New Coin Issues

COVID Commemorative Coins for Healthcare Workers

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is in the process of distributing a number of token coins to its healthcare worker employees, as an ‘as an everlasting expression of gratitude for their contributions under unprecedented circumstances’ during the pandemic.

The PHAC was the federal agency responsible for managing the country’s COVID-19 response, and nearly 7,500 employees are expected to receive one of these COVID coins, according to a report last month from news site Global News.

Produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, each COVID-19 Commemorative Coin is brass nickel-plated and accompanied by a blue velvet presentation box. The design reportedly features both English and French on opposite sides of the coin, with what the PHAC described as a ‘universally- recognized COVID-19 symbol’ – an image of the spiked virus particle as it appears under a microscope.

Commemorative Coin for UEFA Championship

Germany is set to issue a commemorative coin to mark the occasion of the 17th edition of the UEFA European Football Championship, which is scheduled to be held in 10 venues around the country between June and July next year.

The issuance of an €11 coin has been announced, which is the first time that Germany will issue a coin like this with an odd denomination. The number 11 was reportedly chosen due to the number of football players that play on the field for any one team.

A design has not yet been announced for the coin.

Tokelau Honours QEII Coronation Anniversary

To mark what would have been the 70th anniversary of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation this year, the Pacific territory of Tokelau has issued three new commemorative coins.

Two of the coins are 1oz $5 and $100 fine silver and gold coins respectively, with the third a $10 5oz fine silver coin. Each coin is limited to mintages of 1,953, 150, and 500, respectively. The obverse of each coin is the same and features the Ian Rank- Broadley effigy of the Queen.

The reverse of the 1oz coins depict the Queen proceeding through Westminster Abbey on the day of her coronation and holding the Sovereign’s Orb and sceptre in each hand, with the Abbey’s famous rose window in the background. The rose window of the $10 silver coin is highlighted with rose gold plating, whilst the $100 gold coin has a genuine diamond embedded at the top of the sceptre – where the Great Star of Africa diamond rests on the real sceptre.

The reverse of the 5oz $10 coin depicts a similar scene to that of the other coins in the collection, but with a smaller more full-length image of the Queen and her ceremonial outfit, and her royal cypher in the foreground. The background image of the rose window is highlighted with gold plating.

First Individual Collectable Featuring King Charles III

The Royal Mint launched its first collectable 50p of the year earlier this month, which is the first in the collection to feature King Charles III’s portrait on the obverse. The other coins in the collection feature the portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II on the reverse.

The new coin – featuring Prof Albus Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series – is the third in the collection introduced last year to celebrate the 25th publishing anniversary of J K. Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’. All three of the coins feature the artwork of Jim Kay, the artist who created the first fully illustrated edition of the book.

The reverse design of this coin features a portrait of the above-named wizard, with a latent feature which rotates in the light to reveal a lightning bolt and the number ‘25’ to mark the anniversary year. The 50p edition of the coin is available in both uncoloured silver and coloured designs.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint noted that the coin is, ‘one of a small number that will see a change of portrait during the series’, with the collection serving ‘as a permanent reminder of the fascinating transition from Britain’s longest reigning monarch to His Majesty the King’s first appearance on UK coinage’.

South Africa Pays Homage to the Shy and Stealthy Leopard

The South African Mint has launched the penultimate coin in its second edition of the bi-annual Big 5 series. Following those featuring the elephant, lion and rhino, this new coin pays homage to the ‘shy and stealthy’ leopard, as described by the Mint.

The coin range consists of a 24 carat 1oz proof gold coin, a 1oz proof platinum coin, a BU fine silver coin and a proof quality silver double capsule set. The range also includes two combination sets – the 1oz Big 5 Leopard and 1oz Krugerrand privy marked fine silver proof coin set, and the 1oz Big 5 Leopard and 1oz Krugerrand privy marked gold proof coin set.

The obverse of the coins features a side view of the leopard, with its characteristic spots indented in the metal. The reverse of the coin depicts two halves of the face of a leopard and when two coins are placed next to each other a complete image of the face can be seen. When multiple coins are placed next to each other, a leap of leopards is formed.