The Royal Mint has unveiled the designs of four new commemorative coins to be launched this year. Based on the sales values of previous issues, these could be attractive investments.

Three of the coins commemorate the centenaries of major events and organisations that have helped shape Britain, including a £2 coin that marks the 100th anniversary of the First World War Armistice – the agreement that ended fighting between the Allies and Germany.

Another £2 coin celebrates the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918, while a third – a 50p piece – will mark 100 years since the passing of the Representation of the People Act, when women over the age of 30 won the right to vote, along with servicemen over 19 and all men over 21.

The fourth coin is a £2 piece featuring the name of Dr Frankenstein’s legendary creature, to celebrate 200 years after the publication of Mary Shelley’s science fiction novel. In creating the Frankenstein "monster", Shelley anticipated the era of genetic engineering and medical transplant surgery by more than a century.