Royal Mint 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain 2015 UK coin

[Al R]

75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain 2015 UK 50p BU Coin (http://www.royalmint.com/shop/75th_Anniversary_of_the_Battle_of_Britain_2015_UK_50p_BU_Coi n)

Worth a thread all for itself.

Honouring those who fought for control of the skies 75 years ago.

In the summer of 1940 Britain faced the threat of invasion. It would fall to brave young pilots and their crews to protect the country’s defences – the Battle of Britain had begun. It was their finest hour – who can imagine the world today if they had failed in their task? Now, 75 years later, we honour the few with a commemorative 50p, the only official United Kingdom coin to be struck for this anniversary.

In 1940 France had fallen, and crossing the English Channel to continue the domination of Europe was the objective of Hitler’s ‘Operation Sea lion’. For Hitler to succeed Britain’s defences would have to be weakened. Fighters and bombers took to the air on both sides, winning the aerial battle above Britain would be a key victory to secure.

The pilots had an average age of 21. They flew aircraft like the Spitfire and the Hurricane with skill and determination. Many pilots and their crews were lost in the Battle of Britain, but the Royal Air Force ultimately prevailed, turning Hitler’s sights from our shores. We would live in a very different Britain today had they not succeeded.

[Wander00]

However, as the offset in the budget, we are closing the Memorial Chapel at Biggin Hill............................

[CAEBr]

Unfortunately it appears to depict the RAF of 1940 under the current financial restrictions - three aircrew are running out on a scramble towards two aircraft - someone is going to be disappointed.

CAEBr

[Martin the Martian]

What strikes me more is the presentation packing, showing Spitfire VBs of No.124 Squadron, which was not in existence in 1940, and in the later ocean grey/dark green rather than the dark earth/dark green of the Battle of Britain period.

Any Spitfire will do, I guess. Obviously the Royal Mint use the same researchers as most media outlets. Still, I suppose it could have been a PR.XIX or a Seafire...

[BEagle]

Buy a 50p piece for £8? That sounds just like normal defence procurement policy!

[54Phan]

Beagle for the win! What a travesty.

[NutLoose]

One wonders how long it will be before that other mint brings out a tacky coloured 120,000 limited edition version at £29-99 down and four monthly payments of.......




..

[BEagle]

Which would sit nicely between the pink plastic mosque alarm clock and the Elvis Presley Dambusters clock plate of Tutankhamun!

Something to look at whilst building your 1/32nd scale model Lancaster - parts enclosed free inside a £4.99 weekly magazine - only 125 issues needed to complete the model!!

[Heathrow Harry]

said magazine normally going bust at edition 52................

[CoffmanStarter]

http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w--/h--/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/12/17/1387289093314/The-Elvis-Presley-Dambust-003.jpg

Good old Viz ...

The most revered artefact ever robbed from a grave - the death mask of Tutankhamun. The greatest singer the world has ever known - Elvis Aaron Presley. The most daring raid of World War II - the flight of the Dambusters. All brought together in a magnificent collectors' clock plate. £49.99 from the Sh1t Things on Tick Mint.

[Ali Barber]

50p piece for £8? Doesn't even include the £3 delivery cost. Where does the other £7.50 go? No mention of any service charity, or any other charity for that matter.

[Lonewolf_50]

I saw "The Battle of Britain" in a cinema at a NAAFI in Germany as a boy. (Over 40 years ago). This was about the time, or just before, the change from the pence and shillings to the decimal sub division of the coins that add up to a pound.

Here's an idea: the Battle of Britain coin ought to be issued as a five shilling coin (sixty old pence), once called a crown. It's not as though anyone would be spending this coin, so why not issue it in a currency contemporary to the time of the event?

Well, they didn't ask me, and I'm on the other side of the pond, butt it seems the better idea.

[BEagle]

The last 5/- 'crown' to be minted was for Charles and Diana's wedding. Therafter commemorative crown coins have had a face value of £5.

In 1969, shortly after the Battle of Britain film (starring a certain actress....) was released, the 50p coin was minted. Commonly referred to as the 'Wilson' because it had two faces and many sides..... It was also thought that the heptagonal shape was so that a suitable spanner could be made, which would make it easier to prise the coin from a Scot's hand....

In 1997 the coin was reduced in size, so that this £8 45th anniversary Elvis Tutankhamun Marilyn Monroe mosque alarm clock coin won't even be the size of the original Wilson, let alone a traditional crown.....

[MAD Boom]

BEagle,

shortly after the Battle of Britain film (starring a certain actress....)

do you mean this one?

Hilda Barry (http://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=27981)

Fine taste old chap......:)

[BEagle]

No, not that one! But I know of several Air Engineers who wouldn't have turned her down....:eek:

[Lonewolf_50]

The last 5/- 'crown' to be minted was for Charles and Diana's wedding. Therafter commemorative crown coins have had a face value of £5 Thanks for that morsel. :ok:
She (https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS4NNysEUcxM8X1pwJpXDSkhyKAspeV2ewtWGBdNZU IFox1PrO9) thanks you as well. :)

[Davef68]

My lad will be pleased, he collects commerorative 50p pieces, but only when he gets them in his change!

[Lima Juliet]

Ok, ok, it's not that long after Christmas! Here you go BEags:

http://i898.photobucket.com/albums/ac186/Number6pb/Miscellaneous%20Actors/battleofbritain_docsc1.jpg

One last question though, how did you get on the set and what did you say to Christopher Plummer? :E

LJ

[ericferret]

I think I would sooner spend on the 200th anniversary £5 coin to commemorate Waterloo.

[NutLoose]

Eric have started a thread for you re the commemorations going on for the anniversary.