Something relatively different this month. Every so often I receive e-mails from the Royal Mint with special commemorative medallions, coins etc. Often I ignore them because to be quite frank they are usually out of my price range. Sometimes though they send simple offers of a special commemorative (usually made from pure copper) for free with just the nominal cost of postage and packaging.
Over the years have taken up some of these offers, the most notable being the 200th anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, and the 950th anniversary of the battle of Hastings. Recently I decided to buy their offer of the solid copper replica of the Isaac Newton £1 bank note for the princely sum of £2.50 to cover the postage. Now usually these items form part of a larger set, often comprised of solid gold items. Which as I mention, is way out of my price range. This time however I, for once, decided to complete it. Mainly because I was able to afford the price of each banknote to complete the set.
The theme of the set was Great British Icons, with icons all designed by the artist Henry Eccleston. Apart from Newton, other figures featured are Wellington (on the £5), infamous for this campaign against Napoleon. Florence Nightingale, famous for the reforming and founding the principles of modern nursing is on the £10. Shakespeare graces the £20, and Christopher Wren, architect, takes position on the £50.
I won’t go into detail about the lives of these characters, as like last month, there is too much to talk about. I would however like to discuss my thoughts on items such as this.
For a collector these little sets are fun, and can be seen as a present to oneself due to the limited nature of them. Which immediately brings me to their major downside. They can be expensive. Not only constrained by the actual material of the product, the limited nature of them also seems to call for a premium price. Which often leads to me just getting the introductory piece rather than the full set. In a way these are marketed to those who have the money to spend on such a premium product rather than the general collector. Do I recommend these for people? Overall, not really. Unless the theme of the collection is something you are particularly interested with, or you are taken by the sheer novelty of it (like I was with this set), I suggest you direct your efforts elsewhere. Their immediate value is not comparable to the cost you pay for it, and it is a very long stretch you will match the amount you invested in it.
In short, only go out of your way for these if it something truly close to your heart, and you have the spare money floating around to meet the premium price.
Numismatic Exploits 