Commemorative coin for a canceled summit

The White House-issued coin commemorating President Donald Trump’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is creating quite a stir in the world of numismatics. The souvenir coin has already been mocked on social media for its less-than-flattering portrayal of the Korean leader (he has been drawn with many chins) and Trump’s square-jawed profile. But what may make it even more special is if the much-anticipated summit, described on the coin as ‘peace talks’, never takes place.

Although the US President does have some room for manoevre since the date on the medallion is ‘2018’ with no day or month engraved. It is currently discounted at the White House gift shop from $24.95 to $19.95 but there was so much interest in it last week that their website crashed. Collectors would definitely be more interested if the backstory behind the coin becomes more curious – and the value of the piece will certainly increase.

Commemorative coin for the royal wedding at $104.95

The other commemorative coin in the news last week comes from the Canadian mint, celebrating the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. On sale for Can$104.95, it features English roses, Canadian maple leaves and the crystals from the bride’s engagement ring.

It has some competition from one released by Britain’s Royal Mint which has issued a £5 silver proof crown for £82.

However, besides being ‘commemorative’ do these coins have any monetary value? Crowns issued by the UK’s Royal Mint to celebrate weddings, national events and jubilees are only worth their face value so Crowns bought before 1990 are worth 25p in today’s money and those bought after 1990 have a face value of £5. Banks however now refuse to cash them. Post Offices are meant to accept them but many do not while the mint claims that while the coins are legal tender they are not designed for spending.

Commemorative coins are really only what they are meant to be – commemorative – unless of course, they celebrate something that never happened or never existed. Like Trump’s summit or, among the latest collections from the UK Royal Mint of an A-Z of ten pences celebrating 26 things that are quintessentially British is the letter ‘L’ for …. the Loch Ness Monster!