Ever so slightly more cost effective lower denomination coins, with a new obverse. A hint of the Royal Mint from Poland...
Right, the new (2013-) low denomination coins have been minted by the Royal Mint in Llantrisant. Attached is an enlarged image of the mintmark used on these pieces. The Polish Mint (MW) makes lots of coins itself, including many collector coins for other countries. Then again, coin production also costs money, and the cdntral bank (NBP) apparently got a better deal in Wales ... Christian
The 2013 RM (Royal Mint) coins were not really meant for circulation, just vending and payment machine testing purposes. The pilot samples were 1 000 000 of each denomination. Should be treated as a rarity, if and when found. The 2014 coins are available in both versions, RM and MW. Final mintages are still TBD. The large and more cost effective RM order was supposedly needed to combat the hoarding of these low denomination coins. The order was open to bids and prices were all over the map. Offers varied from single layer to double layer plated steel. -The Royal Mint, 54 035 230 zł, US$ 16 904 498 (single layer) -Mint of Finland, 55 114 130 zł, US$ 17 242 024 (double layer) -Mint of Poland, 61 355 870 zł, US$ 19 194 703 (double layer) -Mint of Poland, 64 999 900 zł, US$ 20 334 709 (single layer) -Royal Canadian Mint, 99 830 000 zł, US$ 31 231 033 (single layer) http://nbp.pl/home.aspx?f=/aktualnosci/wiadomosci_2013/2013_10_31_komunikat.html
UPDATE: (for those interested)... over the past weeks and months, discussions and links on various forums revealed several instances where test samples from the Royal Mint, with 2013 on them, were available for show in pictures and briefly available at auctions. Auctions were pulled and people were questioned as to how they came into possession of these 2013 test samples. The most logical and frequently used explanation was that they got them back in change from vending machines of all types, which were tested with these samples. The original intent was not to have them circulate. I guess they decided otherwise, to eliminate speculation and reduce the number of man hours that would be required to retrieve any 2013 samples that were among the general public. The announcement to release the 2013 test samples into circulation is available on the NBP website... Rough translation... Coming out against the expectations of collectors, NBP informs that starting on Nov. 7th, 2014 it will begin releasing into circulation 1, 2 and 5 groszy coins from 2013, that are brass plated steel (this composition was only produced by the Royal Mint, so far). All interested will be able to acquire the above mentioned coins in the check-outs at the 16 District NBP Branches, only when purchasing collector coins or banknotes (basically you can ask for them as change after purchase, you can't just pop in to ask for change without purchase). http://www.nbp.pl/home.aspx?f=/aktualnosci/wiadomosci_2014/1-2-5-groszy.html Even at a mintage of 1 000 000 for each denomination, it is a nice surprise for collectors. Now they can legally have and keep their Royal Mint issued finds from 2013. Normal mintage figures for these three denominations range from lowest 48 000 000 (for the 5gr coins) to highest 375 000 000 ( for the 1gr coins) per year. In other words, this is a really nice treat. Mintage figures... http://nbp.pl/home.aspx?f=/banknoty_i_monety/monety_obiegowe/naklady_emisji.html
I guess the dropped letter from filled die error fits with these two 2013 Royal Mint surprises. I'm in talks with the owner to acquire the 0 while he plans on keeping the SP. Incuse SP plus other debris. No puncture exposing steel from under the single layer brass plating. Incuse 0 plus other debris. No puncture exposing steel from under the single layer brass plating.
I did get it, it is a neat error. I also have a separate set of the 2013 Royal Mint issue 1gr, 2gr and 5gr. However, none of those are as important and appealing to the collection, as this little guy...
I really don't know why but I really love these coins. There is just something about them. Thanks for sharing.