New Stock 2024

Back in 2002 12 European countries took the historic step of dropping their own currencies and introducing a single currency, which we now know as the euro. Although all of them issued the full set of 8 coins in the early years, it was not long before several took the decision to phase out the 1 and 2 cent coins and adopt a policy of rounding up or down to the nearest 5 cents. As with all euro coins, there is a common reverse side showing a globe with a map of Europe, but the obverse is reserved for national symbols. All these coins are in Brilliant Uncirculated condition and many are not easy to find at all let alone in this grade.

Back in 2002 12 European countries took the historic step of dropping their own currencies and introducing a single currency, which we now know as the euro. Although all of them issued the full set of 8 coins in the early years, it was not long before several took the decision to phase out the 1 and 2 cent coins and adopt a policy of rounding up or down to the nearest 5 cents. As with all euro coins, there is a common reverse side showing a globe with a map of Europe, but the obverse is reserved for national symbols. All these coins are in Brilliant Uncirculated condition and many are not easy to find at all let alone in this grade.

In 1996 the Queen celebrated her 70th Birthday and the Royal Mint issued a special commemorative £5 piece to honour the event. They also struck a handsome and unique £2 piece for the 10th European Football Championship. Each 1996 Proof Set contains: The commemorative £5 for the Queen’s 70th Birthday, the Football £2, plus the £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1p. Most important: the 50p was not struck for circulation, so if you need one, you have to get it from one of the sets. The Proof Set is specially struck in a high mirrored finish and placed in a display case.

In 2003 the Royal Mint issued a maximum of 7,500 Silver Proof Piedfort Collections. They contained the £1 with United Kingdom reverse first issued in 1983, the £2 for the finding of DNA and 50 Pence for the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Social & Political Union. The set of three comes in a case with three individual Royal Mint certificates and a Royal Mint certificate for the collection. Today the Royal Mint would be charging about £300 for a similar set of coins. But we have seven sets available at much less than this price. You get the 2003 Royal Mint Silver Piedfort Proof Set in case of issue with certificates for just £125, but there are only seven sets available.

Limited edition of 5000 sets. Consists of four of the commemorative coins issued in 2005 struck in Sterling .925 Silver including the £2 Gunpowder Plot, £2 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II, £1 Menai Suspension Bridge and 50 pence for the 250th Anniversary of Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary. All of the coins share the majestic Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of our late Queen and are housed in individual protective capsules in a plush green Royal Mint case with certificate.

The Royal Mint was charging £49.50 for a Sterling Silver Proof Pound. We have just bought one hundred pieces of the 2009 Silver Proof Pound, all in their original black cases of issue with their certificates just as they were issued by the Royal Mint. You have a shield on one side and the Rank-Broadley bust of the Queen on the other side. They are struck in Proof Sterling Silver and were sold by the Royal Mint some 15 years ago. We don’t know what the Mint charged then, all I know is that today the Royal Mint charged £49.50 for the 2012 Silver Proof Pound.

The late date Silver Royal Mint Proof Sets have proved very popular of late especially the scarcer Piedfort sets which would cost you a lot more money if you had to by the coins one at a time. One of the finest examples is this, the 2010 set, comprising the £5 Restoration of the Monarchy, £2 Florence Nightingale, £1 Belfast, £1 London, 50p Girl Guiding. In Royal Mint case of issue with numbered certificate. Only 2,500 sets issued and we have only two in stock!

The Achaean League was originally formed in the 5th Century B.C. but collapsed soon after. When it was reformed around 280 B.C. it quickly grew to include nearly every state in the Peloponnese, except Sparta. It was formed to defend the small states against the larger empires, namely Macedon in the north. Over time the League grew more powerful, defeated Sparta and ruled the whole of the Peloponnese but changed its allegiance to Rome. Sadly for them this eventually lead to Rome gaining domination over all Greece and disbanding the League in all but name in 146 B.C. with the coins continuing until 30 B.C. What makes the League so interesting is that it was a very early example of Federalism, a system where central government shares power with regional governments. It was from the writings of Polybius, a Greek historian who was a roman hostage, that we know about the workings of the League. This infl uenced many modern state founders, chiefly the founding fathers of the United States of America! We have a small group of the Silver Hemidrachm made by the states in the League between 280 and 30 B.C. They have Zeus on the obverse with the Leagues monogram on the reverse. Each coin comes identified as to which state struck it and at what time. These Hemidrachm grade at least Good Fine and we have priced them to please in these times.

Antonio Venier was Doge of Venice from 1382-1400. During the 18 years of his rule in Venice there were extraordinarily high waters, two plagues, numerous fires and disasters of various kinds, but through it all he showed great strength of character. These coins are small billon 1 Tornesello which were minted in Venice but designated for use in Crete. The obverse shows the winged lion of St. Mark with nimbus to the left, holding a book of Gospels with the legend VEXILIFER VENETIA. The reverse has a cross within a circle and the legend +ANTO’ VENERIO DVX. They grade Very Fine