The Royal Mint celebrates 100 years of Girlguiding UK

08 Feb 2010

Today, The Royal Mint launches its full Girlguiding UK 50p centenary coin range. It adds dazzling Gold Proof, Silver Proof and Silver Piedfort Proof Coins to the collection, which commemorates 100 years of Girlguiding UK, the largest girl-only organisation in Britain.

The precious metal coins complete The Royal Mint’s 2010 Girlguiding UK 50p centenary coin collection, which also includes a 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Coin and 50p Centenary Coin.

The coins bear the special commemorative design created by Jonathan Evans and Donna Hainan, of design agency Navy Blue. This design features the famous three leaf ‘trefoil’ logo, which is the global symbol of Guiding and signifies the three-fold promise. The coins’ reverse has a circular pattern of six trefoils surrounding a centre trefoil, while the obverse features the portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.

Jonathan Evans, Group Creative Director at Navy Blue said, ‘The logo of the six trefoils symbolises the various stages that girls go through in Girlguiding UK, from the Rainbow Promise Badge to the Trefoil Guild Promise Badge. It represents the journey but also portrays the strength and diversity of the organisation as a whole. The abstract arrangement of the 'marques' gives a real feeling of protection and trust and the six logos linked together appear to hold hands giving a sense of unity.’

Dave Knight, Director of Commemorative Coins at the Royal Mint, said: ‘The launch of the full 2010 Girlguiding UK centenary coin collection is a natural step for the Royal Mint after we launched the Scout’s centenary coin in 2007. Girlguiding UK is now a national community and has a place in the lives of girls everywhere in Britain. We are delighted to create a coin that honours the friendship and support that this community provides its members. Our collection of Girlguiding UK coins is a great chance for us, along with the public, to celebrate this milestone in British history.’

Liz Burnley, Chief Guide of Girlguiding UK, said: ‘The last 100 years has seen Girlguiding UK constantly push boundaries and keep up with the times - so much so that we are an integral part of life for so many girls and young women today. Currently, we have around 550,000 members right across the country and for the Royal Mint to help celebrate our Centenary year with a commemorative 50p coin really is a wonderful tribute to an organisation which has always, and will continue to put the needs of girls first.’

The 2010 Girlguiding UK centenary 50p coins have the wording Elizabeth II – D – G – REG – F – D as well as the year date 2010, on the obverse. The reverse features ‘The Trefoil’ allocated in a circle surrounded by the wording ‘Celebrating one hundred years of Girlguiding UK’ and the denomination ‘50 Pence’.