Coin News

Designs on change ON October 12, 2023 the Royal Mint unveiled a brand new set of “definitive” UK coins (by definitive we mean the standard everyday circulating coins as opposed to commemorative issues). The last time this happened was in 2008 when the “jigsaw” set was unveiled (so called...

The following report was sent to us today (November 7), we include it here verbatim:    Hello, my name is John Wilson from Kent Vintage Collectors LTD (Trading as Kent Coins). Just a quick email to inform other dealers that we were burgled on 04 November, all of our stock was stolen and...

A time and a place ATTENDING the first coin fair after John passed away was always going to be tough, and the fact that it was Coinex (held on September 29–30), a show he went to every single year (bar the enforced Covid hiatus, of course) meant there might well have been many people wondering...

The Royal Mint has unveiled eight brand new coin designs that will soon appear on official circulating UK coins, ranging from the 1p to the £2. The new designs are inspired by flora and fauna found across Britain and reflect King Charles III’s passion for conservation and the natural world.  ...

The penny: Hazel Dormouse    Small in stature, the hazel dormouse is a fitting presence on the UK 1p coin.  Mostly found in southern England in the UK, the hazel dormouse population in the UK has halved since 2007.   However, more than 1,000 have been reintroduced in 13...

Red Squirrel    The red squirrel’s distinctive colouring blends perfectly with the reddish hue of the UK 2p coin.    With 75% of its UK population found in areas of Scotland, the red squirrel can also be found in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Wight, Brownsea Island, Anglesey, Cumbria,...

Oak tree leaf    The UK 5p coin displays a leaf taken from an oak tree, signifying its role as a rich habitat for biodiversity in British woodland areas.  Supporting more life than any other native tree species in the UK, the oak tree has a long association with monarchies, as ancient...

Capercaillie    Found in a small part of Scotland, the capercaillie is the world’s largest grouse and features on the reverse of the UK 10p coin.   After becoming extinct once before, in the mid-eighteenth century, the species is now at risk of becoming extinct for the second time.  ...

Puffin    The unmistakable seabird features on the reverse of the new definitive UK 20p coin.   Striking in their appearance, around 10% of the worldwide puffin population breeds along the UK’s coastline.   Classed as a Red List species, the population is predicted to severely...

Atlantic salmon    A priority conservation species, the Atlantic salmon features on the UK 50p coin.   Wild populations are low due to factors like river pollution, habitat loss, river heating and overfishing.   They can be found in clean rivers in Scotland and Wales along with...

Bees   The £1 features a depiction of a bee, symbolising the 250+ species which exist in Britain.   Bumblebees, mason bees, mining bees and more - these industrious insects play a pivotal role in pollinating many plants and fruiting trees.   They can be found all over the country,...

National flowers    The UK £2 features flora that symbolise the four nations of the country – a rose for England, a daffodil for Wales, a thistle for Scotland and a shamrock for Northern Ireland.   Inspired by The King’s inaugural address on 9 September 2022 and personally approved by...

John William Mussell 1942–2023

A lasting legacy, unchanged TOKEN Publishing Ltd has been around for 40 years now, and at the helm throughout those four decades has been John Mussell, Managing Editor first of COIN & MEDAL NEWS (from 1983–89) then of two separate magazines (COIN NEWS and MEDAL NEWS) from 1989 onwards. In...