I knew about the Curchill 5 pound and Waterloo 5 pound coins. These were available in late 2014. So I purchased the Waterloo 5 pound and a two coin Churchil set - new 5 pound and older 1965 Churchill 5 pound in it, since these coins never circulate. Also the Churchill 20 for 20 does not circulate. So after ordering and getting these since historically the rest of the coins 1 pound to 1 pence Royal Shield coins, Battle of Britian 50 pence, Magna Carta 2 pound, Royal Navy 2 pound, and Technology 2 pound would show up in circulation.
Then Royal Mint has managed to throw us a curveball this year by changing the portrait in the middle the of year.
The IRB portrait is replaced by an portrait by Jody Clark.
Since we did know what would show up in circulation, I decided to buy coins in sets from the Royal Mint.
The first set released was the Annual Uncirculated Set - when this set was made, the Royal Mint had not announced the JC portrait.
That set has the 1 pence to 1 pound Royal Shield Coins, Technology 2 pound, Battle of Britian 50 pence, Royal Navy 2 pound, Magna Carta 2 pound, Waterloo 5 pound, and Churchill 2 pound coin.
When the new Portrait was announced, they offered a new set called Fifth Circulating Coinage Portrait Set - 1st Edition - this has a 1 pence to 1 pound Royal Shield coins but the switched the technology 2 pound with a new Britannia 2 pound coin. This new Britannia 2 pound will be released in future, making the 2015 Technology 2 pound, the last of that design with the IRB portrait.
The Britannia 2 pound coin, was a nice suprise by the Royal Mint.
Next the Royal Mint stated that the Battle of Britian 50 pence, Royal Navy 2 pound, Magna Carta 2 pound will only have the IRB portrait.
After we thought the mint was done, that announced the Royal Arms 1 pound coin with the Jody Clark portrait.
Of course, we also had the Royal Birth, which meant another