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In the United Kingdom commemorative coins featuring unique designs are issued by the Royal Mint for special occasions and are often released into general circulation alongside standard issue versions. In terms of appearance; apart from commercial coins which can be different in shape and metals, commemorative coins differ only by their reverse design which relates to the event being commemorated. Examples of such events include Royal weddings, coronations, anniversaries and important national events. Similar to standard issue coins, commemorative coins remain legal tender at their face value however are frequently priced higher due to their collectability and numismatic worth. All coins in the United Kingdom are regulated under the Coinage Act 1971 which among other things allows the Sovereign to determine each coin's design and denomination via Royal proclamation.

In contrast to other European countries which had been issuing commemorative coins for many years prior, the United Kingdom first issued its own in 1935 in celebration King George V's Silver Jubilee. It featured an Art Deco rendition of Saint George and the Dragon in its reverse. In the subsequent years prior to decimalisation four more commemorative coin were issued; one each for for George VI and Elizabeth II's coronations, one celebrating the British Exhibition in New York and a coin marking the death of Sir Winston Churchill.

Circulating Commemorative Coins
circulates alongside standard business strike coins.

Ten Pence
In 2019 the Royal Mint struck its first ever commemorative Ten pence coins consisting of a series of 26 pieces celebrating British culture. The entire series was designed by mint engraver Jody Clark and released into general circulation in March of that year. Due to their popularity the mint announced an additional 2.1 million would be produced the next year.

• A - Angel of the North

• B - James Bond

• C - Cricket

• D - Double-decker bus

• E - English breakfast

• F - Fish and chips

• G - Greenwich Mean Time

• H - Houses of Parliament

• I - Ice cream

• J - Jubilee

• K - King Arthur

• L - Loch Ness

• M - Mackintosh

• N - NHS

• O - Oak tree

• P - Postbox

• Q - Queuing

• R - Robin

• S - Stonehenge

• T - Tea

• U - Union Flag

• V - Village

• W - World Wide Web

• X - X marks the spot

• Y - Yeoman

• Z - Zebra

One Pound
Despite variation in design

are not commemorative and instead follow common themes, which represent icons form the Home Nations

Two Pounds
Blah blah blah

Non-circulating Commemorative Coins
As a distinct category non-circulating commemorative coins are not designed to enter general circulation and are instead minted specifically as collectibles or to be sold as memorabilia for certain special events. Termed by the Royal Mint as "Consumer Coins", they are similar to circulation coins in that they retain their face value as legal tender, however in practice aren't generally accepted as a medium of exchange. Visually these consumer coins can appear very different from those in circulation in terms of their dimensions, metal content and overall quality. For example a Sovereign; which contains 7.98g of 22 Caret Gold still has a face value equal to £1 despite having a greater intrinsic value. Coins such as these can also be of higher denominations not found in circulation with coin of 20, 50, 100 and even 1,000 pounds having been released.

One Hundred Pounds
In 2015 the Royal Mint produced the first £100 coin

One Thousand Pounds
In celebration of the 2012 Olympic Games the Royal Mint produced a 1kg gold coin with the face value of £1,000.