IMPORTANT - the cross stitch parcel arrived safely with Kirsten yesterday. Much rejoicing all round!
Moving swiftly on- the other exciting news of the day [a cheery item, much needed as the world is so full of sadness right now] The Royal Mint has just revealed the designs for the new King Charles Coinage. Reflecting the King's love of the natural world, there will be wildlife with heads - and tails - on our coinage.[btw heads is properly called obverse, tails is reverse]
1p: A hazel
dormouse, which has seen its population halve since 2007
2p: A red
squirrel, which is expected to blend into the colour of the copper coin
5p: An oak
tree leaf, signifying its role as a rich habitat for biodiversity in woodland
areas and an association with monarchy of the past
10p: The
capercaillie - the world's largest grouse - found in a small part of Scotland
and threatened with extinction again!
20p: A
puffin
50p: The
Atlantic salmon, which is at threat from river pollution and habitat loss
£1: Bees
£2: National
flowers - a rose for England, a daffodil for Wales, a thistle for Scotland and
a shamrock for Northern Ireland
My thoughts
Apart from loving the idea of nature on the coinage, these seem great choices to me.
The dormouse is a beloved character from Alice in Wonderland
I was privileged to see red squirrels on Brownsea Island, when I visited with my dear friends Peter and Jenny a few years ago.
King Charles II hid in the Royal Oak in 1651
Capercaillies are a favourite of the King [he mentions them in his children's book The Old Man of Lochnagar] - the name means 'horse of the woods'
Puffins are just so cute!
Atlantic salmon have such an amazing life journey
---and bees are definitely a favourite insect for me [pollinators, symbol of Manchester, all those biblical references to bees and honey]
And the multinational bouquet is fitting for our largest coin.
Three interlocking Cs feature on the coins, representing the
third King Charles, and taking its inspiration from the cypher of Charles IIl
Round the edge of the new £2 is inscribed "In servitio omnium", which means: "In the service of all". This phrase was chosen by the new King Charles - part of his speech in September last year, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth .
These coins will come into circulation at the end of the year.
Round the edge of the new £2 is inscribed "In servitio omnium", which means: "In the service of all". This phrase was chosen by the new King Charles - part of his speech in September last year, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth .
These coins will come into circulation at the end of the year.
Rebecca Morgan, director at the Royal Mint says that although use of coinage has declined in recent years "We know a large proportion of the population is heavily dependent on coinage. And it is tradition to mark the coming to the throne of a new monarch with new coinage"
I'm old enough to remember pre decimal currency - and my grandad, [who was a Church Treasurer at one point ] talking to me about the two 'natural' things on the coinage then
We had the wonderful twelve sided 3d - threepence [or 'thrupence] with the thrift plant growing upon it. I was taught the word dodecahedron, and the virtue of thrift 
I can think of four little children who are going to get a lot of lessons about our natural world from Grandma when they are given holiday spending money next year!
What do you think of these designs?
Do you have a favourite?
How and when do you use coinage these days?
I'm looking forward to our lovely new coinage. I too remember pre-decimal days when I learnt the kings and queens since Victoria from the obverse. And I loved the old farthings especially, although they had disappeared from everyday use even by my childhood.
ReplyDeleteFarthings ceased to be legal tender in the UK on January 1st 1961 - but the Falkland Islands used them until 1970.
DeleteI like the new designs. I think I like the bouquet of flowers and leaves the best. I still use coins (as well as notes) when I purchase items in person or write a check. I very rarely use a credit card.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't realised until recently that you have four Mints across the USA (Philadelphia, Denver, West Point and San Francisco) and you can identify the origin of a coin because it will have P, D, W or S imprinted on it.
DeleteVery good to hear the stitching arrived.
ReplyDeleteInteresting news about the new coins.
So pleased it finally got to Sussex!
DeleteOh, they are beautiful!!! I love them!!! I especially like the Squirrel and bees! Kx
ReplyDeleteI think the bees are my favourite too
DeleteMany of these coins will be snapped us as souvenirs for family members I’m sure. My late mother always bought her grandchildren celebration coins when they were minted-goodness knows where they are now! The bees are my favourite too It’s interesting that the capercaillie was chosen as our capercaillies are from Sweden as the last remaining pair of Scottish birds were thought to have been shot in the 18th century for a royal wedding banquet. Thank goodness the stitching parcel has arrived safely. Catriona
ReplyDeleteHow careless they were about preserving the birds back then!
DeleteSo pleased the needlework arrived eventually, what a relief. I love the new coinage especially the bees and dormouse. Mostly we don't use much cash now except for paying for our weekly Tai Chi class which is rather sad, but a lot of shops and restaurants round here request cards only. I used to love farthings (yes old enough to remember them in use) because of the Jenny wren my favourite bird. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard to find 'small change' when you need it. I confess that I got two £20 notes from the ATM recently, then went and bought a small item in a charity shop just to ensure I had some £1 coins!
DeleteI think the Squirrel is my favourite! We have red squirrels in the woods not far from us, and we go to see them quite frequently, they're so lovely!
ReplyDeleteWe've ordered the 'First and Last Coins' set for our grandson, the last coins of the late Queen's reign, and the first of the King.
My husband's been a numismatist for many years, and is now encouraging our grandson to join him.
Interested to read your husband is a numismatist! We have a few interesting coins [Coronation crowns etc] but lately Bob has put some of them into the wooden bowls he is turning [mostly as gifts for our younger relations]
DeleteHow lovely, I thought we would just have the King’s head on the new coins. I like the bees and the flowers the best. I must keep a look out for a presentation set to go with my coins. I think the oldest I have are Victorian bun pennies showing the young queen. I also have some thrift thruppenny bits. I’ve been down the rabbit hole of Cockney rhyming slang for money, some of which I knew and some of it was an eye opener. Thanks Ang.
ReplyDeleteThe terms of my childhood were tanner, bob and quid. "'is shoes were so worn,' e could stand on a tanner an' tell you if it woz 'eds or tails!" said Grandad
ReplyDeleteThe Dormouse, of course!! :-) But in fact I think they are all rather lovely. I may have to get myself a 1p coin and find someone to make it into a piece of jewellery!! Love FD xx
ReplyDeleteThink your answer was rather predictable!!🐁
DeleteI like the new designs and especially as each symbol and picture has a special meaning.
ReplyDeleteThey have been well thought out . The clear numerals are intended to help children with their maths!
DeleteThat's really neat!
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DeleteNice coins. Thanks for the information x
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
👍😊
DeleteI love these new coins. I hope that they are really popular and get people spending. We need to use to keep banks open. We need to use cash to support small businesses and for the sake of charities and because it makes you understand and realise what you are spending. Tap for that latte each morning on the way to work or count out the £17+ from the £80 you have to spend that week. I'll get off one of my hobby horses now!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely- we need to keep cash in use for as long as we can. Charities like Christians Against Poverty & others recommend people use cash to give themselves a clearer idea of what they are spending. Children need to learn to handle their finances with cash before they get into the card swiping methods too.
DeleteI really like these. It's a great idea to put wildlife on the coins. Will there be a profile of Charles on the other side?
ReplyDeleteYes there will - an artist called Martin Jennings has done this.[google it!] The King faces left [his mother faced right] it is usual for successive monarchs to face opposite directions!
DeleteI liked it when the children handed over the cash when they came for their piano lessons. It made the realise there was a cost involved. I had a money monster battery moneybox which they could put the coins in; you balanced the coin on its hand and very gently press down. It would open its eyes, raise its arm and tip the coin in its mouth, chomp a few times while rocking from side to side, lick its lips and go back to sleep.
ReplyDeleteOh that is a fun way to pay your debts
DeleteThey are gorgeous! So much thought must have gone into the designs and I really like the clarity of the numbers. It is hard to choose a favourite, but I really like the movement of the leaping salmon.
ReplyDeleteThat's today's first vote for the fish then!!
DeleteI enjoy your interesting lessons, too, and agree the designs are perfect for your new king's interests.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
😀
DeleteSo happy the stitching arrived safely after all.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with pre-decimal currency and my mother would wrap a silver sixpence in greaseproof paper and hide it in the Christmas pudding!
That's a really old British Tradition. I've decided not to make a pud this year. And will only make a small cake,as I believe we will be just the two of us on dec 25th
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