It’s that time of the year again. The Royal Mint releases images of its 2022 circulating currency designs

An earlier than usual look at the Royal Mint’s proof sets for the year (they go on sale next week), and it’s another selection of themes encompassing royalty, science, personalities, and events. There are a pair of seven-sided fifty-pence coins, a pair of bi-metal £2 coins, and a single £5 crown. Each will drop on an individual basis as the year progresses, but debuting first will be the multi coin sets in conjunction with proof versions of the standard circulating currency of the United Kingdom.

No howlers, like the four-legged tripod last year, and the selection is typical Royal Mint – not pushing boundaries, but with some clever touches, and instantly recognisable for the subject. The pair of £2 coins are the highlight for us, despite not being a particular fan of the bi-metal format. The Dame Vera Lynn coin carries a nice portrait of the wartime legend, much loved in the UK, and the Alexander Graham Bell coin is a neat twist on his invention, depicting a telephone keypad with the inscription spread across the keys.

The pair of platinum jubilee coins are okay. The fifty-pence is very clean and simple, while the £5 design is attractive, but another one with royal regalia on it, so not so original in concept. The other fifty-pence coin is one issued to mark the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. This looks quite nice, but I’m not sure how the design links to the games specifically.

The set selection is as follows. There are five-coin gold, silver piedfort, and because it’s the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, platinum sets, ranging in price from a little over £500, to almost £10,000 for the platinum. There’s also a silver set that also includes the standard circulating currency in proof silver form, for a total of 13 coins, bumped up by the inclusion of a medallion as well. Those on a budget have a great selection of base-metal sets to pick up, so you won’t miss out.