2008 British Royal Mint Coin Sets

2008 British Brilliant Uncirculated Mint Set in Folder

2008 British Standard Proof Set in Box

Reverse of 2008 London Olympics Centenary Two Pounds

Obverse of 2008 London Olympics Centenary Two Pounds

Reverse of 2008 Elizabeth I 450th Anniversary £5 Crown

Reverse of 2008 Prince Charles 60th Birthday £5 Crown

Changes
During 2008, all the definitive designs on the UK circulation coinage will change.
To whet our appetities for this, (or is it just to cash in on a marketing opportunity?), the Royal Mint are issuing, in addition to the usual mint sets, an "Emblems of Britain" range. The new designs are expected to be released in late spring, and we can imagine that this will be a major national event, not just a case of coin sets being marketed to a relatively small number of coin collectors.
The scale of importance will not be as high as the introduction of decimal coinage, or the euro, but cannot be far behind.

Emblems of Britain

Royal Mint Modern Issues
Each year since 1970, the Royal Mint has produced special editions of coin sets for collectors, which are also ideal as gifts.
We will be making advance reservations for an allocation of the 2008 United Kingdom coin sets, and will be offering them for sale at or below the officially published Royal Mint issue price.

For 2008, there are five variations of the coin sets available:

• Nine Coin Uncirculated Set
  Contains the nine circulating coins, from the Two Pounds down to the Penny, but please note they do not contain the Crowns.
  Although not struck to the same standards as the proof coins, these coins are also specially examined and selected before packaging. They are all superior to the mass produced coins which are made for circulation because of the absence of bag marks and scratches.
  They are also packaged in a colourful attractive and informative folder.
  
• Eleven Coin Proof Sets
  "Proof" coins are specially struck with great care and attention. The dies are highly polished on the flat surfaces, with a frosted finish on the design, the blanks from which the coins are struck are also polished before striking (minting), so that the finished coins show their designs to the absolutely best effect. The raised relief parts of the design have a frosted finish, and stand out from the background (field) which has a mirror finish. Each coin is carefully inspected prior to packaging, and is guaranteed to be perfect and without any blemish.
  This years proof sets contain:
  • The new 2008 London 1908 Olympics Centenary Two Pounds Coin
    
  • The Standard Two Pounds
    
  • One Pound Coin
    Possibly the last depicting the Royal Arms.
    
    
  • The Standard Fifty Pence
    
  • The other circulating coins, 20 pence, 10 pence, 5 pence, 2 pence, and 1 penny.
  
  
• Standard Proof Set
  All superbly packaged in a newly designed plastic case, and housed within an attractive box.
  UK Price - See table below.
• Gift Pack Proof Set
  The Royal Mint have stopped producing the "Gift Pack" proof sets.
• Executive Proof Set
  As the above Proof Sets, but with a booklet, and housed in a completely redesigned presentation pack, with space for personal mementoes.
  
  
• De-Luxe Proof Set - In Red Leather Wallet
  The de-luxe proof set has returned by popular demand!
  Contains all twelve denominations, from £5 Crown down to Penny.
  Complete in red wallet made of real leather.
  

  2008 Crowns
  These will be produced in a number of different versions.

  Coins Issued
  

  Denomination	Design	Circulation
  Five Pounds Crown	450th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth I's Accession	Yes
  Five Pounds Crown	Prince Charles's 60th Birthday	Yes
  Two Pounds	4 Ages	N/A
  Two Pounds	2008 London 1908 Olympics Centenary	N/A
  One Pound	Royal Arms	N/A
  Fifty Pence	Britannia	N/A
  Twenty Pence	Crowned Rose	N/A
  Ten Pence	Lion	N/A
  Five Pence	Crowned Thistle	N/A
  Two Pence	Plumes	N/A
  Penny	Portcullis	N/A

  
  Notes on Table
  Circulation = Whether the coin was also issued for circulation.
  

  Prices and Availability
  

  Item	Grade	Coins in Set	Availability	Issue Price £	Our Price £	Price $	Packaging
  2008	Elizabeth II - Proof	11	Yes	£39.95	£37.95	$65	Standard
  2008	Elizabeth II - Proof	11	Ask	£49.95	£49.95	$94	De Luxe Red Leather
  2008	Elizabeth II - Proof	11	Ask	£79.95	£Ask	$Ask	Executive
  2008	Elizabeth II - Uncirculated	9	December 2007	£16.95	£15.95	$28	Royal Mint Folder
  2008	Elizabeth II - Baby Pack	9	Ask	£19.95	£19.95	$34.00	Royal Mint Folder

  Order Form - UK
  Order Form - USA
  Order Form - Rest of World

  British Coin Sets
  2007 Coin Sets
  Index of Year 2008 Coins & Sets

  According to the Royal Mint:
  

  2008 United Kingdom Standard Proof Set
  The Standard Proof Sets include the three new commemorative coins for 2008
  The annual Sets of 2008 will be the last ones to feature the existing designs before they change later in the year.
  Low issue limit of just 30,000 Standard Proof Sets
  All 11 coins are produced to full Proof standard.
  

  In 2008 the Royal Mint is striking three new commemorative coins with reverse designs reflecting Britain's royal heritage and sporting history. Two £5 coins and one £2 coin, featuring specially designed reverses, are at the heart of next year's Proof Sets. They sit together with the definitive coins from the 1p to the £2, including the original £1. Reflecting the new identity of the Royal Mint, specially designed presentation cases have been produced for next year's collections. High-quality materials have been chosen to house the magnificent Proof coins, accompanied by an illustrated and informative booklet. The Standard Proof Set Protected within an acrylic case, the Proof coins of 2008 are attractively displayed in a stylish black case with the Royal Mint emblem featured in gold on the lid. The coins can either be presented upright for display purposes, or laid flat within the recess of the case for easy storage. The year date, 2008, appears in gold on the four sides of the case, while an informative booklet incorporating a Certificate of Authenticity sits neatly beneath the coins. Prince of Wales 60th Birthday Crown Born at Buckingham Palace on 14 November 1948 Prince Charles Philip Arthur George was the first son of Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh. The Queen declared her eldest son and heir apparent Prince of Wales in 1958 and in 1969 his Investiture took place at Caernarfon Castle. In 2008 His Royal Highness will be celebrating his 60th birthday and in his honour the Royal Mint is striking a special commemorative crown. The beautifully composed portrait of Prince Charles is the work of esteemed artist Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS whose effigy of the Queen has been in use on British coins since 1998. Following a number of private sittings and working from specially commissioned photographs the artist was able to present the final result that has been approved by both Prince Charles and the Queen. The inscription surrounding the portrait includes the words ICH DIEN, which means 'I serve', and is taken from the Badge of the Prince of Wales. The celebratory year dates of 1948 and 2008 also appear, together with his royal title THE PRINCE OF WALES. Elizabeth I Anniversary Crown On 17 November 1558 the 25-year-old Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, was proclaimed Queen of England. She became one of the best-loved and influential English monarchs, whose date of accession remained a national holiday for 200 years. To celebrate the 450th anniversary of her becoming Queen a £5 crown has been struck featuring on its reverse a portrait of Elizabeth by the silversmith Rod Kelly. Inspired by the magnificent 'Armada' portrait of Elizabeth by George Gower, the Queen is crowned and set within a mandorla created by four decorative arches. A Tudor rose has been placed at each connecting point while the two side arches each contain a beautiful leaf pattern reminiscent of the carvings made by the Queen's loyal servant and friend, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. The year of her accession and the year of the anniversary are both shown in Roman numerals with the inscription ELIZABETH REGINA. The 4th Olympiad London Anniversary £2 Coin The first modern Olympic Games took place in Athens in 1896, the vision of Baron Pierre de Coubertin. His dream was to bring together people of the world in a spirit of friendly competition where leading athletes could strive for victory and personal excellence. The Olympic Games have become the greatest sporting event in the world. The first time they were held in London was in 1908 at a purpose-built stadium in White City, London. The centenary of those Games therefore falls in 2008, and a commemorative £2 coin has been produced to celebrate the sporting achievements of the athletes who competed at those Games. The design that graces the reverse is by Royal Mint engraver, Thomas T Docherty, who chose as the central feature of his design a running track, an image that is readily associated with the Olympic Games. The anniversary date of 1908 is positioned within the track, with the words LONDON OLYMPIC CENTENARY encircling the design. The incuse edge inscription, THE 4TH OLYMPIAD LONDON, completes the design. The Royal Arms £1 Coin The original reverse design of the £1 coin, introduced into circulation in 1983, bore the Royal Arms with lion and unicorn supporters, a symbol of the Queen's sovereignty over the whole of the United Kingdom. This finely detailed depiction of the Royal Arms was created by Eric Sewell, a former Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint, and appears once again on the £1 coin on the occasion

  
  

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  ...at the Official Issue Prices

  
  

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