Celebrate Britain’s proud maritime heritage with the 2011 UK Sailing 50p coin, issued as part of the London 2012 Olympic Games series. Sailing has long been a successful sport for Team GB, and this coin captures both the spirit of competition and the significance of the Olympic venue on the south coast of England.

The reverse design was created by Bruce Rushin, best known for his iconic 1997 UK £2 coin. His design reflects a deep connection to the sport, featuring three sailing boats cutting across stylised waves, with one leading and two trailing into the distance. The composition also incorporates the distinctive coastline of Chesil Beach and Portland Bill, the location chosen to host the Olympic sailing events, adding a strong sense of place to the design.

Above the scene sits the London 2012 Olympic logo, while the denomination ‘50 PENCE’ appears below, anchoring the design. The combination of sporting action and geographic detail makes this coin particularly appealing to collectors interested in both Olympic history and British coastal landmarks.

The obverse features the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, a defining effigy of British coinage during this period.

Struck in cupro-nickel to the standard 50p specification, the coin has a diameter of 27.30 millimetres and weighs 8 grams, with a plain edge. A total of 1,749,500 coins entered circulation, making it a sought-after piece within the Olympic 50p collection.

Issued in 2011 following a public design competition that attracted around 30,000 entries, this coin forms part of a celebrated series that brought the nation together ahead of the London 2012 Games. The Sailing 50p stands as a lasting tribute to Britain’s success on the water and the iconic coastline that hosted the world.

*Image is representative of the coin you will receive 

**Struck for general circulation and subsequently acquired by The Royal Mint from the secondary market.