The U.K.-based Royal Mint has launched a series of awards to celebrate the world’s top collections as part of its Collect Week.
Collect Week, a weeklong celebration of coin collecting, begins on Sept. 20 with free online content, including webinars and children’s activities, plus the mint’s first trial piece auction and its new awards series.
“We’re as passionate about collecting as our customers, and we’re delighted to see that coins remain the most collected item in Britain,” said Rebecca Morgan, the mint’s director of collector services. “As part of our annual Collect Week, we want to champion Britain’s collectors, and crown their prized possessions as part of our new awards. Perhaps you started collecting books or stamps with a grandparent; perhaps you like riffling through change to find special 50-pences or collecting coins from holidays? Behind each collection there’s a story, and we’re calling on Britain to share theirs.”
The award categories include:
- the “Largest 50-pence Collection” (featuring commemorative or circulating coins or a combination of both);
- the “Best World Coin Collection” (featuring a combination of U.K. and international coins);
- the “Youngest & Eldest Duo of Coin Collectors” (such as a grandchild working with a grandparent or great-grandparent);
- the “Largest Pre-Decimal Coin Collection” (featuring any pre-decimalization denomination); and
- “Britain’s Best Collection” (which is open to other collectibles—not only coins).
While nominations closed earlier this month, the winners will be announced this week. The nominations were only open to residents of the United Kingdom plus the U.S. states of California, Florida, New York and Texas.
According to a recent mint survey, coins remain the United Kingdom’s favourite collectible followed by stamps and then books.