The Royal Mint has unveiled designs for five commemorative coins for 2021, to be issued in various forms throughout the year. The designs are currently available only as part of annual sets, but will be available later in 2021 in different individual options; some may be issued for circulation.
The Royal Mint will likely also release additional 2021 coins with other themes.
This new collectible may be ordered as of today by contacting the Mint at 1-800-267‑1871 in Canada, 1-800-268‑6468 in the US, or at www.mint.ca. About the Royal Canadian Mint. The latest coins released by the Royal Canadian Mint are as varied as they are beautiful. Choose one for your collection or treat someone to a special coin as a gift!
Two 50-penny coins are being issued in 2021, to mark the 50th anniversary of decimalization, and to honor the legacy of John Logie Baird, the Scottish inventor and engineer who developed television technology.
In addition, the Royal Mint announced £2 coins remembering H.G. Wells (see related story, page 8) and honoring Sir Walter Scott.
The final commemorative coin announced for 2021 is a £5 piece marking the 95th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.
Decimal design
Decimalization in 1971, after one of the largest and most intensive public awareness campaigns ever staged by the government, introduced the coins that UK residents know today.
According to Clare Maclennan, divisional director of the consumer division at the Royal Mint, 'Decimalisation was the birth of modern coin collecting [in the United Kingdom] and it is fitting that the anniversary has been celebrated on a 50 pence — which is Britain's most loved coin.'
.jpg?c=500,0,1500,1000 "Royal Mint New Coins")
The Decimal Day 50-penny coin features the second effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse, a portrait created by Arnold Machin for decimalization, to mark the transition and help people identify the new coinage.
The 2021 reverse was created by Royal Mint employee Dominique Evans. It shows overlapping design elements borrowed from the coins that preceded the switch, and of the designs that replaced the earlier coins.
This coin with the Machin effigy is available only in the sets, the Royal Mint said, suggesting that another version, likely with the current (Jody Clark) effigy, will be used for other coins to be issued later for the same anniversary.
Television pioneer
The other commemorative 50-penny coin marks the 75th anniversary of the death of John Logie Baird, a prolific inventor famous for his early prototypes of television.
The coin design features a television tower at the center, with the dual year dates of his birth and death below (1888 and 1946). Emanating from the tower are signals, with multiple legends including 1926 DEMONSTRATES ANALOGUE TELEVISION.
Artist Osborne Ross created this design.
The Scottish bard
One of the most influential Scots in history, Sir Walter Scott is renowned for his literary contributions, with a number his many novels and poems remaining classics to day. He is featured on £2 coins for 2021.
His name appears in a font possibly typical for the period of his most prolific work, the late 1770s and early 1800s. The adjectives NOVELIST POET HISTORIAN appear in three lines next to his stylized image. The legend 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH surrounds. The initials SR for designer Stephen Raw also appear.
A coin fit for a queen
Another design for 2021 is the 95th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II on a £5 coin.
Her birthday is April 21, 1926, and the Royal Mint notes that Queen Elizabeth II would be 'the first British monarch to reach such a grand age.'
During her reign the Royal Mint has created five different effigies of Queen Elizabeth II, and she appears on every British coin in circulation.
The monarch's symbol appears on the £5 coin's reverse, in a design by Timothy Noad, avoiding a coin with two portraits.
Options, specifications
All of the 2021 coins referenced here, except for the Decimalization coin, feature the Jody Clark effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. And all of the coins are struck to the same diameters as the standard counterparts.
Six different sets featuring the commemorative designs are already offered for 2021, ranging from a base metal Brilliant Uncirculated set, to a set of gold coins with Proof finishes.
The Brilliant Uncirculated set offers base metal versions of all five special 2021 designs, plus the eight definitive or standard circulating designs. This set has an unlimited mintage and retails for £55.
Two base metal Proof sets offer 13 coins each (five 2021 special designs and eight standard designs), the only difference being the nickel-brass medalet exclusive to the respective set.
The 2021 United Kingdom Proof Coin set features a square medalet designed by Kerry Davies. In total, 7,000 sets are available, for £155 each.
The Premium Proof set features a round medalet designed by the Royal Mint design team. In total, 2,500 sets are available, for £210 each.
The Proof .925 fine silver set features silver versions of all five special designs for 2021, and of all eight definitive (standard) circulating designs. For the set's £2 coins, the outer rings are plated with gold. In total, 550 sets were offered, at a retail price of £640 each.
The Proof .925 fine silver piedfort set features silver versions of all five special designs for 2021. The outer rings of the set's £2 coins are plated with gold. In total, 300 silver piedfort sets were offered, each at a retail price of £587.50.
The Proof .9167 fine gold set features gold versions of all five special designs for 2021. In total, 95 sets were offered, each for £7,100, but they sold out quickly.
In addition to these sets, the annual definitive BU set, featuring only BU versions of the eight circulating coins, is also available. This set has an unlimited mintage, and retails for £30.
For full details, visit a dedicated page at the Royal Mint's website, www.royalmint.com/our-coins/ranges/annual-sets/2021-annual-coin-sets/.
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The new commemorative coins are available in The Royal Mint's ‘Annual Set', with each of the coins featuring a design by a commissioned artist. The full list of coins in the annual set is:
- The 95th Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen on a £5
- 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott on a £2
- The life and work of John Logie Baird on a 50p
- The 50th Anniversary of Decimal Day 2021 on a 50p
- The life and work of H.G. Wells 2021 on a £2
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Her Majesty The Queen's 95th birthday
This special £5 coin celebrates a remarkable milestone, making Queen Elizabeth II the first British monarch to reach such a grand age.
During her reign The Royal Mint has created five different effigies of Her Majesty The Queen documenting her reign, and she resides on every British coin in circulation.
Two 50-penny coins are being issued in 2021, to mark the 50th anniversary of decimalization, and to honor the legacy of John Logie Baird, the Scottish inventor and engineer who developed television technology.
In addition, the Royal Mint announced £2 coins remembering H.G. Wells (see related story, page 8) and honoring Sir Walter Scott.
The final commemorative coin announced for 2021 is a £5 piece marking the 95th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.
Decimal design
Decimalization in 1971, after one of the largest and most intensive public awareness campaigns ever staged by the government, introduced the coins that UK residents know today.
According to Clare Maclennan, divisional director of the consumer division at the Royal Mint, 'Decimalisation was the birth of modern coin collecting [in the United Kingdom] and it is fitting that the anniversary has been celebrated on a 50 pence — which is Britain's most loved coin.'
The Decimal Day 50-penny coin features the second effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse, a portrait created by Arnold Machin for decimalization, to mark the transition and help people identify the new coinage.
The 2021 reverse was created by Royal Mint employee Dominique Evans. It shows overlapping design elements borrowed from the coins that preceded the switch, and of the designs that replaced the earlier coins.
This coin with the Machin effigy is available only in the sets, the Royal Mint said, suggesting that another version, likely with the current (Jody Clark) effigy, will be used for other coins to be issued later for the same anniversary.
Television pioneer
The other commemorative 50-penny coin marks the 75th anniversary of the death of John Logie Baird, a prolific inventor famous for his early prototypes of television.
The coin design features a television tower at the center, with the dual year dates of his birth and death below (1888 and 1946). Emanating from the tower are signals, with multiple legends including 1926 DEMONSTRATES ANALOGUE TELEVISION.
Artist Osborne Ross created this design.
The Scottish bard
One of the most influential Scots in history, Sir Walter Scott is renowned for his literary contributions, with a number his many novels and poems remaining classics to day. He is featured on £2 coins for 2021.
His name appears in a font possibly typical for the period of his most prolific work, the late 1770s and early 1800s. The adjectives NOVELIST POET HISTORIAN appear in three lines next to his stylized image. The legend 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH surrounds. The initials SR for designer Stephen Raw also appear.
A coin fit for a queen
Another design for 2021 is the 95th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II on a £5 coin.
Her birthday is April 21, 1926, and the Royal Mint notes that Queen Elizabeth II would be 'the first British monarch to reach such a grand age.'
During her reign the Royal Mint has created five different effigies of Queen Elizabeth II, and she appears on every British coin in circulation.
The monarch's symbol appears on the £5 coin's reverse, in a design by Timothy Noad, avoiding a coin with two portraits.
Options, specifications
All of the 2021 coins referenced here, except for the Decimalization coin, feature the Jody Clark effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. And all of the coins are struck to the same diameters as the standard counterparts.
Six different sets featuring the commemorative designs are already offered for 2021, ranging from a base metal Brilliant Uncirculated set, to a set of gold coins with Proof finishes.
The Brilliant Uncirculated set offers base metal versions of all five special 2021 designs, plus the eight definitive or standard circulating designs. This set has an unlimited mintage and retails for £55.
Two base metal Proof sets offer 13 coins each (five 2021 special designs and eight standard designs), the only difference being the nickel-brass medalet exclusive to the respective set.
The 2021 United Kingdom Proof Coin set features a square medalet designed by Kerry Davies. In total, 7,000 sets are available, for £155 each.
The Premium Proof set features a round medalet designed by the Royal Mint design team. In total, 2,500 sets are available, for £210 each.
The Proof .925 fine silver set features silver versions of all five special designs for 2021, and of all eight definitive (standard) circulating designs. For the set's £2 coins, the outer rings are plated with gold. In total, 550 sets were offered, at a retail price of £640 each.
The Proof .925 fine silver piedfort set features silver versions of all five special designs for 2021. The outer rings of the set's £2 coins are plated with gold. In total, 300 silver piedfort sets were offered, each at a retail price of £587.50.
The Proof .9167 fine gold set features gold versions of all five special designs for 2021. In total, 95 sets were offered, each for £7,100, but they sold out quickly.
In addition to these sets, the annual definitive BU set, featuring only BU versions of the eight circulating coins, is also available. This set has an unlimited mintage, and retails for £30.
For full details, visit a dedicated page at the Royal Mint's website, www.royalmint.com/our-coins/ranges/annual-sets/2021-annual-coin-sets/.
Connect with Coin World:
Sign up for our free eNewsletter
Access our Dealer Directory
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
The new commemorative coins are available in The Royal Mint's ‘Annual Set', with each of the coins featuring a design by a commissioned artist. The full list of coins in the annual set is:
- The 95th Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen on a £5
- 250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott on a £2
- The life and work of John Logie Baird on a 50p
- The 50th Anniversary of Decimal Day 2021 on a 50p
- The life and work of H.G. Wells 2021 on a £2
FREE 50p e-book!
Sign up to the FREE allaboutcoins newsletter for regular coin updates, collecting advice, offers and more, and we'll also send you.a FREE 50p e-book featuring values and info on GB 50p coins. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP NOW!
Her Majesty The Queen's 95th birthday
This special £5 coin celebrates a remarkable milestone, making Queen Elizabeth II the first British monarch to reach such a grand age.
During her reign The Royal Mint has created five different effigies of Her Majesty The Queen documenting her reign, and she resides on every British coin in circulation.
50th anniversary of Decimalisation
This landmark moment introduced the coins we use today, and was Britain's biggest peacetime operation. It marks a special anniversary in The Royal Mint's own 1,100-year history and has been commemorated on a 50p coin.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Decimal Day 50p coin features the second effigy of Her Majesty The Queen on its obverse - this portrait was created by Arnold Machin RA for decimalisation to mark the transition and help people identify the new coinage.
The reverse design was created by Royal Mint employee Dominique Evans. This coin featuring the Queen's second effigy is only available as part of the annual set.
250th anniversary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott
Recognised as one of the most influential Scots in history, Sir Walter Scott is renowned for his contribution to literature with a number of novels and poems, many of which remain literary classics to this day.
New 50p Coin
250 years on from his birth, Scott's incredible literary legacy will be commemorated £2 coin.
Royal Mint One Pound
75th anniversary of the death of John Logie Baird
A prolific inventor and famous for his early prototypes of television, John Logie Baird's work changed society and entertainment around the world.
The Royal Mint is commemorating the 75th anniversary of the death of John Logie Baird on a commemorative 50p coin which celebrates the inventor and his creations.
75th anniversary of the death of H.G Wells
Best known for science fiction novels such as The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds, H.G Wells is renowned for his ability to bring science fiction to life through his work, earning him nicknames such as the ‘father of science fiction'.
Seventy-five years on from his death, The Royal Mint celebrates the life and work of H.G Wells on a commemorative coin with a design that captures iconic images from Well's work, including The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man.
The commemorative set will be available to purchase from www.royalmint.com in a range of precious metal and base proof finishes, prices start from £30.
