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Tuesday 3 September 2019

1075) Royal Air Force (RAF), U.K. Centenary (1918-2018): i) A set of four coins issued by the Royal Mint UK, depicting four iconic aircraft which have been inducted in the RAF at various points of time - Supermarine Spitfire, Vulcan, Sea King & Lightning II: Coin set issued on 17.09.2018; ii) Postage Stamps on Lightning F6, Hurricane 17KI, Vulcan B2, Typhoon FGR4, Sopwith Camel F1 and Nimrod MR2 was issued on 20.03.2018:

1075) Royal Air Force (RAF), U.K.  Centenary (1918-2018): i) A set of four coins issued by the Royal Mint UK, depicting four iconic aircraft which have been inducted in the RAF at various points of time - Supermarine Spitfire, Vulcan, Sea King & Lightning II: Coin set issued on 17.09.2018; 
ii) Postage Stamps on Lightning F6, Hurricane 17KI, Vulcan B2, Typhoon FGR4, Sopwith Camel F1 and Nimrod MR2 was issued on 20.03.2018:

The above Information Sheet gives a brief history of the Royal Air Force, UK. The sheet  title reads "THE CREATION OF RAF's HISTORY": The description reads:

"Almost from the beginning, the First World War was bogged down in trench warfare. The fighting, particularly in France and Belgium, was a frustrating and demoralising experience.

In contrast to the claustrophobic world of the trenches, the war in the air - utilising the relatively recent invention of the aeroplane - appeared to be fast, forward-looking and populated by individual heroes.

The men who fought in the Royal Flying corps and the Royal Naval Air Service, and then from 01.04.1918 in the new, combined Royal air Force, were perceived as both brave and modern: they fought in personal, face-to-face combat and tamed machines, such as the Sopwith Camel and the Royal Aircraft Factory SE5.

After the war, under the powerful guidance of its founding father, Marshal of the Royal Air Force - Lord Trenchard, Britain's newly independent air service quickly laid down the principles that became its hallmark.

The RAF was driven by innovation and technology and its machines were part of the modern era. It recognised the skills of those who were needed to keep its aircraft flying, as much as, the men who took them into the air: aircraftsmen and pilots jointly created a distinctive "Air Force spirit" that set them apart.

Flying was glamorous and still invested with an air of danger and risk. In the 1920s and 1930s, new aircraft with evocative, energetic names pushed the boundaries. Biplanes such as the Hawker Fury and the Gloster Gladiator gave way to monoplanes - including the Hawker Hurricane and the Supermarine Spitfire. These interceptor, fighter aircraft were matched by light bombers, such as the Fairey Battle and the Bristol Blenheim. If war returned, airpower offered both the means to defend and to take the fight to the enemy.

The investment in the RAF and UK's air defences paid off following the outbreak of the Second World War. Facing a concerted German air assault in 1940, the RAF became the nation's first line of defence in the Battle of Britain and the Blitz, with fighter pilots displaying amazing bravery. 

As the war continued, the RAF took the offensive. Every night, the crews of RAF heavy bombers - such as the Handley Page Hallifax and the Avro Lancaster, would gather their courage and fly through the anti-aircraft guns and night fighters to strike at the German heartland. These were in many ways two very different wars, but both reflected perfectly the nature of the RAF.

By the 1950s, piston-engine aircraft were being replaced by jets. Although a new wave of jet fighters kept the RAF at the cutting edge of warfare, during the Cold War it was its bombers that once again formed the country's forward defence.

For almost 15 years from early 1955, the Vickers Valiant, the Avro Vulcan and the Handley Page Victor carried the UK's arsenal of nuclear bombs.

Decade by decade, the RAF has reshaped itself, refining its role in line with changing technology and the needs of Britain's defence. Successive generations of iconic aircraft have captured the imagination of the public. 

Although still relatively young, the RAF has a proud and fascinating history. This history is being preserved at the Royal Air force Museum, a national museum with sites at former air bases at Hendon in North London and at Cosford in Shropshire. Historic aircraft can also be seen elsewhere, including at the Imperial War Museums in London and at Duxford, near Cambridge, at Scotland's National Museum of Flight, outside Edinburgh, and in privately owned collections, such as the internationally respected Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire.

Many aircraft still fly in displays and air shows, attracting huge crowds. The fact that so many people spend so much of their time enjoying and learning about the Royal Air Force and its history isa testament to how deeply respected and admired the RAF is today".


This Information Card is titled "THE RAF CENTENARY" and shows the Latin MOTTO "PER ARDUA AD ASTRA" meaning - "THROUGH ADVERSITY TO THE STARS" and shows the years of the RAF Centenary "1918-2018".


The description at right reads -

"Since its founding on 1 April 1918, at one of the most critical moments of the First World war, the Royal Air Force has stood for courage and determination, modernity and speed and an egalitarian approach that promotes talent and skill.

In war and peace, it has used a wide range of iconic aircraft, from the Sopwith Camel through the Spitfire to the Lightning II, to protect and defend the country. From the trenches of France to the skies of Southern Britain, from stormy seas to boundless heavens, it quickly established itself as a dynamic branch of the armed forces, alongside the longer-standing Royal Navy and the British Army.

Creating new cultural icons, such as its distinctive Air Force Blue uniforms and the red, white and blue roundel, the RAF has gained a special place in the nation's consciousness".

At left are seen images of four iconic aircraft which have served the RAF through the ages -

SEA KING: Medium-lift Search and Rescue helicopter

SPITFIRE: High-performance fighter aircraft

VULCAN: Medium Range strategic bomber

LIGHTNING II: Stealth multirole fighter

Towards the bottom of this Information Card is seen representations of these four aircraft one each on 2 Pound Coins (4 in number).

The Reverses of the four 2 Pounds Coins included in this set show the images of the four aircraft - Spitfire, Vulcan, Sea King and Lightning II in their design and the aircraft names at the lower/left periphery or vice versa. On the upper periphery is inscribed "RAF 1918-2018"

This Information Card also describes the functionalities of four aircraft used by the RAF at various points of time:

SPITFIRE (High Performance fighter aircraft):

"The Supermarine Spitfire is probably the RAF's most iconic aircraft, with its elegant but innovative outline, the distinctive sound of its Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and the association with victory against the odds.

It entered service in August 1938 at RAF Duxford, but production was initially slow. By summer 1940, the Spitfire was still outnumbered by the Hawker Hurricane, but it eclipsed the Hurricane in the popular imagination and became the symbol of the Battle of Britain.

Over 50 planes remain airworthy and are often the highlight of air-shows. Many Spitfires are on display across Britain, including at the RAF Museum in Cosford, where the oldest surviving example from 1930 can be seen".

VULCAN (Medium-range strategic bomber): 

"Britain's V bombers took the RAF into the modern age. Not only were they jets, they also carried the country's nuclear deterrent.

The Avro Vulcan remains one of the RAF's most distinctively shaped aircraft. Named after the Roman god of fire and destruction, it was designed as a giant wing incorporating four engines.

It served from 1956 until 1984, but its only combat action was as a conventional bomber during the Falklands conflict in 1982.

The RAF Vulcan Display Flight, popular at air shows because of its size and appearance, remained in operation until 1992, but they can be seen at Scotland's National Museum of Flight, the RAF Museums in Hendon and Cosford and several regional museums".

SEA KING (Medium-lift Search and Rescue helicopter):

"The RAF's distinctive yellow Search and Rescue helicopters have thrown lifelines to thousands of people at sea or lost in the mountains. The solid, reassuring profile of the Westland Sea King exudes strength and confidence and offers hope that all will now be well.

Adapted from the American Sikorsky S-61, the Sea King was first intended for use against submarines and has been in RAF service for 40 years. It uses sophisticated electronics to locate those in trouble, and its winch can lift the injured or shocked to safety in the most challenging conditions.

From bases in Cornwall, Wales and Scotland, the RAF's Sea Kings protect the UK's coastline 24 hours a day".

LIGHTNING II (Stealth multirole fighter):

"The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is the modern-day equivalent of the SE5 and Spitfire. A single-seater fighter packed with the latest technology and armaments, it can fly at 1.6 times the speed of sound and evade detection through its stealth profile.

Named Lightning II after the RAF's first supersonic jet fighter of the 1960s, the F-35 entered service in 2018 with the famous 617 'Dambusters' Squadron. With its Short Take Off and Vertical Landing ability, the Lightning II can fly in, come to a mid-air halt and land vertically through downward thrust of its engines.

It is a dynamic, contemporary aircraft that carries the history of the RAF forward into the 21st century".
The Obverses of the four 2 Pound coins included in this Coin Set are seen on this Information Card.

On the outer periphery of each coin is inscribed: "ELIZABETH II. D.G. REG. F.D. 2 POUNDS". 

This Information Card, inter alia, details the Coin Specification of the 4 coins included in this set:

Denomination: 2 Pounds; Diameter/Size: 28.3 mm; Weight: 12.0 grams; Metal Composition/Alloy: Cupro-nickel; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated; Edge Inscription: "PER ARDUA AD ASTRA"; Coin Cover (Limited Edition): 12,000 copies; Obverse designer: Jody Clark; Reverse Designer: Rhys Morgan; Coin Design: The Royal Mint, UK; Year of issue: 2018.

ii) Stamp issues: In addition to the above 4 coins, six stamps were also issued independently on 20.03.2018 by the Royal Mail Group. A Special Limited edition Cover of 12,000 copies having both the Stamps and Coins was issued on 17.09.2018:

The Front of the First Day Cover (FDC) shows six Cancelled Stamps included in the Set featuring - Lightning F6 (1st local), Hurricane 17KI (1st local), Vulcan B2 (1.40 pounds), Typhoon FGR4 (1.40 pounds), Sopwith Camel F1 (1.57 pounds) and Nimrod MR2 (1.57 pounds).

The Cancellation Handstamp/postmark is inscribed "THE RAF CENTENARY" and is postmarked "COSFORD, SHIFNAL. The Cancellation date is 17.09.2018".

The Reverses of the four coins included in the set are seen on the Front of this Special Cover.
The Back of the Special Postal Cover includes images of the aircraft included on the coins - Spitfire, Vulcan, Sea King and Lightning II.

The Obverses of the four coins included in this set can be seen on this face of the Cover.




(The above Coin & Stamp Set celebrating the RAF Centenary -1918-2018, is from the collection of Jayant Biswas, who has scanned and sent me the images for  putting up a post)






Links to some other interesting posts from the British Isles and British Overseas Territories/Dependencies:
Central Bank of Ireland issues:
1) Jonathan Swift: 350th Birth Anniversary 15 Euro Silver Proof coin features his most famous work "Gulliver's Travels" : Coin issued on 30.11.2017

2) Ireland: Women's right to Vote - 100th Year Anniversary : A Silver 15 Euro Proof Collector Coin issued by the Central Bank of Ireland on 27.11.2018

3) Irish Myths & Legends: 1) The Children of Lir;2) Cu Chulain; 3) The Omniscient Salmon of Knowledge; 4) Werewolves of Ossory; 5) The Brown Bull of Cooley and Deirdre of the Sorrows: An Annual Mint Set from the Central Bank of Ireland, recreates/celebrates Irish Folk Tales (Issue date: 30.04.2018)

 4) Centenary of the "First Trans-Atlantic Aviation", Ireland: A 15 Euro Silver Proof Coin issued by the central Bank of Ireland and minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Coin issue date: 10.07.2019

Northern Ireland Bank issues:

1) Northern Ireland Polymer Bank Issues: Danske Bank (10 Pounds Polymer Banknotes), Bank of Ireland (5 & 10 Pound Polymer Banknotes) to go into circulation in 2020/21

6) Jane Austen: features on the second circulating Polymer Banknote of 10 Pounds denomination to be released on 14.09.2017

Inspirations from Scottish History (Clydesdale Bank Banknotes): 

1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes
  
2) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote

Banknotes from Bank of Scotland:


British Crown Dependencies:

1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey

2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey

3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey

4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain

5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
  
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015

7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend

8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie

9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda

10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence 

11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003 

12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint

13) Currency of the Falkland Islands: A British Overseas Territory (BOT) Pounds & Pence

14) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The first Coin in the Series of four coins: the Rock-Hopper Penguin 

15) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The Gentoo Penguin:Second Coin in the series of four coins issued on 20.06.2017 

19) The Isle of Man: A British Crown Dependency (BCD) Coinage: A newly introduced Collector's circulation Currency Coinage Collector's set received from the Tower Mint, London, UK issued in April 2017

20) Pegasus: British Virgin Islands: A gold Bullion Coin of $100 issued by Pobjoy Mint on belalf of British Virgin Islands in July 2018

21) "The Hydra": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High Relief Coin with Antique Finish: Third Coin in the Series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of BIOT on 07.08.2018

22) "Medusa The Gorgon": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High relief Coin with antique Finish: Fourth Coin in the series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint UK on behalf of BIOT in 09/2018

25) South Atlantic Fauna Coins from Ascension Island and South Georgia and Sandwich Islands, British Overseas Territories (BOT): (Part II): A 1 Pound Titanium Coin & a 1 Pound Uncirculated Coin variant, feature the Queen Triggerfish, issued on behalf of Ascension Island (2019) minted by the Pobjoy Mint, UK

26) Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic Explorer: South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands: A 2 Pounds Coin minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK, brought out on 26.02.2019 on behalf of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands in two variants - Silver and Cupro-nickel

27) Concorde, a Stamp set from Gibraltar, A British Overseas Territory (BOT): 50th Anniversary of the first Supersonic Passenger Carrying Airplane, jointly built by France and Great Britain: Stamp set issue date: 20.04.2019

28) Tristan da Cunha (BOT): A Wedgwood "Three Graces" Jasperware 5 Pound Coin: minted in 2018

29) 75th Anniversary of D-Day Landings: (The Battle of Normandy): i) A Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau Stamp set of 4 stamps issued on 08.03.2019: ii) A Limited edition D-Day joint Commemorative issue by British Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territory - Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man and Gibraltar on 06.06.2019

30) Manannan, the First King of Isle of Man or Mann: A Silver 5 Pounds Coin brought out by the Isle of Man in collaboration with Coin Invest Trust (CIT) and minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich

31) 200th Anniversary of John Keats' "Odes to a ....", Alderney Island: A set of six Postage stamps issued by Guernsey Post which brings out stamps on behalf of Alderney Island - 1) Ode on a Grecian Urn,(48p) 2) Ode on Indolence (65p), 3) Ode on Melancholy (66p), 4) Ode to a Nightingale (80p), 5) Ode to Psyche (90p), 6) Ode to Autumn (98 p): Stamp Set issue date: 24.07.2019

32) Isle of Mann: Celebrating the 200th Birth Anniversary of the Birth of Herman Melville, the author of the classic Moby Dick: A six Stamp Set issued on 22.07.2019



Famous Battles: 
1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK) 
2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK

3) Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by issuing a 50 Pence coin by the Royal Mint UK

Gold Coins:
  
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013 & 2014 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark

2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark 

Silver Coins:

1) A 20 Pound Silver coin minted for the first timr by the royal Mint UK: reverse design carries the famous St. George slaying the dragon design found on Gold Sovereigns 

British India Coinage:

 1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835

2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress

3) Edward VII: King & Emperor  Coinage

4) George V King Emperor Coinage

5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage 

Other British Royalty: 

1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK

2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown

3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK

4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013

5) The British Empire:  A Case of Numismatic "Segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)

6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark

 British Coinage:

1) The contribution of the Great British One-Pound coins in keeping alive the historical legends/emblems/heritage of the UK (1983 onwards)

2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin

4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone


 Commemorative British Coinage:

 1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era

 2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK

3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)

4) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel 

5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his " Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK 

Links: Postage Stamps: 


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