As the new year began, five forthcoming 2018-dated coins were announced and unveiled by the U.K.’s Royal Mint.
Anniversaries for the 1918 Representation of the People Act; the Royal Air Force (RAF); the First World War armistice; Prince George’s fifth birthday; and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein will each be commemorated on U.K. coins this year.
200th ANNIVERSARY OF FRANKENSTEIN
Dr. Frank
enstein’s legendary creature will be featured on a £2 coin 200 years after the publication of Mary Shelley’s classic science-fiction novel. In detailing the birth of the ‘monster,’ Shelley anticipated the era of genetic engineering and medical transplant surgery by more than a century.
1918 REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE ACT
It has been a century since the signing of the Representation of the People Act, which gave women over the age of 30 the right to vote for the first time, along with servicemen over the age of 19 and men over the age of 21. The anniversary will be celebrated with a 2018 50-pence coin.
WWI ARMISTICE CENTENARY
The release of a £2 coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of the First World War armistice will mark the moment hostilities ceased and silence fell over the battlefields of the Western Front.
RAF CENTENARY
One century ago, the organization that has since been responsible for defending Britain’s skies—the RAF—was established. This year, the Royal Mint will mark this milestone with a £2 coin.
PRINCE GEORGE TURNS FIVE
This year, Prince George of Cambridge will celebrate his fifth birthday. The young prince inspires a new interpretation of his namesake, St George and the dragon, on a £5 coin.
SOVEREIGN 2018
The Sovereign will return this year with the familiar St George and the dragon design. The 2018 Sovereign will include a celebratory mint mark to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s 65-year reign.
