The first coins of 2025 have been revealed by The Royal Mint, commemorating the Red Arrows, the modern railway and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother

The designs are among five to be released in the New Year, celebrating national milestones and anniversaries.

The first coins of 2025 have been revealed by The Royal Mint, commemorating everything from the Red Arrows to the modern railway and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

The designs are among five to be released in the New Year, celebrating national milestones and anniversaries.

The 2025 Annual Set, which will be available next week, includes new designs for the 50p, £2 coin and £5 coin. Two 50p coins will be released, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the first Red Arrows display, and commemorating those who played a pivotal role of the Second World War.

The £2 coins will celebrate 200 years of the modern railway and the founding of Britain’s first state-funded scientific institution, The Royal Observatory, Greenwich. The £5 coin captures the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, fondly remembered by the British public as a figure of national strength and resilience.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said: “Highly anticipated by collectors, the 2025 Annual Set brings together a special selection of commemorative coins. From celebrating the world-renowned Red Arrows for their precision flying and intricate formations to commemorating the life and legacy of The Queen Mother, 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 2025 commemorative sets will be available in a range of precious metal and base proof finishes, from January 2 via The Royal Mint website, with prices starting from £39.50. Each of the coins will be available individually throughout 2025.

From January 4 visitors to the Royal Mint Experience will have an opportunity to strike their own 2025 dated £2 coin. The £2 coin features flora that symbolise the four nations of the country – a rose for England, a daffodil for Wales, a thistle for Scotland and a shamrock for Northern Ireland.

About the 2025 Annual Set Designs:

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother £5 Coin

Marking 125 years since the birth of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, The Royal Mint has struck a commemorative coin to honour this anniversary. The coin features a reverse design depicting a portrait of The Queen Mother that formed part of the design struck on the coin marking her 80th birthday in 1980.

The 350th Anniversary of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich £2 Coin

Commissioned by King Charles II in 1675, The Royal Observatory was the first state funded, purpose built scientific institution in Britain, dedicated to improving sea navigation and timekeeping. Marking 350 years since its foundation, the £2 coin pays tribute to The Royal Observatory with a reverse design that features the Shepherd Gate Clock, the constellation Ursa Minor, the star Polaris and the Prime Meridian shown on a globe. The coin also includes the edge inscription: "PERFECTING THE ART OF NAVIGATION".

200 Years of the Modern Railway £2 Coin

On September 27 1825, George Stephenson’s steam-powered Locomotion No. 1 transported hundreds of passengers in England for 26 miles between Shildon, Darlington and Stockton, marking the start of a journey that would shape the modern world. Designed by William Webb, the reverse of the commemorative UK £2 coin struck to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway captures that seminal journey in 1825. The coin also features the edge inscription: "ACTIVE · LOCOMOTION NO 1" in tribute to the revolutionary locomotive.

Red Arrows 50p Coin

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, who are more commonly known as the Red Arrows, represent the very best of the Royal Air Force (RAF). 2025 will mark 60 years since the first Red Arrows display with an official commemorative 50p coin depicting the Red Arrows in flight, portraying the speed and agility they are known for. Since their first season in 1965, the Red Arrows have displayed almost 5000 times and in 57 countries. Designed by Nigel Tudman at Tuch Design, the reverse of the coin features three of the Red Arrows’ distinctive BAE Systems Hawk T1 aircraft accompanied by the coloured trails used in the team’s aerial displays.

Stories of the Second World War 50p Coin

The events of the Second World War shaped and influenced modern British society. From the soldiers, sailors and airmen who fought with extraordinary courage to the factory workers who worked tirelessly to produce munitions, all citizens of the United Kingdom and wider Commonwealth played a part in the war effort. The 50p coin depicts the 1939–45 Star, Defence Medal and War Medal. Awarded to millions of people, men and women, for their wartime service, these medals symbolise