* COIN COLLECTION *
I started actively collecting coins in around 2017, during my second year of college. The UK has a lot of non-standard 50p coins in particular, and I was taking a bus with a 50p faire at least once a day every week day at that point - so the unusual ones really started to catch my eye. I have only ever collected coins through my spare change, rather than buying or trading for them.
These days I'm not working on my collection much, especially since COVID-19 all but eliminated most daily uses of cash. There are a few particular coins out there that I would still love to get my hands on one day though!
Fifty Pence Coins
50p coins in my collection!
2018
Paddington at Buckingham Palace.
The second Paddington Bear themed 50p coin.
2017
Benjamin Bunny.
One of four new Beatrix Potter coins for 2017.
2017
Tom Kitten.
One of four new Beatrix Potter coins for 2017.
2016
Squirrel Nutkin.
150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter.
2016
Mrs Tiggy-Winkle.
150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter.
2016
Jemima Puddle-Duck.
150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter.
2016
Peter Rabbit.
150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter.
2016
Beatrix Potter.
150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter.
2016
Team GB Swimmer.
To mark the participation of Team GB in the 2016 olympic games.
2016
Battle of Hastings.
950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry.
2015
Battle of Britain.
75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Pilots scrambling, planes overhead.
2013
Benjamin Britten.
100th anniversary of the birth of composer Benjamin Britten.
2013
Ironside.
An originally rejected 50p design proposed for the first coin in 1969.
2011
Volleyball.
The 26th of 29 coins designed for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
2011
Table Tennis.
The 22nd of 29 coins designed for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
2011
Rowing.
The 19th of 29 coins designed for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
2013
Boxing.
The 7th of 29 coins designed for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
2011
Aquatics.
The 1st of 29 coins designed for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
2010
Girl Guides.
100th Anniversary of Girl Guides UK.
2006
Victoria Cross Medal.
150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross, depicting both sides of the medal.
2006
Victoria Cross Heroic Acts.
150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross. A soldier carrying a wounded man.
2005
Dictionary.
250th anniversary of Samuel Johnson's dictionary.
2004
4 Minute Mile.
50th anniversary of Roger Bannister's 4 minute mile run.
2004
Public Libraries.
150th anniversary of the Public Libraries Act of 1850, making a major step forward in access to literature.
Other 50p Coins:
These last two 50p coins are not technically legal tender in the UK, having been minted in Gibraltar and Guernsey respectively.
Most people who come across them would have no idea though - perhaps evidenced by me receiving both in my change!
2009
Capture of Gibraltar.
Depicting the capture of Gibraltar by Anglo-Dutch forces in 1704.
2008
Guernsey 50p.
A pair of crossed Freesia flowers.
Two Pound Coins
£2 coins in my collection!
these ones feel a little harsher on the wallet lmao
2016
Shakespeare - History.
One of three coins celebrating the different genres of Shakespeare's plays.
2016
Shakespeare - Comedy.
One of three coins celebrating the different genres of Shakespeare's plays.
2016
WW1 Pals Battalion.
One of a series commemorating the First World War Centenary.
2015
Magna Carta.
800 years since the signing of the Magna Carta by King John in 1215.
2015
Britannia.
Britannia's first appearance on a UK coin since 2008, having been present before then since 1672.
2014
WW1 Lord Kitchener.
One of a series commemorating the First World War Centenary.
2012
Charles Dickens.
300 year anniversary of the birth of author Charles Dickens.
2011
King James Bible.
The King James Bible, an English language of the Bible, was first published in 1611.
2010
Florence Nightingale.
150 years since Nightingale laid the foundation of professional nursing.
2009
Darwin.
200 year anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin.
2007
Act of Union.
300 years since the political unification of Scotland and England.
2006
Brunel - Paddington Station.
200 year anniversary of the birth of engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
2005
VE Day.
60th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and the end of World War II.
2004
Steam Locomotive.
The 'Pennydarren' - the first engine which started the growth of railway transport in the 19th Century.
2003
DNA.
50 years since the discovery of DNA, changing the face of biological science.
2002
Commonwealth Games Wales.
The largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK at the time of minting.
Old Pound Coins
In 2016 the UK changed the design of their pound coins from a single-tone round, goldish design to a two-tone 12-sided coin. I've hung onto a couple of the older ones - two of which are older than me!
2010
England - London City.
One of a set depicting the capital cities of the four countries that make up the UK.
2002 & 1997
Three Lions.
The three lions date back to Richard the Lionheart (1189-1199) as a symbol of the English throne.
1983
Royal Arms.
The first one pound coin design ever issued, replacing the more fragile one pound note.
Other UK Coins
A selection of other unusual coins I've collected over the years.
2013??
Corroded 20p.
God knows what happened to this poor coin. Maybe it's even a counterfeit? 20p seems like an odd choice for that though.
2011
Lumpy Penny.
This fella seems to have acquired a large lump of extra metal right over the queen's head.
1970
Old Size 5p.
This coin predated the scaled down version of the 5p introduced in 1990, and is approximately the size of a modern 10p.
1970
Sealife Brighton Pressed Penny.
Where once was a penny there now is a turtle. Cool Beans!
Foreign Coins
I'll be honest, I have no idea how I got these. I've never been to any of these countries, and I haven't left the UK in nearly a decade!
2019
Ten Bani.
A Romanian coin with a delightfully smooth and shiny face.
2011
One Krona.
Apparently this guy is from Iceland. I like the grumpy looking fella on the back, and the fish on the front.
2009
Euro Ten Cents.
Different countries strike their own designs on the backs of Euros. Mine is from Italy!