February 1, 2018 – The Royal Mint has unveiled new coin designs for 2018, marking some of the United Kingdom’s most striking stories and capturing some of the year’s memorable moments and anniversaries. These are the themes that will be available in annual coin sets in precious metal and base proof finishes. The sets will also feature the definitive coins, and a commemorative £5 coin that reflects on the nation’s royal history.
Commemorative BU coins.
For 2018 this set includes a coin to celebrate the fifth birthday of His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge, the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force and the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 1918 Representation of the People Act. It also includes coins commemorating the 100th anniversary of the First World War Armistice and the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’.
United Kingdom / 5 GBP / Cupro-nickel / 28.28g / 38.61mm / Design: Jody Clark.
The Fifth Birthday of His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge 2018 UK £5 Coin
Five years have passed since the gun salutes were fired in his honour and the bells of Westminster Abbey rang out in celebration. Since then the nation has followed the progress of the young prince as he has enjoyed the milestones of a child’s young life. Born into the media spotlight, he has also stolen the limelight during official visits with his parents, meeting dignitaries and winning the hearts of the public as far afield as Canada and New Zealand.
United Kingdom / 2 GBP / Inner: Cupro-nickel; Outer: Nickel-brass / 12.00g / 28.40mm / Design: Jody Clark (obverse) and Rhys Morgan (reverse).
The 100th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force 2018 UK £2 Coin
Since its formation on 1 April 1918, the Royal Air Force had defended the skies above Britain. The Royal Air Force has been at the forefront of Britain’s defence, from the first wooden biplane, through the development of hi-tech supersonic jets, to today’s Lightning aircraft; it has always been at the cutting edge of innovation, marking the aviation milestones of the twentieth century.
United Kingdom / 50 Pence / Cupro-nickel / 8.00g / 27.30mm / Design: Jody Clark (obverse) and Stephen Taylor (reverse).
The 100th Anniversary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act UK 50p Coin
The passing of the Representation of the People Act 1918 through Parliament was hailed as a milestone for freedom and democracy. For many years progressive groups had been lobbying for changes to the voting system, so political power would no longer remain with the country’s wealthy elite. In 1918, servicemen over the age of 19, men over 21, and women over the age of 30, who met minimum property qualifications, were given the right to vote.
United Kingdom / 2 GBP / Inner: Cupro-nickel; Outer: Nickel-brass / 12.00g / 28.40mm / Design: Jody Clark (obverse) and Stephen Raw (reverse).
The 100th Anniversary of the First World Armistice 2018 UK £2 Coin
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, a great silence fell over the battlefields of the Western Front. Hostilities ceased as the initial step was taken towards bringing the First World War to an end after four years of gruelling conflict. When the news of Armistice and the prospect of a permanent peace reached London, church bells rang out and Big Ben struck the hour for the first time since the start of the war. In the decades since the Armistice was signed, communities across the world continue to gather in silence at 11am on 11 November to remember the fallen and their sacrifice.
United Kingdom / 2 GBP / Inner: Cupro-nickel; Outer: Nickel-brass / 12.00g / 28.40mm / Design: Jody Clark (obverse) and Thomas T. Docherty (reverse).
The 200th Anniversary of the Publication of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ 2018 UK £2 Coin
On a stormy night in 1816, a group of friends gathered at a villa on the shores of Lake Geneva to tell each other ghost stories. The company, including the poets Lord Byron and Percy Shelley, had been discussing the latest scientific controversy – was human life simply biological or did it contain ‘the divine spark’ of God? That night Mary Godwin (later Mary Shelley), experienced a fevered dream about the birth of a terrible creature that was to become one of the most famous horror stories ever written.
The Premium Medal
The 2018 Premium Medal has been created by Royal Mint coin designer Thomas T. Docherty. As an experienced member of the Coin Design team, his commissions include the 2008 £2 coin commemorating the centenary of the 1908 London Olympics, his first United Kingdom coin design, and the £2 coin celebrating 200 years since the publication of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’.
The medal has a strong focus on security, a key area of expertise for The Royal Mint.
For this bimetallic medal Thomas has blended contemporary technology with time-honed craftsmanship. It has a 12-sided inside edge reflecting the shape of the new £1 coin while the raised platform of the coin is decorated with the themes of 2018 commemorative coins in micro-text.
2
The Royal Mint Medal
The 2018 Royal Mint Medal has been designed by Kerry Davies. A skilled member of the Coin Design team, Kerry has worked at The Royal Mint for 14 years. Her commissions include the 2007 50p coin commemorating the centenary of the foundation of the Scouting movement.
Kerry’s design for The Royal Mint Medal celebrates the United Kingdom’s circulating coinage. The simple lines have been created with the aid of computer-aided design (CAD) and each is an exact outline of one of the circulating or commemorative coins, from the 1p to the £5. The outlines are taken from each coin’s technical specification. The medal takes the form of an ingot, an oblong block of metal that is usually cast to create another form frequently used in minting.
The 2018 United Kingdom Gold Proof Coin Set in case.
Each of the 2018 UK coins is featured in The Royal Mint’s commemorative annual sets in precious metal and base proof finishes, giving a complete overview of the anniversaries being marked during the year.
To access the homepage of The Royal Mint, click here.
More information on the Annual Sets is available here.