New Year, New Commemoratives

The Royal Mint has unveiled the five commemoratives that will appear in its 2025 annual sets. The coins include two 50 pence, a pair of £2 coins, and one £5 coin. They are available for purchase on the Royal Mint’s website.

The first 50-pence coin commemorates the 60th anniversary of the inaugural Red Arrows display. The Red Arrows’ official name is the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, and the group puts on impressive aviation displays across the United Kingdom and beyond. The obverse depicts three planes with smoke trailing behind them and the name of the aerobatic group below. The second 50 pence depicts the 1939-45 Star, the Defence Medal, and the War Medal, which were awarded to service members who fought in World War II. The legend, STORIES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, appears below.

The pair of £2 coins commemorates the establishment of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, in 1675 and the bicentennial of modern railways. The Royal Observatory obverse features a globe set against a star chart and the Shepherd Gate Clock. The observatory’s name appears around the rim. The modern railway commemorative depicts a train with the legend THE JOURNEY THAT CHANGED THE WORLD 1825-2025.

Lastly, the £5 coin honors the late Queen Elizabeth II. The obverse features her portrait between a rose and a thistle, with her initials below. QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER surrounds the design.

The 2025 annual sets are available in a range of precious- and base-metal proof finishes, and prices start at £39.50.