Collecting Commemorative Coins
  
     Commemorative coins are legal issue coins that are created to bring attention to a person or an event. These types of coins have three different types the first one is the regular issue coinage. These are normal everyday coins that are used for everyday use. Then there are the circulating commemorative coins, these are intended to be used for commerce but because it has a design on it will only be issued for a specific amount of time. Then there is the non circulating commemorative coins, these are coins with a person and or event but cannot be used as legal tender.

Here in the Unite States our Mint has issued hundreds of commemorative coins and in the United Kingdom, the commemorative coins was coin with crown on it or what was more commonly known as a 5 shilling piece. Commemorative coins were created to celebrate a coronation of with the death of a prominent official. When Winston Churchill died they issued him a coin as well. In the 90’s a non circulating coins was issued at being worth 25 pence and the L5 has been non commemorative circulation coins. Other coins such as the 50 pence and are issued as circulating coins.

It is up to the government whether or not a coin can be used as legal tender. Some can be but when you are drawing attention to for example, September 11, 2001, that was issued as a commemorative coin with the World Trade Towers on it and the Mint decided these were collectible and not legal tender. They are fun to collect and try to find the older ones.