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Coin Collecting with The Royal Mint - The Royal Mint
Coin Collecting with The Royal Mint
Half of the British public are proud owners of a COLLECTION including everything from coins and mugs, to items from hotels.
Recent research conducted by The Royal Mint, reveals that coins remains the UK’s favourite collectible. 36% of people surveyed revealed they collect coins, this was followed closely by stamps at 30% and then books at 26%. Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint comments: “We’re as passionate about collecting as our customers, and we’re delighted to see that coins remain the most collected item in Britain.” Every coin tells a story, from a rare gold Sovereign to a Peter Rabbit™ 50p coin. The Royal Mint aims to inspire collectors young and old, and nurture a love of collecting through unique designs and popular themes. As the maker of UK coinage, the team at The Royal Mint has unparalleled knowledge about coins, from the historic coins of our past, through to the collectable commemorative coins of today. Coin collecting, or numismatics, is a popular hobby across the nation and something that continues to pique people’s interests. With half of Britain owning a collection of some sort, it’s clear to see there is still the desire to collect something tangible in an increasingly digital world.
While a lot of collections include low-cost items such as postcards, shells or mugs, some collections can get pretty pricey. The average amount spent amongst the surveyed collectors is around £1,500 - but 3.5% of people admit to spending upwards of £10,000 on building their collections.
According to one third of respondents, their collection is their ‘legacy’ and something they hope to one day leave for others to continue. In fact, 25% of British parents collect items they believe will benefit their children when it comes to future inheritance. Similarly, one in five collectors own a collection which was started by someone else and passed down to them, with coins and stamps being the most popular items that have been passed down through the generations. With so many of our commemorative coins celebrating key moments and people in history, it’s easy to see why these mementos are desirable as family keepsakes.
The Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is committed to helping customers to collect, celebrate and invest in the moments that matter, and historic coins form an important part of that. With an extensive network of numismatic connections, inhouse knowledge and an unrivalled archive, The Royal Mint is ideally placed to source these rare and special historical coins. Our collector Services division has significant growth over the last year as customers seek support to build their collection, buy a memorable gift or seek potential investment opportunities.
Why Is Collecting So Popular?
So, what is it that drives people to start and maintain their collections? The most popular reason is a simple one: almost half are just for fun. Over a third of collectors (37%) say that they started because of a genuine interest in whatever it is they’re collecting, while 1 in 5 want to collect items to remind them of a particular time or event. This sense of commemorating was certainly popular, with almost 30% saying that their collections make them feel nostalgic – which may be one of the reasons that our childhood character coin collections are so popular!
Getting Started with a Collection
With all of these benefits, it’s little surprise that 1 in 6 of those asked are interested in starting up a brand-new collection. If this includes you, then you might be wondering where to begin. If you are considering coins or medals as the focus of that collection then The Royal Mint’s Beginners’ Guide to Coin Collecting is available on their website and is a great place to start, offering lots of practical advice on collecting coins. The wider coin collecting hub is also filled with helpful resources on starting or building on an existing collection.
www.royalmint.com/discover/ coin-collecting
Historic coins; capturing a moment in time
Coins and money are an integral part of society and have been for many centuries. Historic coins have a broad appeal to both numismatists (coin collectors) and investors, often because they represent significant historical events or exhibit highly sought- after designs. On many occasions, these special historic coins have increased in value over time, making them an ideal collector’s item for many.
With over 1,100 years of history and heritage, The Royal Mint is the original maker of coins in the UK, and offers a range of collectable coins from historic coins through to modern day commemorative coins in a range of metals, including gold and silver.
When coins are struck they capture a moment in time and reveal part of a wider story. A wonderful example of this is the Edward VIII Sovereign that sold for £1million, setting a new record for the sale of a British coin at the beginning of 2020. The Royal Mint’s team of experts were able to locate the rare Edward VIII Sovereign from a collector in America, and bring it back to the UK for a private buyer to add to their collection. It was the first time in history that a British coin has attained a price of £1 million, and is testimony to the historical significance and rarity of the Edward VIII Sovereign. The coin is one of the most coveted in the world, and belongs to a small collection of ‘trial sets’ created following Edward VIII’s ascension to the throne in January 1936. The coins were never released to the public as Edward VIII abdicated in December 1936 to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. In addition to the rarity of the coin, it is unique as Edward VIII broke with the tradition of monarch's heads facing in opposite directions as he preferred his left profile.
The Edward VIII Sovereign is an example of a highly collectible and highly valuable coin but The Royal Mint offers coins at a range of price points to suit any portfolio. They are dedicated to helping collectors build a collection with a purpose, in any theme, metal or interest they have. Hammered coins are highly collectible due to the craftsmanship, designs and age of these coins, making them highly interesting to look at and to learn about. One such example is the James I Hammered Spur. Known as the Spur Ryal, as the sun and rose on the reverse resemble a spur, the Spur Ryal was only issued under the reign of James I.
One of the best quality hammered gold coins The Royal Mint has ever offered, the coin is an extremely rare issue and would have been in very limited circulation during the time of the Mayflower. The surviving population of all the Spur Ryals of the third coinage is estimated to be in the magnitude of 20 pieces only – perhaps less, making them highly sought-after for collectors and investors alike.
This incredible coin sold for £162,000 in August last year.
Collecting historic coins is more popular than ever, and helps people engage with the history of their nation and their family.
Have you ever thought of collecting Historic coins?
If you are starting out a collection or indeed enhancing one you already own, there are many reasons why you should seriously consider collecting Historic coins from The Royal Mint. Here’s our top five tips ….
• Diversify your portfolio – Historic coins tend not to fluctuate in price with the precious metal markets, but rather, become more desirable over time to collectors.
What’s more, there’s a finite amount of each historic coin in existence. Couple that with a growing demand from collectors and investors, and collecting
Historic coins is becoming an interesting proposition for people from all walks of life.
• Quality assured – All historic coins from The Royal Mint come certified and guaranteed, which ensures its provenance when you look to pass them down to family members or sell them in the future.
• A way to touch the past – Every historic coin has an interesting story to tell. Who owned them? What were they used to purchase? Historic coins link us to our forefathers and heritage unlike anything else you can own and collect.
• It’s fun! – For the most part, your investments may just be numbers on a screen that only you are interested in, but collecting coins can be fun! You get to learn and understand more about interesting historical figures from Julius Caesar to Winston Churchill, significant periods of time such as World War One or the Battle of Waterloo, and what’s best is it’s a hobby you can share with your partner, friends, children or grandchildren. With Historic coins you can invest, learn and share knowledge all at the same time!
• Works of art that you can own - Coins throughout human history can be looked at as true works of art. The Royal Mint has employed some of the greatest coin engravers of all time such as William Wyon, Benedetto
Pistrucci and Mary Gillick, to help us produce some of the most stunning coins in history, featuring legendary designs such as Saint
George slaying the Dragon as depicted on the modern sovereign, the Gothic Crown and the ‘Young Head’ portrait of
Queen Elizabeth II. Now, through
The Royal Mints Collector Services department, you can own some of these original classic British coins as well as coins from around the World. To find out more about starting or growing your coin collection, visit www.royalmint.com/our-coins/ ranges/historic-coins/ or call our team of experts on 0800 03 22 153 to find out more.
Find out more at royalmint.com
About The Royal Mint
• The Royal Mint has an unbroken history of minting
British coinage dating back over 1,100 years. Based in the
Tower of London for over 500 years, by 1812 The Royal Mint had moved out of the Tower to premises on London’s
Tower Hill. In 1967 the building of a new Royal
Mint began on its current site in South Wales, UK, to accommodate the minting of UK decimal coinage.
• Today, The Royal Mint is the world’s largest export mint, supplying coins to the UK and overseas countries.
