• The Royal Mint has today released a collectable 50p celebrating the National Health Services 75^th anniversary.
• The Royal Mint will donate 100% of the net proceeds to NHS Charities Together, with an estimated total donation of £225,000 expected to be made.
• The NHS 50p coin forms part of The Royal Mint’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the most influential individuals, organisations, and institutions in Britain.

1^st June: The Royal Mint has today announced that all net proceeds* from the sale of the individual collectable 50p celebrating the NHS 75^th anniversary, will be donated to NHS Charities Together, an organisation that provides incredible support to NHS staff, patients, and communities. The Royal Mint has estimated this figure could amount up to £225,000.

NHS Charities Together is the national charity caring for the NHS, which provides extra support to help the NHS go further. Working with over 230 NHS charities throughout the United Kingdom, it ensures that funds raised are directed to where they are needed the most, from providing counselling support and training for staff, to investing in specialist medical equipment and improving care for patients and communities,

The latest collectable 50p, which celebrates the National Health Service’s 75^th anniversary, was designed by Alice Lediard, a Senior Designer at The Royal Mint and was one of the first 50p’s to feature King Charles on the obverse (heads) side of the coin when it was first revealed in The Royal Mint’s Annual Sets in January. This is the first time the coin is available as an individual coin for sale, and not as part of the set. 

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services said, “The Royal Mint is delighted to announce that all net proceeds generated from the sale of the individual NHS 50p coin will be donated to NHS Charities Together, to help support and continue the incredible work they do daily. The Royal Mint is committed to producing products that celebrate and commemorate Britain’s most influential individuals, organisations, and institutions and the NHS has played a pivotal role in British society, supporting millions of people every day. As one of Britain’s most respected and admired institutions, all of us at The Royal Mint have such appreciation for the work and difference that both past and present NHS employees have and continue to make. It is a privilege to be involved in celebrating and marking the NHS’ 75^th anniversary with an official UK 50p coin.”

Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive said "We are delighted that The Royal Mint has launched this new coin to celebrate our 75^th birthday and recognise the incredible hard work and dedication of our staff, as we mark 75 years of caring for our communities and of the special role that the NHS continues to hold for the public. After some of the most challenging years in our history, from managing the pandemic response to rolling out our world-leading vaccination programme and now pulling out all the stops to recover services, it is important that we celebrate the achievements of our incredible staff and volunteers and look ahead to the future and the next 75 years of the NHS.” 

Ellie Orton OBE, Chief Executive of NHS Charities Together said, “NHS charities have been supporting the NHS throughout its 75 years, and the help we provide has never been more important. We are here for everyone who wants to give something back to the NHS and we are so grateful to the Royal Mint for donating the proceeds of this new coin to our charity. Together we can help the NHS go further for its staff and patients and ensure everyone can access the best healthcare possible.”

The Royal Mint has celebrated previous milestones in the NHS’ history on official UK coins over the past few decades, with a 50p introduced in 1998 to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the NHS. In 2020, along with hundreds of other organisations, The Royal Mint pledged to support the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic by manufacturing 1.9 million medical visors for NHS staff.

Designed by Alice Lediard, a Senior Designer at The Royal Mint, the reverse design incorporates words that reflect the nation’s gratitude towards the NHS and its incredible staff, such as ‘Dedication’, ‘Support’ and ‘Empathy’. The design also centres around the words ‘National Health Service’ using a similar, angled font to the one used by the NHS and features the numbers ’75’ in a special nod to the anniversary.

 

Alice Lediard comments on her design, “It is an honour to have my design selected to appear on a 50p coin celebrating the NHS’ 75^th anniversary. Like most of the nation, I have a deep-rooted pride and appreciation for the NHS. Both my partner and closest friends are NHS workers and worked on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic. The beating heart of the NHS is the staff who work for it, so I wanted to make sure the words encompassed everyone, presented a positive outlook, and summed up decades of healthcare provision to the British public in a personal way that everyone could associate with.”

Launched on 5 July 1948, by Aneurin Bevan, the Health Secretary at the time, it was the first health service in the Western world to provide care based on need and free at the point of use to anyone who requires it. Since then, the NHS has become part of British society, providing support to millions of people in the United Kingdom every day.

The 50p coin celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the NHS is available to buy via The Royal Mint’s website, with the price starting at £11.

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*The Royal Mint will donate 100% of the net proceeds to NHS Charities Together, with an estimated total donation of £225,000 expected to be made.