculated and will be available to purchase from www.royalmint.com.

Prices range from £13 for the Brilliant Uncirculated coin up to £2,100 for the Gold proof coin. The Brilliant Uncirculated coin will also be available in limited numbers in three exclusive packs which includes a poster and will only be available to purchase from The Royal Mint.

Chris Facey, designer of the Queen coin, concluded: “My first memory of Queen was hearing Bohemian Rhapsody in the film Wayne’s World, and I’ve been a big fan ever since. It’s therefore such an honour to be asked to commemorate such an extraordinary band on a UK coin, and even more exciting as it’s the first coin I’ve designed.

“All four members of Queen were vital for their bravery in the music they created and the boundaries they pushed, and I hope that fans will enjoy seeing each of their contributions paid tribute to on this coin.”