New £2 coin celebrates the birth of the modern railway as The Royal Mint releases five new coins next week

Proud Geordies no doubt will be keen to get their hands on a collector's item when The Royal Mint releases five new coins next week, as they include a celebration of our local railway pioneers.

Five new coins will be released by The Royal Mint next week, including one celebrating Geordie railway pioneers.

The British coin-maker creates a commemorative set of coins each year and among the newly-minted additions for 2025 is one with a special link to Newcastle. First images of the new coins, which include the introduction of a £5 coin and new 50p designs, reveal a £2 coin with a design featuring the Locomotion No. 1.

This - the first steam locomotive to pull a passenger-carrying train - was built in the city in 1825 by George Stephenson, who was dubbed 'the father of railways', and his son Robert for the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The S&DR will be celebrating its 200-year anniversary in 2025, with a nine-month programme of events being planned.

And now the new £2 coin will help mark the occasion in style, celebrating the birth of the modern railway. It features in the commemorative set alongside another £2 coin, which features the Royal Observatory in London which next year hits its 350-year milestone, and, as previously reported, a £5 coin designed to celebrate the life and legacy of the Queen Mother.

There are also two 50p coins; one designed to celebrate the 60-year anniversary of the first Red Arrows display and the other to commemorate those who played a vital role in the Second World War. Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at The Royal Mint, said the special selection for 2025 has been "highly anticipated" by collectors.

She added: "Each coin has been meticulously designed and crafted to serve as a permanent reminder of these moments in British history and can be treasured for generations.” The set, with prices starting from £39.50, will be available from January 2 on The Royal Mint website and during the year also will be made available individually.