Dive into the extraordinary journey of Flying Scotsman, the world-famous steam locomotive with its record-breaking speeds and remarkable engineering feats. From its first authenticated sprint at 100 mph to its changing appearance, discover the stories that have cemented its status as an iconic symbol of railway heritage. Join us as we explore five intriguing facts […]
Which team goes first in a race? Who picks tonight’s film? Who washes the dishes? I know what we’ll do….we’ll flip for it! You can settle almost anything with a coin flip, no matter how big, or how small. But what is the true meaning of such action and what is its significance throughout history? We’re […]
Throughout her incredible seventy-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II appeared on a multitude of different coins, from pre-decimal to now. The very first coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was created by Mary Gillick in 1953, and was used on coins in the United Kingdom and other countries until 1970. Here, we will be looking back […]
Dating back to the reign of Henry VIII, the halfcrown has nearly a five-hundred-year history. It ceased to be legal tender on 1st January 1970 in preparation for “Decimal Day” in Britain, which happened the following year. It was equivalent to one-eighth of a pound, or two shillings and sixpence. Here, we take a brief […]
In the wonderful world of numismatics, you will hear many terms for the gold and silver that you purchase, and some of the terms that you may hear could be PROOF, UNCIRCULATED, and BULLION. Here is a quick guide to the differences between the three.
Latin inscriptions have adorned the obverse of British currency for hundreds of years. Here, we take a look at what these inscriptions mean.
In September 2022, following the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William and Catherine Middleton were named as the new Prince and Princess of Wales during King Charles III’s first address to the nation. These titles have been used within the Royal Family for centuries, but many of us still question where this tradition […]
To recognise the importance of the four countries of the United Kingdom to the King, each is represented alongside the king’s cypher on our ‘The 2023 King Charles III Accession Silver One Crown‘, by their distinctive national flowers: the English rose, the Scottish thistle, the Welsh daffodil and the Irish shamrock. You may recall that […]
Although Elizabeth II became Queen on 6th February 1952, following the sad passing of her father, King George VI, she was not formally invested until her coronation on the 2nd June 1953. As a result, the Royal Mint had almost 18 months to prepare coinage for the new monarch, a process which involves utilising years […]
Coin collecting – or ‘numismatics’, the technical term – can be a rewarding and enjoyable past time. Many people begin their coin collecting journey after inheriting a coin or collection from a family member, or sourcing a coin for a particular sentimental event. However you start coin collecting, it is a hobby that falls across […]