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  • The Royal Mint’s Innovation in Science series commemorates John Logie Baird on a 50p coin
  • The design features a graphic representation of Baird’s life and work as ‘The Father of Television’
  • The commemorative 50p coin has been produced in collaboration with his grandson, Iain Baird

The Royal Mint, the Original Maker of UK coins, has released the third coin in its Innovation in Science series - a commemorative 50p coin celebrating the life and work of John Logie Baird.

‘The Father of Television’, Scottish inventor, John Logie Baird changed society and entertainment around the world with the early invention of the electromechanical television.

In honour of television’s founding father, The Royal Mint’s commemorative coin was first unveiled in the 2021 Annual Set. The design, by commissioned artists Osborne Ross, bares a graphic representation of broadcast transmission, with circular shapes emanating a silhouette of the Crystal Palace mast - the site of John Logie Baird’s former television station and transmitter.

The coin also features the milestone moments of one of Britain’s greatest original makers; from his birth in Helensburgh Scotland in 1888, studying electrical engineering at Glasgow’s Royal Technical College in 1926, the first demonstration of analogue television in 1926, the first transatlantic transmission in 1928 and the end of a full and successful life in 1946.   

The design was brought to life with the expertise and innovation techniques gathered across the 1,100-year history of The Royal Mint, where the product design team adopted a skilful ‘scooping’ technique between the lines on the model to create a quality 3D finish. 

Available in limited-edition Gold Proof, Silver Proof, Silver Proof Piedfort, as well as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition, the coins have been created in consultation with Iain Baird, grandson of John Logie Baird, to mark the 75th Anniversary year of his grandfather’s passing.

Speaking on behalf of the Baird family, Iain Baird commented: "The Baird family feels extremely honoured that The Royal Mint has chosen to recognise my grandfather's contributions in this way.  He was involved in both the technology and the progress of television broadcasting and the coin design illustrates his dual role as a pioneer in the scientific world as well as in a brand-new medium of communication."

Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said, “The Life and Work of John Logie Baird is an exciting addition to our popular ‘Innovation in Science’ series, which celebrates the legendary names at the heart of Innovation and Science on a commemorative 50p. The design represents Baird’s accomplishments and the invention of broadcast transmission, which has shaped culture and entertainment as we know it today. It has been a pleasure and privilege to work with the Baird family to commemorate a true British icon and a pioneer of one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the twentieth century.”

The Life and Works of John Logie Baird follows Stephen Hawking and Rosalind Franklin, as part of the Innovation in Science Series. Find out more about the John Logie Baird coin, the Science in Innovation Series and the 2021 Annual Set at www.royalmint.com.

 

Coin title

John Logie Baird 2021 UK 50p Gold Proof Coin              

John Logie Baird 2021 UK 50p Silver Proof Piedfort Coin     

 

John Logie Baird 2021 UK 50p Silver Proof Coin

John Logie Baird 2021 UK 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Coin

Denomination

50p

50p

50p

50p

Issuing Authority

UK

UK

UK

UK

Alloy

916.7 Au - Red

925 Ag Sterling Silver

925 Ag Sterling Silver

Cupro-Nickel

Weight

15.50g

16.00g

8.00g

8.00g

Diameter

27.30mm

27.30mm

27.30mm

27.30mm

Obverse Designer

Jody Clark

Jody Clark

Jody Clark

Jody Clark

Reverse Designer

Osborne Ross

Osborne Ross

Osborne Ross

Osborne Ross

Quality

Proof

Proof

Proof

Brilliant Uncirculated

Maximum Coin Mintage

405

2200

5010

Unlimited

RRP

£1,005.00

£100.00

£57.50

£10.00

 

 

ENDS

 

Media enquiries - The Royal Mint Press Office:

0845 600 5018 (calls cost 5p per minute) or email press.office@royalmint.com www.facebook.com/theroyalmint 

www.twitter.com/royalmintuk 

www.instagram.com/royalmintuk                      

Images

The Royal Mint retains copyright ownership © of all images. These may only be used for editorial purposes and cannot be sold or used for other marketing purposes without the permission of The Royal Mint.

About The Royal Mint

The Royal Mint has an unbroken history of minting British coinage dating back over 1,100 years. Based in the Tower of London for over 500 years, by 1812 The Royal Mint had moved out of the Tower to premises on London’s Tower Hill. In 1967 the building of a new Royal Mint began on its current site in South Wales, UK, to accommodate the minting of UK decimal coinage.

Today, The Royal Mint is the world’s largest export mint, supplying coins to the UK and overseas countries.

The Royal Mint has also diversified into a number of other complementary businesses, building on the values that have been at the heart of the organisation throughout its history - authenticity, security, precious metals, craftsmanship and design:

Precious Metals

Throughout history, The Royal Mint’s name has been synonymous with precious metals and bullion. The organisation trades physical and digital precious metal worldwide and has a global network of distributor partners.

Consumer coin division

The organisation runs a thriving commemorative coin business, gifting, and a collector services division retailing historic coins, an authentication and valuation service and secure storage.

The Royal Mint Experience

The Royal Mint entered the tourism business in 2016 when it opened its popular visitor centre, The Royal Mint Experience, at its home in Llantrisant, South Wales. The attraction welcomes around 100,000 visitors a year.

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