The Royal Mint Crowns The Coin Collecting Capital Of The UK
- The Royal Mint reveals those in Southampton are the biggest collectors of coins
- Ceramic elephants, thimbles and egg cups were some of the quirky collections revealed by the study
- Over a third (39%) of those surveyed collect because of the joy of finding pieces that hold nostalgia
- The Royal Mint Collect Week 2022, taking place this Autumn is a celebration of coins, medals and all types of collections
The Royal Mint has revealed the hotspots for collecting in the UK, with the largest population (46%) residing in Southampton, whilst 36% of stamp collectors live in Leeds. Cardiff has been revealed as the main hub for those collecting trading cards (28%), and Glasgow named the collecting capital of vinyl records (32%).
Collectors of rare books were also found mostly (24%) in Glasgow, and of all the trainer collectors across the country you’ll find over a fifth (22%) in London. One-fifth (20%) of fine wine collectors reside in the West Midlands, with a quarter of vinyl record collectors surveyed living in the North East. Other collections included ceramic elephants, thimbles, egg cups, China dolls and doves in various forms (other than real!).
On average, coin collectors have been building their collection for over 12 years, with many having started as children as a hobby with grandparents when they were young. Some of those polled began collecting as young as four years old, with others only beginning their collections at the age of 70.
The Royal Mint celebrates collectors of all kinds through their Collect Week Awards, including prizes for ‘The Best Collecting Story’, for entrants with interesting inspirations behind their hobby, the ‘Largest Royal Mint Collection’ for those who want to show off their coin hoard, and a winner will take the crown for ‘The Best Collection’ – the more unique the better.
Kurtis Read won an award at the 2021 Collect Week Awards. He said: “From a very young age I was fascinated by coins, and this interest was recognised by my Great Grandad who encouraged me to collect. His stories about the past, and knowledge of pre-decimal coins, really left an impression on me – and I think this is what inspired me to take up the hobby more seriously. Winning the award last year was a tremendous honour for me and my Great-Grandad, and it’s a great feeling to know that a hobby we share is now something that could spur others to do so too.”
The research, led by The Royal Mint, found that those over the age of 55 were more likely to be collectors of stamps (33%), whilst those between the age of 16 and 24 were most likely to collect video games (42%). Those who collected coins were found to range from age 25 to 34, with over a third starting their collection when they were between 16 and 24 years of age.
When looking at more ‘modern’ styles of collecting, almost a third (31%) of trainer collectors started their collections within the last four years, with the rise of popular apparel brands releasing limited edition shoes. More traditional styles of collecting are often led by sentimental reasons, with over a third (35%) of stamp collectors carrying on the family tradition.
The top motivations for collecting were revealed to be investment (20%), the desire to find unique pieces (31%), and the joy of finding pieces that hold nostalgia (39%). Over a third (40%) of those collecting coins stated their main reason for collecting was through the intrigue of their history, with an equal number (40%) saying the same for stamp collections and the culture they represent. Other reasons for collectors revealed by the study included using the sale of the collection to pay for their funeral and the joy of displaying what they had curated.
The majority (73%) of collectors said they enjoyed finding out the long history of items, with almost two-thirds (65%) saying they even conducted further investigations to find out more about the time around which their coins were made.
Table One: Hotspots for coin collectors in the UK
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Commenting on the findings, Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint said: “Coin collecting is a passion shared by millions of people across the globe and can be a hobby for all ages. There is something special about embarking on coin adventures with family or friends and finding those rare and sought-after coins.
“At The Royal Mint, we often find people who get hooked on collecting as a hobby, but some also turn their passion into an investment opportunity. We’re always looking for ways to help people get into the joy of coin collecting, which is why we are making our hugely popular Collect Week even bigger and better this year.”
As part of The Royal Mint’s Collect Week 2022, the original maker of coins in the UK will be hosting webinars, competitions and quizzes to engage all kinds of collectors, from those new to collecting, right through to the seasoned professionals. For more information, or to enter the awards, please visit Collect Week | The Royal Mint
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NOTES TO EDITOR
About The Royal Mint
With a history spanning more than 1,100 years, The Royal Mint is Britain’s oldest companies and the original maker of UK coins. Today The Royal Mint is a premium British maker, providing carefully crafted coins and precious metal products for the UK and overseas. Based in Llantrisant, South Wales it has three main focuses as a business: Currency, Consumer (collectable and rare, historic coins) and precious metals investment.
Collecting with The Royal Mint:
Every coin tells a story, from a rare gold Sovereign to a Peter Rabbit™ 50p coin. The Royal Mint aims to inspire collectors young and old and nurture a love of collecting through unique designs and popular themes. As the maker of UK coinage, we have unparalleled knowledge about coins, from the historic coins of our past, through to the collectable commemorative coins of today. Sourcing and authenticating pre decimal coins is a natural fit for The Royal Mint as we struck each one.
Investing with The Royal Mint:
As a world authority on precious metals, The Royal Mint has traded and made products in gold and silver for centuries. Since launching its designated precious metals investment arm six years ago, The Royal Mint has grown rapidly to become the home of gold in the UK – increasing its market share and becoming the largest producer of bullion coins in Britain. As well as offering physical precious metal investment options in the form of bars and coins, The Royal Mint also offers a range of digital investment options including DigiGold, Little Treasures, designed for children, and Gold for Pensions
Celebrating with The Royal Mint:
For over a thousand years The Royal Mint has marked the moments that changed the world on coins - from coronations to conflict, from commemorations to celebrations. The designs are captured on commemorative coins, minted in a range of metals. Commemorative coins do not always enter circulation but give collectors the chance to purchase coins to keep and cherish. Recent themes have included David Bowie, Winnie the Pooh, Decimalisation and Team GB. Each commemorative coin is carefully struck up to three times in order to create a superbly detailed finish and ensuring each one meets the standards The Royal Mint is famous for.
The Royal Mint Experience
The Royal Mint opened its popular visitor centre, The Royal Mint Experience, at its home in Llantrisant, South Wales in 2016. The award-winning attraction welcomes around 200,000 visitors a year and is the place to explore the 1,100-year history of coins.