The Royal Mint have launched (29th November) the United Kingdom proof set for 2012, which will include no less than 10 coins in the standard set. The year 2012 will be both an historical and significant year for the United Kingdom as the XXX Olympiad will be hosted by London and Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee, only the second English Monarch to reach this auspicious anniversary.
The coin set will include the excellent commemorative £5 crown which marks the Queen’s anniversary. This coin includes two separate portraits of the Queen, the first time that a legal tender coin will portray the reigning Monarch on the obverse and reverse. The obverse portrait captures Her Majesty dressed in formal Garter Robes, with gravitas and stately bearing. The reverse, inspired by the first portrait of The Queen to appear on coins in 1953, features a young monarch classically depicted wearing a laurel wreath with the accompanying Latin words Dirige Deus Gressus Meos – May God Guide My Steps.
The second commemorative coin with a face value of £2 is issued for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. Created by graphic designer, Matthew Dent, (who also created the “puzzle” reverse designs for the UK circulation coins) the coin features a profile of the author created from titles of some of his most famous works and features the edge inscription “Something Will Turn Up”, a phrase spoken by the ever optimistic Mr Micawber in David Copperfield, Dickens’ own favorite story.
The remainder of the set is comprised of the presently circulating 1 penny to £2 series including the coat of arms series circulation coins. There are two options available for the proof coins, a “Collector Proof set” and a “Premium Proof Set”. Included in the premium set is an uncommon crown size medal with a calligraphic design denoting the “2012” set, the first time a medal of this type has been included in a proof set offering this option of presentation. Encased within a handsome walnut –veneer presentation box with its own pair of numismatist gloves and a full-colour booklet detailing information on each coin and with an integral Certificate of Authenticity, attesting to the low worldwide limited edition of 3,500 sets world-wide.
For more information on this and other coins offered by the Royal Mint for 2011 and 2012, please visit their website at: http://www.royalmint.com/store/catalogue/collectable/sets.aspx
I received the above set some weeks back, although I had not ordered or purchased one.
No record of this being sent to me on my (Royal Mint) account.
On contacting customer care, I was repeatedly advised to return a sovereign which I had purchased in November – the only recent item on my account.
The 2012 proof set was accompanied by an exact copy of the despatch note which had come with the sovereign.
I returned the Proof Set by registered post, it arrived there a week back, but no such item has appeared on their computer screen ergo- it doesn’t exist. Their IT doesn’t seem to have reckoned on this eventuality
I seem to be going round in circles with Customer Care, I just want a statement that I had not ordered this set, that I had returned it and a refund of the registered mail postage.
Any contact details of someone further up the food chain in Pontyclun with the authority to deal with this would be welcome!
T Johnson