A new series celebrating 100 years of bravery in the skies
In 2018 The Royal Mint unites with the Royal Air Force (RAF) as part of the RAF100 celebrations to mark a century of service. Five official UK £2 coins have been struck for this important anniversary, honouring the bravery of those who have served and celebrating some of the most iconic aircraft in the world. These are the only official UK RAF coins to mark the 100th anniversary and the collection is an official licensed product of the Royal Air Force.
Commemorate. Celebrate. Inspire.
The View from the Cockpit
While commercial flight is accessible to millions, relatively few pilots are able to take to the skies in famous aircraft like those featured on the RAF centenary coins. We worked with pilots to capture their experiences of flying these icons of the air.
Your Memories
Here are some memories that people have already shared…
The packaging that comes with each of the RAF centenary coins has been produced in collaboration with the Royal Air Force. In the accompanying booklets and packaging you can read quotes from pilots who have flown the iconic aircraft.
We’d love to hear more about people’s experiences of flying one of these iconic aircraft, or other stories of the Royal Air Force. Whether you have a memory to share, or a relative who you’d like to remember, you can send us your story by emailing RAF100@royalmint.com
‘High Flight’
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark nor even eagle flew
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
John Gillespie Magee Junior
Icons of the Air
The aircraft that feature in The Royal Mint’s celebratory series were carefully chosen to reflect the past, present and future of the RAF. Here you can discover more about each aircraft and why it was selected for the collection.