Fifty Pence Coin
| First Issued | Smaller version introduced September 1997 (Larger version introduced October 1969, demonetised in 1998) |
| Specifications (Since 1997) | |
| Diameter | 27.3mm |
| Weight | 8.0g |
| Thickness | 1.78mm |
| Composition | Cupro-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel) |
| Obverse Designers | Portrait of Her Majesty the Queen 1985-1997 - Raphael Maklouf 1998-2015 - Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS 2015 to date - Jody Clark |
| Reverse Designers |
See table below |
| Edge | Plain |
Background Information
In October 1969 50p coins joined the 5p (shilling) and 10p (florin) coins in circulation, leaving only the three copper coins - to be introduced on 15 February 1971 - to complete the new series of decimal coins. The design on the reverse of the 50 pence coin features a symbol of Britannia that has appeared on our coinage since 1672. While this design may have been traditional, the shape of the new 50p coin, an equilateral curve heptagon, was revolutionary. This made it easily distinguishable from round coins both by feel and by sight, while its constant breadth allowed it to roll in vending machines.
With the introduction of smaller 5p and 10p coins in 1990 and 1992 respectively, 50p coins became the largest in circulation. In October 1994 the Government announced a further review of the United Kingdom coinage. The results revealed a requirement for a smaller 50 pence coin, which was duly introduced on 1 September 1997.
50p Coin Design
Since its issue, 50p coins have commonly been used to commemorate important events. From as early as 1969, The Royal Mint have regularly issued unique reverse designs on the 50p for events such as the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings, 50th anniversary of the NHS and the 2012 London Olympic Games. A full list of Royal Mint commemorative fifty-pence coins can be found below.
| Coin Image | Year of Issue | Designer Information |
|---|---|---|
 |
1969-1982 | Britannia A figure of Britannia, seated beside a lion, with a shield resting against her right side,holding a trident in her right hand and an olive branch in her left hand, with the figure "50" below and the inscription "NEW PENCE" above Designed by Christopher Ironside |
 |
1982-2008 | Britannia - revised inscription A figure of Britannia, seated beside a lion, with a shield resting against her rightside,holding a trident in her right hand and an olive branch in her left hand, with the figure "50" below and the inscription "FIFTY PENCE" above Designed by Christopher Ironside |
 |
2008 - To date |
A section of the Royal Arms showing elements of the third and fourth quarterings |
 |
1973 |
United Kingdom's accession to the European Economic Community The inscription "50 PENCE" and the date of the year, surrounded by nine hands, symbolising the nine members of the Community, clasping one another in a mutual gesture of trust, assistance and friendship Designed by David Wynne |
 |
1992-93 |
United Kingdom's Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the completion of the Single European Market A representation of a table on which are placed twelve stars, linked by a network of lines to each other and also to twelve chairs around the table, on one of which appear the letters "UK", andwith the dates "1992" and "1993" above and the value "50 PENCE" below Designed by Mary Milner Dickens |
 |
1994 |
50th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings A design representing the Allied invasion force heading for Normandy andfilling the sea and sky, together with the value "50 PENCE" Designed by John Mills |
 |
1998 |
United Kingdom's Presidency of the European Union, and the 25th Anniversary of the United Kingdom's accession to the European Economic Community A celebratoryarrangement of stars with the letters "EU" between theAnniversary dates "1973" and "1998", and the value 50 PENCE below Designed by John Mills |
 |
1998 | 50th Anniversary of the National Health Service A pair of hands set against a pattern of radiating lines with the words "FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY" and the value "50 PENCE",accompanied by the initials "NHS" which appear five times on the outer border Designed by David Cornell |
 |
2000 | 150th Anniversary of the Public Libraries Act The turning pages of a book, the Anniversary dates "1850" and "2000", and the value "50 PENCE", all above a classical library building on which appear the words "PUBLIC LIBRARIES" and,withinthe pediment, representations of compact discs Designed by Mary Milner Dickens |
 |
2003 | 100th Anniversary of the formation of the Women's Social and Political Union The figure of a suffragette chained to railings andholding a banner on which appear the lettersWSPU, to the right a ballot paper marked with a cross and the words GIVE WOMEN THE VOTE, to the left the value 50 PENCE, and below and to thefar right the Anniversary dates 1903 and 2003 Designed by Mary Milner Dickens |
 |
2004 | 50th Anniversary of the first four-minute mile by Roger Bannister The legs of a running athlete with a stylised stopwatch in the background and the value 50 PENCE below Designed by James Butler |
 |
2005 | 250th Anniversary of Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language Entries from the Dictionary for the words FIFTYand PENCE, with the figure50 above, and the inscription JOHNSON'S DICTIONARY 1755 below Designed by Tom Phillips |
 |
2006 | 150th Anniversary of the institution of the Victoria Cross Depiction of the obverse and reverse of a Victoria Cross with the date 29 JAN 1856 in the centre of the reverse of the Cross, the letters VC to the right and the value FIFTY PENCE below Designed by Claire Aldridge |
 |
2006 | 150th Anniversary of the institution of the Victoria Cross Depiction of a soldier carrying a wounded comrade with an outline of the Victoria Cross surrounded by a sunburst effect in the background Designed by Clive Duncan |
 |
2007 | Centenary of the Foundation of the Scouting Movement A fleur-de-lis superimposed over a globe and surrounded by the inscription "BE PREPARED", the dates "1907" and "2007", and the denomination "FIFTY PENCE". Designed by Kerry Jones |
 |
2009 | 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Botanic Gardens A design showing the pagoda encircled by a vine and accompanied by the dates “1759” and “2009”, with the word “KEW” at the base of the pagoda Designed by Christopher Le Brun |
 |
2010 | Celebrating 100 Years of Girlguiding UK Designed by Jonathan Evans and Donna Hainan |
 |
2011 | Celebrating 50 years of the work of WWF Designed by Matthew Dent |
 |
2013 | Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Christopher Ironside Designed by Christopher Ironside |
 |
2013 | The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Benjamin Britten Designed by Tom Phillips CBE RA |
 |
2014 | The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Designed by Alex Loudon with Dan Flashman |
 |
2015 |
75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Designed by Gary Breeze |
 |
2016 |
Team GB Designed by Tim Sharp |
 |
2016 |
Battle of Hastings Designed by John Bergdahl |
 |
2016 |
Beatrix Potter Anniversary Designed by Emma Noble |
 |
2016 |
Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit Designed by Emma Noble |
 |
2016 |
Beatrix Potter Jemima Puddle-Duck Designed by Emma Noble |
 |
2016 |
Beatrix Potter Tiggy-Winkle Designed by Emma Noble |
 |
2016 |
Beatrix Potter Squirrel Nutkin Designed by Emma Noble |
 |
2017 |
Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit Designed by Emma Noble |
 |
2017 |
Beatrix Potter Tom Kitten Designed by Emma Noble |
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2017 |
Beatrix Potter Jeremy Fisher Designed by Emma Noble |
 |
2017 |
Beatrix Potter Benjamin Bunny Designed by Emma Noble |
 |
2017 |
Sir Isaac Newton Celebrating one of the most famous figures ever to hold the role of Master of the Mint, author of the single most influential book on physics ever written Designed by Aaron West |
 |
2018 |
Representation of the People Act Designed by Stephen Taylor |
 |
2018 |
Peter Rabbit Designed by Emma Noble |
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2018 |
Flopsy Bunny Designed by Emma Noble |
 |
2018 |
Mrs Tittlemouse Designed by Emma Noble |
 |
2018 |
The Tailor Of Gloucester Designed by Emma Noble |
 |
2018 |
Paddington at the Station Designed by David Knapton |
 |
2018 |
Paddington at the Palace Designed by David Knapton |
 |
2018 |
The Snowman Designed by Natasha Ratcliffe |
 |
2019 |
The Gruffalo Designed by Magic Light Pictures |
 |
2019 |
Stephen Hawking Designed by Edwina Ellis |
 |
2019 |
Peter Rabbit Designed by Emma Noble |
 |
2019 |
Sherlock Holmes Designed by Stephen Raw |
 |
2019 |
Paddington at the Tower of London Designed by David Knapton |
 |
2019 |
Paddington at St Pauls Cathedral Designed by David Knapton |
 |
2019 |
Fifty Years of the Fifty Pence Designed by Christopher Ironside |
 |
2019 |
Gruffalo and the Mouse Designed by Magic Light Pictures |
 |
2019 |
Wallace & Gromit Designed by Nick Park |
 |
2019 |
Snowman Designed by Snowman Enterprises |
 |
2020 |
Team GB Designed by David Knapton |
 |
2020 |
Withdrawal from the European Union
|
London 2012 50p's
| Coin Image | Year of Issue | Designer Information |
|---|---|---|
 |
2011 |
Aquatics A swimmer submerged in water, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Jonathan Olliffe |
 |
2011 |
Archery A bow being drawn, with the London 2012 Paralympic logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Piotr Powaga |
 |
2009 |
Athletics An athlete clearing a high jump bar, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Florence Jackson |
 |
2011 |
Badminton A shuttlecock and a diagram of badminton actions, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Emma Kelly |
 |
2011 |
Basketball Basketball players against the textured background of a large basketball, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Sarah Payne |
 |
2011 |
Boccia A boccia player in a wheelchair throwing a ball, with the London 2012 Paralympic logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Justin Chung |
 |
2011 |
Boxing A pair of boxing gloves against the background of a boxing ring, with1 the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Shane Abery |
 |
2011 |
Canoeing A figure in a canoe on a slalom course, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Timothy Lees |
 |
2011 |
Cycling A cyclist in a velodrome, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Theo Crutchley-Mack |
 |
2011 |
Equestrian A horse and rider jumping over a fence, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Thomas Babbage |
 |
2011 |
Fencing Two figures fencing, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Ruth Summerfield |
 |
2011 |
Football A diagrammatic explanation of the offside rule in football, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Neil Wolfson |
 |
2011 |
Goalball A goalball player throwing a ball, with the London 2012 Paralympic logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Jonathan Wren |
 |
2011 |
Gymnastics A gymnast with a ribbon, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Jonathan Olliffe |
 |
2011 |
Handball A handball player throwing a ball against the background of a handball court, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Natasha Ratcliffe |
 |
2011 |
Hockey Two hockey players challenging for the ball, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Robert Evans |
 |
2011 |
Judo A judo throw, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. David Cornell |
 |
2011 |
Modern Pentathlon A montage of the five sports which form the modern pentathlon, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Daniel Brittain |
 |
2011 |
Rowing A rowing boat accompanied by a number of words associated with the Olympic movement, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Davey Podmore |
 |
2011 |
Sailing Three sailing boats accompanied by a map of the coast of Weymouth, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Bruce Rushin |
 |
2011 |
Shooting A figure shooting, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Pravin Dewdhory |
 |
2011 |
Table Tennis Two table tennis bats against the background of a table and net, with the London 2012 Paralympic logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Alan Linsdell |
 |
2011 |
Taekwondo Two athletes engaged in Taekwondo, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. David Gibbons |
 |
2011 |
Tennis A tennis net and a tennis ball, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Tracy Baines |
 |
2011 |
Triathlon A montage of the three sports which form the triathlon, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Sarah Harvey |
 |
2011 |
Volleyball Three figures playing beach volleyball, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Daniela Boothman |
 |
2011 |
Weightlifting The outline of a weightlifter starting a lift, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Rob Shakespeare |
 |
2011 |
Wheelchair Rugby A wheelchair rugby player in action, with the London 2012 Paralympic logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Natasha Ratcliffe |
 |
2011 |
Wrestling Two figures wrestling in a stadium, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination, "50 PENCE", below. Roderick Enriquez |