Although a fantastic and rewarding hobby, coin collecting can be daunting and may leave you questioning ‘where do I even begin?’. Here, we walk you through which monarchs to look out for when starting your coin collecting journey…
Elizabeth II
The longest and most diverse coin series in British history lies with Elizabeth II. Because of this, securing coins bearing her portrait has never been easier. As well as the five different portraits that have appeared on Britain’s circulating coinage, there are also tonnes of limited edition portraits featured on commemorative coins.
For 70 years, Elizabeth II’s coinage has covered a multitude of significant events in British history, and due to her remarkable milestone achievements, there are many coins that have been released to celebrate events like her wedding anniversaries, jubilee milestones and other first-time achievements.
Victoria
Victoria reigned for 63 years, thus making her Britain’s second longest-reigning monarch. Her reign saw the expansion of the empire and over 25% of the population used coins bearing her portrait, making her coinage incredibly sought-after. However, despite this, there were only ever six coin portraits of Victoria produced.
The ‘Young Head’ portrait, created by William Wyon, was Victoria’s first portrait. This was so popular that it was actually used for 50 years of her reign and was only amended to reflect her age. Although her portrait designs are limited, there are still many commemorative and circulating coins which your coin collection would benefit from obtaining.
George III
George III lived for 81 years and reigns for 59 years, meaning this his life and reign were longer than any other British king. During his reign, he reformed the gold coin through the Great Recoinage of 1816, and saw the 1800 Acts of Union create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
He was the first monarch in the UK’s history, and there are a multitude of denominations available bearing his portrait; from crowns, sovereigns and guineas, to sixpences, halfpennies and shillings. He is Britain’s longest reigning king, and coinage bearing his portrait will have great significance in any coin collection.
George V
George V could not have foreseen becoming king, however, he became heir apparent when his elder brother died of pneumonia, and ascended to the throne in 1910. George V went from a devoted husband with a naval career, to a father figure of Britain leading us into the changing world of the 20th century.
Overall, George V was a popular monarch and was responsible for creating the House of Windsor, as well as being king of the United Kingdom during World War I. Any coinage bearing George V’s portrait are sought-after in the collector’s market thanks to his important reign, and he is a popular choice when starting your coin collecting journey.