National buildings, national institutions, heroes of history, and heroes of sport headline the Royal Mint’s 2024 circulating designs

Hers’s a little detour from our break to take a traditional look at the new Royal Mint circulating designs which were unveiled today. Perhaps a less political mix this year, we have a pair of designs marking national institutions, Buckingham Palace, and the National Gallery. Britain’s most regarded leader, Sir Winston Churchill, also has his birth commemorated, with a rarer, earlier portrait taking centre-stage.

Rounding out these five new designs is one celebrated the bicentennial of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, a very noble organisation tasked with marine rescue off the extensive coast of Britain, and another featuring the obligatory Olympics, and Paralympics, taking place in Paris next year.

As you’d expect, there will be various gold, silver, and platinum variants as the year progresses, but the usual annual sets will be available to buy from 2 January directly from the Royal Mint. As well as precious metals, there will be an extensive range of base metal sets for collectors of those. A decent selection this year

In 2024, The Royal Mint celebrates Buckingham Palace as the official London residence of His Majesty King Charles III. Recognised all over the world, the working royal palace has become synonymous with the British monarchy and today, it is the administrative headquarters for His Majesty The King. This historic palace has served as the official London residence for every British monarch since the reign of Queen Victoria and has become the centre of State Visits and national celebrations.

This £5 coin features a reverse design, by artist Henry |Gray, that pays tribute to this remarkable palace. A pattern inspired by a feature of the Palace’s interior encircles the portrait of the building itself, which proudly flies the Royal Standard, indicating the presence of the British monarch. The obverse features the official coinage portrait of King Charles III designed by Martin Jennings.

One of the most recognisable figures in British politics, Sir Winston Churchill led Britain to victory during the Second World War. The year 2024 marks 150 years since the birth of this historic leader who served as Britain’s Prime Minister twice. This UK £2 coin features a reverse design that depicts a young Churchill during his time in the Cavalry army. In late 1953, while serving his second term as Prime Minister, Churchill was recorded as saying, ‘I have no more ambitions, but a last task I still see in front of me… is to ease world tension, to pave the way for peace and freedom.

The UK £2 coin, struck to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill, depicts a portrait of Churchill as a young man in 1895, garbed in the uniform of the 4th Queen’s Own Hussars. In tribute to this anniversary, the coin’s legend reads ‘150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF WINSTON CHURCHILL’, whilst the date of his birth and passing are displayed in equal prominence either side of the portrait. The edge inscription, ‘PAVE THE WAY FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM’, is taken from a remark Churchill made in late 1953, whilst serving his second term as prime minister. The design appearing on the coin was created by Natasha Seaward, a graphic designer at The Royal Mint.

The National Gallery has been making art accessible to everyone for 200 years in 2024. Founded in 1824, when Parliament agreed to purchase 38 paintings from the financier John Julius Angerstein, the Gallery’s initial collection was displayed in Angerstein’s house, until a dedicated building was commissioned and opened at Trafalgar Square in 1838. As of 2024, the National Gallery is home to more than 2,300 paintings produced by a variety of artists that are available for the public to view.

This UK £2 coin features a reverse design, by Edwina Ellis, that shows the iconic building of the National Gallery and includes the edge inscription ‘MAIORVM GLORIA POSTERIS LVMEN EST’, which means ‘The Glory of our ancestors is a light to our descendants, and is inscribed on the ceiling above the main staircase in the Wilkins Building of the Gallery. The phrase conveys the notion that the great artists of the past inspire those of the future – a founding principle of the National Gallery.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has been saving lives at sea for more than 200 years. Founded by Sir William Hillary in 1824, the RNLI has saved more than 144,000 lives since its inception, operating as a charity that relies on donations. In 2001, the RNLI began providing lifeguard patrols and now operate on over 240 beaches across the UK and Channel Islands. Lifeguards provide in-water rescue, give first aid and speak to the public about water safety to prevent incidents from happening.

This UK 50p coin, created by John Bergdahl, features a design that incorporates key RNLI symbols, including its flag and a life ring, alongside an inscription highlighting the 200th anniversary of the charity.

The year 2024 will see the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad held in Paris, France, exactly 100 years since the city last hosted the Olympic Games. This will also be the first time that France has hosted the Paralympic Games, which are traditionally held in the same host city as the summer Games. Both Team GB and ParalympicsGB aim to unite and inspire the nation through the power of sport. This UK 50p coin honours the British Olympians and Paralympians that will be looking to build on their previous successes at Paris 2024.

Designed by Charis Tsevis, the 50p depicts two athletes representing both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in parity, with the Union flag unifying all athletes of the proud nation.