The five 50p coins RE-ISSUED to celebrate British Military History

As many collectors will know, 2019 marks the 50th Anniversary of the 50p coin.

Since its issue in 1969, the world’s first seven-sided coin has become a huge favourite with collectors and has served as a canvas to commemorate some of the most iconic moments in British Military history.

As we mark a milestone year for this iconic coin, The Royal Mint’s celebration continues as they reissue five of the most important 50p coins celebrating British Military history!

These five 50p coins, pieced together for the first time, mark a rare milestone moment for British Coinage. Not to mention the set also includes the 1994 D-Day 50p re-issued in the NEW 50p specifications for the first time ever!

Earlier in the year, the Base Proof, Silver Proof and Gold Proof British Culture 50p sets sold-out within just TWO HOURS of going on sale. The Brilliant Uncirculated set released just a short while later also saw an overwhelming response from collectors.

Find out the story of each of the coins featured in the British Military 50p Set below…

Victoria Cross Medal 50p

The Victoria Cross is the highest award for gallantry that a British serviceman can achieve. A recommendation for the Victoria Cross is normally issued by an officer at regimental level and has to be supported by three witnesses.

This coin was originally issued in 2006 to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Victoria Cross.

Depicting the obverse and reverse of a Victoria Cross medal, the design by Claire Aldridge carefully details the Cross pattée with a crown and Lion as on the medal itself.

Victoria Cross Soldier 50p

The Victoria Cross Award was introduced in 1856 by Queen Victoria to honour acts of the Crimean War.

Since then, two-thirds of all awards won have been presented by the British Monarch at investitures which are usually held at Buckingham Palace.

To date, the medal has been awarded 1,358 times. A large number of these were awarded during the World Wars: 634 in World War One and 182 awarded in World War Two.

Initially issued in 2006 to mark 150 years of the Victoria Cross Award, this coin features a soldier carrying a wounded comrade with an outline of the Victoria Cross as designed by Clive Duncan.

Battle of Hastings 50p

The Battle of Hastings was fought on the 14th of October 1066 between the French Army, led by Duke William II, and the English Army led by King Harold.

King Harold was eventually defeated by William who then became known as William the Conqueror; he was crowned the first Norman King of Great Britain. 

Issued in 2016 to mark 950 years since this legendary battle, the reverse design of this 50p by John Bergdahl was inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry.

Battle of Britain 50p

The Battle of Britain was an intense air battle fought mainly throughout the summer of 1940 between Germany and Britain.

The name for the conflict was derived from a Winston Churchill speech in which he said “The Battle of France is over. I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin.”

Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain this coin was first issued in 2015. The reverse design, by Gary Breeze, depicts three airmen running to their planes with enemy aircraft overhead.

D-Day Landings 50p

On 6th June 1944 a mighty alliance of British, American and Commonwealth armed forces crossed from England to Normandy and began assault on German forces.

It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and began the liberation of German-occupied France, laying the foundations for the Allied victory of World War Two.

A timeless tribute to the thousands of Allied troops who fought tirelessly in the War, this 50p coin was issued in 1994 to commemorate 50 years since D-Day.

Originally struck as a large 50p in the pre-1997 specifications this is the first time ever this D-Day 50p coin has been issued in the new 50p dimensions!

The reverse of the coin was designed by John Mills and represents the D-Day Landings with the Allied invasion force heading for Normandy filling the sea and sky.

We are very excited to see these coins being re-issued as a complete set for the first time – especially the 1994 D-Day 50p in the new specifications!

Following the popularity of the re-issued British Culture 50p set earlier in the year, we expect this set to be equally as sought-after.

What coin are you most looking forward to seeing?


Secure your 50th Anniversary of the 50p Military CERTIFIED BU Set

Own the BRAND NEW 50th Anniversary of the 50p Military Set for JUST £22.50 (+ p&p).

Click here to secure your set now.

24 Comments

  1. TONY on June 14, 2019 at 7:09 pm

    Hi Chris, all the coins new set of five military 50p’s I ordered all had the 2019 date on them queen’s head side, the photos change checker show have no denomination on the Battle of Britain and the Hastings 50p this is incorrect.



    • Rachel Hooper on June 17, 2019 at 9:32 am

      Hi Tony, the re-issued coins display the 2019 date on the obverse and, in keeping with the original design, no denomination is shown on the reverse of the Battle of Britain or Battle of Hastings 50ps. This is shown on the product images: https://www.westminstercollection.com/p-240L/50th-Anniversary-of-the-50p-Military-BU-Set.aspx as well as the coin images on the web app. Please let me know if you have seen any images that are incorrect. Thanks, Rachel



      • Chris on June 17, 2019 at 9:59 pm

        Hi Rachel
        Am I right in saying that the Kew gardens 50p In the culture set has no denomination on either side.
        Thanks
        Chris



      • Rachel Hooper on June 18, 2019 at 8:15 am

        Hi Chris. the 2019 Kew Gardens 50p reissue has the denomination written on the obverse. You can see the obverse/reverse images here: https://www.westminstercollection.com/p-830M/50th-Anniversary-of-the-50p-CERTIFIED-BU-Set.aspx



      • Mike Stone on June 24, 2019 at 10:19 pm

        RE Battle of Britain coin a 50p denomiation is shown on the reverse of the coin. This was bought from you in the 2019 reissue set



      • Rachel Hooper on June 25, 2019 at 8:23 am

        Hi Mike, the 2019 re-issue has the denomination on the obverse (Queen’s head side), as does the 2015 circulation coin. You can find out about the different Battle of Britain obverses here: https://www.changechecker.org/2016/02/19/spot-the-difference-the-battle-of-britain-50p-that-has-caused-a-stir/



      • Mike Stone on June 24, 2019 at 10:35 pm

        Update on earlier comment. The 50p denomination is shown on the same side as the queens head on both the Battle of Hastings and the Battle of Britain coins. It is not shown on any of the others in the set



      • Mike Stone on June 25, 2019 at 8:53 am

        Hi Rachel you refer to the different obverses of the battle of brittain coin in your blog. Your pictures in that blog are incorrect. The Battle of Britain coin does show the denomination on the obverse (Queen Head ) side. Your pictures are therefore wrong and the interpritation that this is yet another obverse for the coin is flawed. Many thanks Mike



      • Rachel Hooper on June 25, 2019 at 2:36 pm

        Hi Mike, I now see what you mean in regards to the 2019 coin (I thought you were referring to the image showing the 3 different obverses). I will get the obverse images updated, although this will still be a 4th variation for the Battle of Britain 50p, as it has the 2019 date as opposed to the 2015 date used on the other 3 coins. Thanks, Rachel



      • Chris on June 25, 2019 at 10:10 pm

        Hi Mike/Rachel
        Think this is why I was getting a bit confused!!
        Both pics above are wrong!
        Got there in the end, lol
        Regards
        Chris



    • Chris on June 17, 2019 at 9:23 pm

      Hi Tony, I ordered my from the royal mint as I like the box sets, real nice set of coins either way.
      Battle of Britain and Battle of Hastings have no denomination on either side but on the box set it shows a picture here: https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/50-years-of-the-50p/50-years-of-the-50p-Brilliant-Uncirculated-Coin-Set-Military/
      Seems to me a little strange that none of the 50p coins have that portrait with the 50 pence on it!
      Thanks
      Chris



  2. Barry Stevenson on June 12, 2019 at 6:46 am

    Why have these coins even being put on the change checker site. It goes beyond belief (find the change in your pocket) is your quote. you won’t find these as they are commemorative only. Seems like just a money making thing to me. there are other sites that show this and I will nbe using then in the future instead.



    • Rachel Hooper on June 12, 2019 at 9:32 am

      Hi Barry, as these are British Isles coins they won’t be listed on the Change Checker site, but we’ve put together a blog about them as we thought Change Checkers would be interested to hear about the different coins issued across the British Isles and I’m sure you’ll agree that these designs are great. A limited number of these coins will enter circulation on the Isle of Man, but unfortunately we won’t be able to find them in our UK change. You’re under no obligation to buy the coins, but we have added a link at the very bottom of the blog for anyone who is interested in securing them, as we know there are many British Isles coin collectors out there too.



  3. B Nash on June 7, 2019 at 11:14 pm

    Are these available separately



    • Rachel Hooper on June 10, 2019 at 9:00 am

      Unfortunately the 2019 re-issued 50ps are sold as part of a set only, but all the coins aside from the D Day 50p can still be found in your change.



  4. solomon on June 7, 2019 at 6:23 pm

    how much is my Battle of Hastings worth?



  5. M Pugh on June 7, 2019 at 11:03 am

    Top blog Kimberly.



    • Kimberly Jarrad on June 11, 2019 at 8:20 am

      Thank you, pleased you enjoyed it!



  6. Chris on June 6, 2019 at 9:51 pm

    Battle of Hastings & Battle of Britain has no denomination?
    Is this correct?



    • Rachel Hooper on June 7, 2019 at 10:43 am

      Hi Chris, that is correct. There are actually a number of 50ps without the denomination written on them and if you look back at the designs since 2010 you will notice that most of them don’t say 50p on the reverse.



      • Jim on June 7, 2019 at 11:34 am

        Where the denomination is not included on the Reverse it should appear on the Obverse instead, an exception being the original Battle of Britain 50p (with the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of the Queen) which was only issued in sets/packs. The circulation version with the new Jody Clark portrait had that omission corrected. Oddly the 2019 Britannia “New Pence” 50p carries the denomination on both sides.



      • Chris on June 7, 2019 at 7:10 pm

        Hi, looking at the front page of the royal mint 50 years of the 50p – Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Set – Military it shows queens portrait with 50 pence, just find it strange that none of the coins in that set has that portrait.
        Thanks
        Chris



      • Rachel Hooper on June 10, 2019 at 9:04 am

        Hi Chris, as these coins have been re-issued for 2019, they feature the current portrait of the Queen by Jody Clark. Thanks, Rachel