50p Coin Designs and Specifications

A Revolutionary Design

The design on the reverse of the 50p 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 into vending machines.

Introduction of a Smaller 50p Coin

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 50p coin, which was duly introduced on 1 September 1997. The larger sized coin which was first introduced in 1969 was demonetised in 1998.

Current 50p Coin Specifications

Diamete: 27.3mm / Weight: 8.0g / Thickness: 1.78mm
Composition - Cupro-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel)
Obverse designers:
1985 - 1997 - Raphael Maklouf
1998 - 2015 - Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
2015 - 2022 - Jody Clark
2022 - date - Martin Jennings

Coin Image	Year of Issue	Design 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 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 FIFTY PENCE above. Designed by: Christopher Ironside
	2008 - 2023	The Royal Arms A section of the Royal Arms, showing elements of the third and fourth quarterings. Designed by: Matthew Dent
	1973	The 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. Shop now Designed by: David Wynne
	1992-93	The United Kingdom's Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Completion of the European Single 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, and with the dates 1992 and 1993 above and the value 50 PENCE below. Designed by: Mary Milner Dickens
	1994	The 50th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings A design representing the Allied invasion force heading for Normandy and filling the sea and sky, together with the value 50 PENCE. Shop now Designed by: John Mills
	1998	The United Kingdom's Presidency of the European Union, and the 25th Anniversary of the United Kingdom's Accession to the European Economic Community A celebratory arrangement of stars, with the letters EU between the anniversary dates 1973 and 1998, and the value 50 PENCE below. Shop now Designed by: John Mills
	1998	The 50th Anniversary of the Creation 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. Shop now Designed by: David Cornell
	2000	The 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, within the pediment, representations of compact discs. Shop now Designed by: Mary Milner Dickens
	2003	The 100th Anniversary of the Formation of the Women's Social and Political Union The figure of a suffragette, chained to railings and holding a banner on which appear the letters WSPU, 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 the far right the anniversary dates 1903 and 2003. Shop now Designed by: Mary Milner Dickens
	2004	The 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. Shop now Designed by: James Butler
	2005	The 250th Anniversary of Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language Entries from the Dictionary for the words FIFTY and PENCE, with the figure 50 above, and the inscription JOHNSON'S DICTIONARY 1755 below. Shop now Designed by: Tom Phillips
	2006	The 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. Shop now Designed by: Claire Aldridge
	2006	The 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. Shop now Designed by: Clive Duncan
	2007	The 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. Shop now Designed by: Kerry Jones
	2009	The 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 Shop now Designed by: Jonathan Evans and Donna Hainan
	2011	Celebrating 50 Years of the Work of WWF Shop now Designed by: Matthew Dent
	2013	The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Christopher Ironside Shop now Designed by: Christopher Ironside
	2013	The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Benjamin Britten Shop now Designed by: Tom Phillips CBE RA
	2014	The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Shop now Designed by: Alex Loudon with Dan Flashman
	2015	The 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Shop now Designed by: Gary Breeze
	2016	Team GB 2016 Shop now Designed by: Tim Sharp
	2016	Millennial Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings Shop now Designed by: John Bergdahl
	2016	The 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Beatrix Potter Designed by: Emma Noble
	2016	Beatrix Potter - Peter Rabbit 2016 Designed by: Emma Noble
	2016	Beatrix Potter - Jemima Puddle-Duck Designed by: Emma Noble
	2016	Beatrix Potter - Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle Designed by: Emma Noble
	2016	Beatrix Potter - Squirrel Nutkin Designed by: Emma Noble
	2017	Beatrix Potter - The Tale of Peter Rabbit Designed by: Emma Noble
	2017	Beatrix Potter - Tom Kitten Designed by: Emma Noble
	2017	Beatrix Potter - Mr. Jeremy Fisher Designed by: Emma Noble
	2017	Beatrix Potter - Benjamin Bunny Designed by: Emma Noble
	2017	Innovations in Science - Sir Isaac Newton Celebrating one of the most famous figures ever to hold the role of Master of the Mint and author of the single most influential book on Physics ever written. Designed by: Aaron West
	2018	The 100th Anniversary of the Passing of the Representation of the People Act 1918 Designed by: Stephen Taylor
	2018	Beatrix Potter - Peter Rabbit 2018 Designed by: Emma Noble
	2018	Beatrix Potter - Flopsy Bunny Designed by: Emma Noble
	2018	Beatrix Potter - Mrs. Tittlemouse Designed by: Emma Noble
	2018	Beatrix Potter - 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 2018 Designed by: Natasha Ratcliffe
	2019	The Gruffalo Designed by: Magic Light Pictures
	2019	Innovations in Science - Stephen Hawking Designed by: Edwina Ellis
	2019	Beatrix Potter - Peter Rabbit 2019 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. Paul's 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	The Snowman 2019 Designed by: Snowman Enterprises
	2020	Team GB 2020 Designed by: David Knapton
	2020	Withdrawal from the European Union Designed by: The Royal Mint Engraving Team
	2020	Beatrix Potter - Peter Rabbit 2020 Designed by: Emma Noble
	2020	The Dinosauria Collection - Megalosaurus Designed by: Robert Nicholls
	2020	The Dinosauria Collection - Iguanodon Designed by: Robert Nicholls
	2020	The Dinosauria Collection - Hylaeosaurus Designed by: Robert Nicholls
	2020	Innovations in Science - Rosalind Franklin Designed by: David Knapton
	2020	Winnie the Pooh Designed by: Disney
	2020	Christopher Robin Designed by: Disney
	2020	Piglet Designed by: Disney
	2020	Diversity Built Britain Designed by: Dominique Evans
	2020	The Snowman 2020 Designed by: Robin Shaw
	2021	Innovations in Science - John Logie Baird Designed by: Osborne Ross
	2021	The 50th Anniversary of Decimal Day Designed by: Dominique Evans
	2021	The Mary Anning Collection - Temnodontosaurus Designed by: Robert Nicholls
	2021	The Mary Anning Collection - Plesiosaurus Designed by: Robert Nicholls
	2021	The Mary Anning Collection - Dimorphodon Designed by: Robert Nicholls
	2021	Team GB 2021 Designed by: Dave Knapton
	2021	Winnie the Pooh & friends Designed by: The Walt Disney Company
	2021	Innovations in Science - Charles Babbage Designed by: Nigel Tudman and Jas Bhamra
	2021	Owl Designed by: The Walt Disney Company
	2021	100 Years Since the Discovery of Insulin Designed by: Iris De La Torre
	2021	The Snowman 2021 Designed by: Robin Shaw
	2021	Tigger Designed by: The Walt Disney Company
	2022	The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Designed by: Natasha Preece
	2022	The Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Designed by: Osborne Ross
	2022	Eeyore Designed by: The Walt Disney Company
	2022	Celebrating 50 Years of Pride Designed by: Dominique Holmes
	2022	Innovations in Science - Alan Turing Designed by: Matt Dent and Christian Davies
	2022	Kanga and Roo Designed by: The Walt Disney Company
	2022	Winnie the Pooh and Friends Designed by: The Walt Disney Company
	2022	Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Designed by: Edgar Fuller & Cecil Thomas
	2022	The 100th Anniversary of Our BBC Designed by: Henry Gray
	2022	Harry Potter Designed by: Jim Kay / Ffion Gwillim
	2022	The Snowman and The Snowdog Designed by: Robin Shaw
	2022	Hogwarts Express Designed by: Jim Kay / Ffion Gwillim
	2023	75 Years of the Windrush Generation Designed by: Valda Jackson
	2023	75 Years of the National Health Service Designed by: Alice Lediard
	2023	Albus Dumbledore Designed by: Jim Kay / Ffion Gwillim
	2023	Hogwarts Designed by: Jim Kay / Ffion Gwillim
	2023	The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III Designed by: Natasha Jenkins
	2023	Star Wars R2-D2 and C-3PO Designed by: Lucasfilm Ltd.
	2023	Star Wars Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine Designed by: Lucasfilm Ltd.
	2023	The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe Designed by: Ffion Gwillim
	2023	Star Wars Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Designed by: Lucasfilm Ltd.
	2023	The Snowman 2023 Designed by: Robin Shaw
	2023	Atlantic Salmon Designed by: The Royal Mint
	2024	Tyrannosaurus Designed by: Robert Nicholls
	2024	The 200th Anniversary of the RNLI Designed by: John Bergdahl
	2024	Star Wars Han Solo and Chewbacca Designed by: Lucasfilm Ltd.
	2024	Stegosaurus Designed by: Robert Nicholls
	2024	Diplodocus Designed by: Robert Nicholls
	2024	Millennium Falcon Designed by: Lucasfilm Ltd.
	2024	Tie Fighter Designed by: Lucasfilm Ltd.
	2024	The Winged Keys Designed by: Warner Bros, Entertainment Inc.
	2024	D-Day Designed by: David Lawrence
	2024	X-Wing Designed by: Lucasfilm Ltd.
	2024	Team GB and ParalympicsGB 2024 Designed by: Charis Tsevis
	2024	Death Star II Designed by: Lucasfilm Ltd.
	2024	The Gruffalo’s Child Designed by: Axel Scheffler & Magic Light Pictures
	2024	The Snowman 2024 Designed by: Robin Shaw
	2024	The Steppe Mammoth Designed by: Robert Nicholls
	2024	The Black Lake Designed by: Warner Bros
	2024	The Woolly Rhinoceros Designed by: Robert Nicholls
	2024	The Giant Deer Designed by: Robert Nicholls
	2025	The Red Arrows Designed by: Tuch Design
	2025	Mary Poppins Designed by: Emma Noble
	2025	Stories of the Second World War Designed by: Timothy Noad
	2025	The Flying Car Designed by: Warner Bros
	2025	The 80th Anniversary of VE Day Designed by: John Mills
	2025	Zog Designed by: Axel Scheffler & Magic Light Pictures

London 2012 50p Coins

Coin Image	Year of Issue	Design Information
	2011	Aquatics A swimmer submerged in water, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: Jonathan Olliffe
	2011	Archery A bow being drawn, with the London 2012 Paralympic logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: Piotr Powaga
	2009	Athletics An athlete clearing a high jump bar, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: Florence Jackson
	2011	Badminton A shuttlecock and a diagram of badminton actions, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: 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. Designed by: 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. Designed by: Justin Chung
	2011	Boxing A pair of boxing gloves against the background of a boxing ring, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: 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. Designed by: Timothy Lees
	2011	Cycling A cyclist in a velodrome, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: 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. Designed by: Thomas Babbage
	2011	Fencing Two figures fencing, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: 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. Designed by: Neil Wolfson
	2011	Goalball A goalball player throwing a ball, with the London 2012 Paralympic logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: Jonathan Wren
	2011	Gymnastics A gymnast with a ribbon, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: 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. Designed by: Natasha Ratcliffe
	2011	Hockey Two hockey players challenging for the ball, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: Robert Evans
	2011	Judo A judo throw, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: David Cornell
	2011	Modern Pentathlon A montage of the five sports that form the Modern Pentathlon, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: 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. Designed by: 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. Designed by: Bruce Rushin
	2011	Shooting A figure shooting, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: 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. Designed by: Alan Linsdell
	2011	Taekwondo Two athletes engaged in Taekwondo, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: David Gibbons
	2011	Tennis A tennis net and a tennis ball, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: Tracy Baines
	2011	Triathlon A montage of the three sports that form the Triathlon, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: Sarah Harvey
	2011	Volleyball Three figures playing beach volleyball, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: Daniela Boothman
	2011	Weightlifting The outline of a weightlifter starting a lift, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: Rob Shakespeare
	2011	Wheelchair Rugby A wheelchair rugby player in action, with the London 2012 Paralympic logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: Natasha Ratcliffe
	2011	Wrestling Two figures wrestling in a stadium, with the London 2012 logo above and the denomination 50 PENCE below. Designed by: Roderick Enriquez

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