First World War Coins

Discover official Royal Mint First World War coins commemorating one of the most important events in modern history. Issued between 2014 and 2018 to mark the centenary of the First World War, the Royal Mint’s landmark five-year commemorative programme honoured the people, battles, sacrifice and historical events that shaped the Great War from outbreak to armistice .

The Royal Mint First World War collection remains one of the most historically significant modern British coin series ever released, combining military history, remembrance themes and exceptional numismatic craftsmanship. The series includes £2 coins, £5 crowns, silver proof coins, gold proof coins, piedfort editions and rare PCGS graded examples.

This category includes official Royal Mint First World War coins celebrating:

• The Outbreak of War
• Lord Kitchener
• The Royal Navy
• Army recruitment
• The Battle of the Somme
• Aviation in WWI
• The Royal Flying Corps
• Tanks and warfare innovation
• The Armistice of 1918
• Remembrance and sacrifice

The Royal Mint First World War Centenary Series

In 2014, The Royal Mint launched a major commemorative programme marking 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. The five-year collection followed the story of the war chronologically from outbreak to remembrance and became one of the most ambitious modern commemorative coin programmes ever issued by the Royal Mint.

The series explored:

• Military service and recruitment
• Naval warfare
• Life on the home front
• Technological advancement
• The human cost of war
• National remembrance

Each release featured specially commissioned artwork from leading coin designers and military artists, helping create a historically important collection that continues to attract strong collector demand.

2014 First World War Outbreak Coins

The first release in the series commemorated the outbreak of war in 1914 and featured the famous image of Lord Kitchener alongside the recruitment slogan:

“Your Country Needs You”

The Kitchener £2 coin quickly became one of the defining modern British commemorative coins of the decade and remains highly sought after in:

• Brilliant Uncirculated format
• Silver proof editions
• Gold proof coins
• Piedfort proof issues
• PCGS PR69 and PR70 graded examples

The 2014 release established the foundation for the entire First World War commemorative programme.

First World War Royal Navy Coins

Released in 2015, the Royal Navy £2 coin commemorated the role of the Royal Navy during the First World War and featured a dramatic battleship design by David Rowlands.

The coin became particularly famous after collectors discovered a rare “flag error” variety on some circulating examples, increasing collector interest in the issue. The Royal Navy coin remains one of the most collected modern £2 coins among UK circulation coin enthusiasts.

Collectors regularly seek:

• Royal Navy silver proof coins
• Gold proof Royal Navy £2 coins
• Flag error circulation coins
• Piedfort editions
• PCGS graded examples

Army Coins

The Royal Mint also issued commemorative releases celebrating Britannia, military recruitment and the role of the British Army during the conflict.

These releases highlighted:

• National unity during wartime
• Britain’s wartime identity
• The experience of soldiers and civilians
• The enormous social impact of the war

Silver proof and gold proof editions from these releases remain highly collectable due to lower mintages and historical significance.

First World War Aviation Coins

The 2017 Aviation £2 coin celebrated the rapid advancement of military aviation during the First World War and honoured the pioneering pilots and aircraft that transformed aerial warfare.

The reverse design features a Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 reconnaissance biplane and became one of the standout releases in the entire centenary collection.

Collectors particularly seek:

• Aviation silver proof coins
• Gold proof Aviation £2 coins
• Brilliant Uncirculated presentation packs
• PCGS PR70 Deep Cameo examples

The aviation release remains especially popular among:

• Military aviation enthusiasts
• RAF collectors
• Modern £2 coin collectors
• First World War historians

First World War Armistice Coins

The final releases in 2018 commemorated the Armistice and the end of the First World War after four years of devastating conflict. These coins honoured remembrance, sacrifice and the legacy of the war on Britain and the wider world.

Armistice coin releases included:

• £2 commemorative coins
• Silver proof editions
• Gold proof coins
• Piedfort silver proofs
• Limited presentation sets

The Armistice coins remain among the most emotional and historically important modern Royal Mint commemoratives issued in recent years.

Gold Proof and Silver Proof First World War Coins

Royal Mint First World War coins were released in a wide range of collector formats including:

• Brilliant Uncirculated coins
• Silver proof coins
• Silver proof piedfort editions
• Gold proof coins
• Kilo silver issues
• Limited edition presentation sets
• PCGS and NGC graded examples

Proof editions were struck using specially prepared dies and polished blanks to create exceptional detail and mirror-like finishes. Many gold proof releases featured extremely limited mintages, increasing long-term collector demand.

PCGS Graded First World War Coins

Professionally graded First World War coins certified by PCGS and NGC are increasingly sought after by collectors seeking premium quality modern Royal Mint issues.

Popular graded examples include:

• PCGS PR69 DCAM coins
• PCGS PR70 DCAM proof coins
• First Strike designated examples
• Registry-quality wartime sets
• Gold proof certified rarities

Perfect PR70 Deep Cameo examples are especially desirable due to their flawless condition and low certified populations among modern commemorative military coins.