Posts Tagged ‘burns’
The Royal Mint, London, earlier this year released commemorative £2(2 Pound) coins celebrating the births of Robert Burns and Charles Darwin. This has now been followed by the release of precious metal versions of both these coins, in gold and silver.
The coins feature the same designs as the previous coins, with each design now being released in both a gold and silver version.
The two gold coins will be made from 22ct gold and have a limited mintage of only a 1000 coins each. These will be sold for £525 each, and be displayed in a beautiful walnut-veneer presentation case along with certificate of authenticity. Yellow and red gold will be used to maintain the bi-metallic design of the coin.
The silver versions of both coins will again be presented in a black presentation case with a certificate of authenticity. They will be struck from .925 sterling silver. The Darwin coin is limited to only 5000 coins and a strike limit of 20 000 has been placed on the Robert Burns silver coin. The silver coins are priced at £32.50 on the Royal Mint website. All the coins are struck to proof quality.
Charles Darwin 1809 - 1882
Charles Darwin was born on 12 February 1809 and became one of the most influential men in world history. He qualified as a clergyman in Cambridge but did not take Holy Orders after graduating; his life was to take an entirely different course.
He declared himself as ‘born a naturalist’ and when he was invited to survey the southern coasts of South America aboard HMS Beagle in 1831, he recognised it as ‘the most important event of my life’. The journey took almost five years and he collected huge numbers of specimens, noting similarities as well as distinct differences amongst species depending on their territory. Many more years of research led, in 1859, to the publication of On the Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection. Flying in the face of common wisdom as well as religious convention, Darwin’s theory brought respect and ridicule in equal measure but was to change the scientific world forever. Darwin died on 19 April 1882 and was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey.
Robert Burns 1759 - 1796
Robert Burns was a passionate poet and lyricist as well as a witty satirist of his religious and political peers. He was born on 25 January 1759 in a humble cottage built by his father, a struggling farmer, in Alloway, Ayrshire. Celebrated in works such as Tam O’Shanter, The Cotter’s Saturday Night and Ye Banks and Braes o’ Bonnie Doon, it remained a constant source of inspiration to Burns throughout his life as did the Scottish folk songs and legends taught him by his mother.
He published his first collection of poems in 1786. Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect was printed in Kilmarnock and received such acclaim that Burns was immediately shot to fame. Although his poetry did not bring him financial security, he remained a prolific writer. Thus when he died on 21 July 1796, he left a wonderful legacy of joyous songs and poems that, in celebrating humanity, touched the hearts and minds of people the world over. His most famous work is perhaps Auld Lang Syne, a song celebrating friendship and sung every year on New Year’s Eve.
For more images of the 2009 Royal mint coins visit the WNN Image Library
* - information and images courtesy of the Royal Mint
The new 2009 series of British coins are available from the Royal Mint, London. What makes this years’ proof set interesting is the fact that there are no less than four commemorative designs in addition to standard coinage. The very innovative design of the 1 penny through to 50 pence collectively depicting the royal shield of arms is again used, with the 1 Pound coin again depicts the heraldic shield of the Royal Arms as designed by Matthew Dent. Only the third iteration of this theme to appear on the 1 Pound coin since it’s introduction in 1983. Struck in a nickel brass alloy the coin will also be released on it’s own in a brilliant uncirculated strike housed in a illustrative folder, 15 000 will be released in this format.
The special commemorative coins all celebrate special events and personalities in British history. In addition to the standard two pound issue there are also two bi-metallic two Pound coins to commemorate Charles Darwin and Robert burns. A crown sized cupro-nickel vife pound coin for King Henry VIII, and finally a cupro-nickel heptagonal 50 pence coin to commemorate the founding of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.
Charles Darwin
This commemorative £2 coin for 2009 celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin as well as the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species. The reverse of the coin, designed by Suzie Zamit, features a profile portrait of Charles Darwin and a chimpanzee together with the denomination TWO POUNDS, the year dates 1809 and 2009 and DARWIN.The special edge inscription is “ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES 1859″.
Robert Burns
One of Scotland’s favourite sons, Robert Burns is one of the great literary figures in British history. On the 250th anniversary of his birth, a £2 coin celebrates his life and work. The commemorative reverse features an extract from Auld Lang Syne, probably Burns’ most famous work. The edge inscription also reads “SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT”
Henry VIII
In 1509 Henry VIII acceded to the throne of England. To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the accession of one of the most famous of kings the Royal Mint has produced a £5 crown coin featuring a classic standing portrait of the Tudor monarch.
Kew Gardens
This commemorative 50p coin celebrates the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. It features the Chinese Pagoda surrounded by the dates 1759 and 2009. UNESCO awarded the Kew Gardens with World Heritage status in 2003.
For more photos of the Royal Mint 2009 series of coins visit the WNN Media Library
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