Royal Mint unveils designs for new coins featuring Red Arrows and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother

Collectors are getting an early look at some of the designs that will grace special commemorative coins in two years' time.

The Royal Mint has unveiled the designs for five new coins set to be released in 2025, featuring the Red Arrows and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

Collectors are getting an early look at some of the designs that will grace special commemorative coins in two years’ time. The Royal Mint’s 2025 annual set, which enthusiasts can look forward to next week, presents fresh imagery for the 50p, £2 coin and £5 coin.

Honouring a dual occasion, two 50p pieces will mark the 60th anniversary of the inaugural Red Arrows performance and pay tribute to key figures of the Second World War.

Additionally, two novel £2 coins will observe both the bicentenary of the birth of modern railways and the establishment of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. A celebratory £5 coin aims to encapsulate the life and legacy of the Queen Mother.

Available from January 2 on the Royal Mint website, the 2025 collectable sets will come in various precious metal and base proof finishes, with prices opening at £39.50. Each coin will also be offered for individual purchase throughout the year of 2025.

"Highly anticipated by collectors, the 2025 annual set brings together a special selection of commemorative coins," said Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint.

"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 annual set designs include:

– Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother £5 coin

Marking 125 years since the birth of the Queen Mother, the coin depicts a portrait that formed part of a design marking her 80th birthday in 1980.

– 350th anniversary of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich £2 coin

Commissioned by King Charles II in 1675, the Royal Observatory has been dedicated to improving sea navigation and timekeeping.

The coin’s 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.

The coin’s design celebrates the journey 200 years ago and features the inscription: "Active locomotion No 1."

– Red Arrows 50p coin

Next year will mark 60 years since the first Red Arrows display, with a commemorative coin depicting the Red Arrows in flight, portraying their speed and agility.

The reverse side of the coin showcases three of the Red Arrows' BAE Systems Hawk T1 aircraft, complete with the colourful trails that are a signature of their aerial displays.

The 50p coin, part of the Stories of the Second World War collection, features the 1939-45 star, defence medal and war medal.

These medals, awarded to millions for their service during the war, symbolise the unique experiences of the Second World War, according to the Mint.

From January 4, visitors to the Royal Mint Experience in South Wales will have the chance to strike a £2 coin dated 2025.

This £2 coin is adorned with a rose representing England, a daffodil for Wales, a thistle for Scotland and a shamrock for Northern Ireland.