PHYSICS
UK Put a Black Hole on a 50p Coin to Honour Stephen Hawking, And It Looks Stunning
MIKE MCRAE
13 MAR 2019
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2196247-stephen-hawkings-legacy-will-be-honoured-with-a-new-50p-coin/

QuoteIt's been a year since the renowned and profoundly influential physicist Stephen Hawking passed away, and the Royal Mint has honoured his legacy in the form of a new commemorative 50 pence coin.
If you've ever been concerned that British currency doesn't feature enough astrophysical equations, we have good news. Although the collector's item, sold on the Royal Mint website, won't be released into circulation, the stunning coin displays the formula describing a black hole's entropy.
Rather than featuring a portrait of the scientist himself, the designer went for something far more abstract, and yet something Stephen Hawking, who had a great sense of humour, would hopefully have approved of.
"I wanted to fit a big black hole on the tiny coin and wish he was still here chortling at the thought," engraver Edwina Ellis told the BBC.



Amid swirling lines angled to inspire thoughts of space curving around an event horizon is Hawking's name below the formula S = kc^3 A / 4ℏG.
Not only is it just the thing to remind you of one of the greatest minds in modern science, it's handy just in case you forget how to calculate the thermodynamic entropy of a Schwarzschild black hole of a given mass.
Known as the Bekenstein-Hawking formula – an honour shared with the theoretical physicist Jacob Bekenstein – its derivation was a significant step forward in efforts to make the weird properties of black holes fit with existing laws on energy.

In simple terms, it links the amount of disorder contained by a black hole with a physical feature of the hole itself: its area. Taken further, it means adding material to a black hole makes its surface expand. 
This also implies a way to make black holes less black through the emission of a weird kind of radiation, a finding that Hawking proudly counted as one of his landmark contributions to science.
Even if you don't find yourself needing the Bekenstein-Hawking formula while buying your morning coffee (although we suggest not spending a collector's item to do that), the coin is a beautiful reminder of a man who not only advanced physics, but helped make many mind-blowing aspects of the Universe accessible to the non-expert.
The design certainly has his daughter Lucy's approval.
"It is a great privilege to be featured on a coin and I hope my father would be pleased to be alongside Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin as scientists who have made it on to money," Lucy told the BBC.

Will any dealer sell these in Australia?

Coin commemorating US-North Korea summit goes on sale same day Trump cancels meeting



http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-25/us-north-korea-commemorative-coin-on-sale-after-summit-cancelled/9799292

QuoteA coin commemorating the US-North Korea summit in Singapore has gone on sale at the White House the same day President Donald Trump called off the historic meeting.
The "President Trump United States and Korea Summit" coin was the "deal of the day" at the White House Gift Shop on Thursday.
Its price tag had been slashed from $US24.95 ($34.96) to $US19.95 ($26.35).
Earlier in the day Mr Trump called off the June 12 meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, citing Pyongyang's "open hostility".
The coin, minted by the US military, shows gold-embossed images of Mr Trump and Mr Kim facing each other with a montage of their countries' flags in the background.
Mr Kim's title is designated as "Supreme Leader".

A military detachment called the White House Communications Agency, regularly issues coins when the President travels abroad.

Mr Trump's letter to Mr Kim calling off the meeting, which some described as having a "break-up" tone, coupled with the premature coins, drew a lively response from social media users on Twitter.

QuoteLegal battle brewing over Possum Magic $2 coins

THERE is a legal battle over the new Australian $2 coins, with calls for hundreds of thousands of them to be destroyed.
April 20, 20181:54pm
Ben Graham

COLOURFUL new Australian $2 coins were supposed to be a touching gesture to celebrate the work of beloved children's author Mem Fox — but the fallout has become massive.
The Royal Canadian Mint, which is the official maker of the country's money, has said the commemorative Australian series, which celebrates the classic Mem Fox children's book Possum Magic, ripped off its unique process of painting colour onto metal.
A lawsuit was filed in the Australian Federal Court in December over half a million Remembrance Day $2 coins which featured red poppies. It has now been expanded to include the Possum Magic $2 coins.
The Possum Magic series was launched in August 2017 through Woolworths and featured three $2 coin designs with the colourful artworks designed with "magic dust" rings.
The Canadians are now demanding the Australian mint either destroy the hundreds of thousands of coins now in circulation, surrender its profits or pay damages.

However, the Australian government — which owns the Mint — has filed a countersuit.
It is hoped the government can overrule the patent because it did not involve enough "novelty" over previous methods.
The Mint is basically arguing that its method of colouring coins is different from the Canadian version.
The BBC reports that the Royal Australian Mint has been aware of Canada's claims since 2015, when a representative for the Canadian mint contacted them to try to resolve the issue informally, court documents show.
It is understood two parties even went so far as to meet in person at the World Money Fair in Berlin in 2016, but to no avail.
First published in 1983, the Possum Magic picture book became an iconic Aussie kids' favourite.
When the coins were released in 2017, Fox, 72, said she and the book's illustrator Julie Vivas had to approve each coin, which has been produced by the Royal Australian Mint.


The coins carry a different illustration of Hush, the main character in the book.
"We've had thousands of emails about the coins and my head is nearly blown off with excitement about this," she told News Corp Australia at the time.
"They all look like heaven."
Fox said Possum Magic is so "special" to her that she would never write a sequel to it, or turn it into a series.
"I tried once three years after it was born, but it's so special and it's unique, there's nothing else like it," she said.
"It would have wrecked it. I did try, but it was pathetic. I would have killed it. I slapped myself and didn't do it."
The Royal Australian Mint told SBS: "The Royal Australian Mint is vigorously defending its position and has subsequently filed a counterclaim in the Federal Court."

http://www.news.com.au/finance/markets/australian-dollar/legal-battle-brewing-over-possum-magic-2-coins/news-story/01c5270ab078ee20895bc3759f363a01

I like the clipped coins.. something i am always looking out for.. my father had a clipped 10c when i was a kid.. that he found in change.. he wasnt interested in coins really. But was just one of those odd things you hang onto.

http://www.hobonickels.org/what_is.html

Thanks for the suggestion of a burr, gave me a new search term to try... pre-strike issue with the planchet could be what caused the end result of a crease appearance.

The packaging is the press-fit sort of capsule common with the coins presented on a card.

I dont know AJ, it looks like a blemish... is best i can describe. I might have to try to recreate it on another coin.

The dot seems like corrosion to me at a guess.. but i really don't know. Maybe a tiny drop of something got on the coin. Anyone else find dots like these on their 2c coins?

I have tried googling creases or wrinkles on coins but didn't get anywhere. I'm really not knowledgeable enough of the minting process to guess at whats going on with the crease.

Both images of the same coin for what its worth.

coming from rim... anyone know what causes such an imperfection?

2017-03-22_203754_365 by m m, on Flickr


Some dot imperfection. Dont know what from.
2017-03-22_203410_855 by m m, on Flickr

Quote from: 'kchan1111' pid='106866' dateline='1489841975'My only issue with these coins is the crazy mad scramble to get hold of each one every morning for two weeks. Sometimes they are all gone by 9 am in the morning.

The bit i don't like is being told by the news agent he has none left but might sell me some at the end of the promotion... or constantly commenting on how much they sell on ebay for....      better yet when i have to go to ebay to fill the holes... and receive the coin from a seller who is a news agent lol. The news agents are the winners in this thing. They say they have run out of coins.. when they haven't  run out they have just with held them to sell on ebay etc.

The article does seem to legitamise these coins... seeing as the mint posted it to their facebook page, as previously mentioned in this thread. Even speculates a mintage for this type of coin at 700. So not mint sport?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4307326/Australian-5c-pieces-fetch-thousands-dollars.html

Quote from: dailymailNow there's a 5 CENT coin worth $2000: Collector sells his rare double- headed 'mule' for thousands - and there's another 699 in circulation

    The Australian 5c piece could be worth thousands more than its face value
    A coin collector discovered a 'doubled headed' coin which was minted in 2007
    Steve Treha found the coin after getting change from a Surry Hills coffee shop
    There is less than one thousand of the rare coin in circulation across Australia

Most Australians toss aside the pesky 5c pieces they find tucked into the corners of wallets and stuck in between the couch.

But the tiny coin could be worth upwards of $2000 dollars if it has the rare markings that eagle-eyed collectors are on the lookout for.

Coin collector Steve Treha from Town Hall Coins & Collectables stumbled upon a 2007 5c Double Heads piece when paying for his coffee in Surry Hills.

Mr Treha sold the rare coin - which has the Queen's head showing on both sides - for $1000 and it was then sold again for $2000.

The coin was minted accidentally with the reverse and obverse having the same design, and Mr Treha said only about 600 to 700 pieces like this escaped the mint.

'This coin was struck in 2007 and was first discovered in 2008 in change from a coffee shop on Commonwealth Street near the old Billy Hydes Drum Craft', Mr Treha told Daily Mail Australia.

'The first example sold privately for $1,000 in Uncirculated quality and that same example sold soon after for $2,000. More were discovered a few months later around the Sydney CBD area and the Balmain/Rozelle area.'

Mr Treha said it is likely that the Royal Australian Mint discovered the error shortly after dispatching the coins and they were all sent to the same area in NSW.

He said: 'They have scarcely been found outside of NSW due to natural circulation patterns. Having come across 20 to 30 examples since 2008, I'd estimate a mintage of just under a thousand coins.'

'This is hard to pin down due to the 5c being a neglected coin. The exciting part of that is many people have jars of 5c lying around and it is definitely worthwhile having a check through these.'

Rare 'error' coins like Mr Treha's double head piece can also be found on eBay for hundreds of dollars.

Coin collectors are willing to pay a high price for coins that were damaged in the minting process, with one even selling for $4000.

One coin which was stuck the wrong way during mintage is selling online for $490 and a similar 5c piece is on eBay for $149.

 The $1/10c mule coin, created in 2000, is also worth much more than its face value, with some being sold for more than $2,700 on eBay, according to coin collectors.

The coin must bear the 2000 date and is thicker than usual with a double rim on the Queen's side of the coin because of a mix-up at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra, according to the Australian Coin Collecting Blog.

'The mule was made when a technician at the Mint in Canberra accidentally paired the mob of 'roos dollar reverse with the Queen's head obverse, normally used for the 10 cent piece,' the blog clarified.

Asking prices on eBay range from $980 to $8,500 but the final auction prices for the coin appear to range from $400 to $2,742.

'The value of your rare coin will now depend on the condition after spending 17 years in circulation some coins are more valuable than others,' the Australian Coin Collecting Blog said.

The coin's error was not realised until a year or two after it was released into circulation, and coin collectors claim they picked up on it in 2003.

'The majority of the 2000 $1 / 10 cent Mules were sent to Perth, where in 2003 and 2004 there was a frenzy of 'mule' hunting in the local casino and lots of dollar coins were withdrawn from Perth banks,' collectors said in 2009.

'The 'mule' hunt has slowed in the last few years as the number available in circulation is slowly reduced and diluted around the rest of Australia.'

'But, the mules are still out there to be found by those willing to look.'



Read more: The Australian Coin Collecting Blog

All misleading titles aside... they're really good coins from the 2016 sets.

Good article.

Ill say thanks to the few people ive bought off via ebay who are members here.. Purplepenny, Drake sterling and trout... that i know of anyways... probably more.

And thanks more generally to everyone who puts effort into sharing information here/answering questions.. it really helps.

I have found a small "wrinkle/crease" by the rim on one of my coins.. i only noticed it because there was a weird "dot" on that particular coin. I will get some photos up when i can.

worked okay for me.