Posts Tagged ‘50p’
The 50p set that SOLD OUT IN 2 HOURS!
To celebrate 50 years since the release of the first seven sided coin in 1969, in January 2019, The Royal Mint released a set of five re-issued iconic 50p coins, including the UK’s most sought-after 50p in circulation, the Kew Gardens.
These coins were issued in Base Proof, Silver Proof and Gold Proof, but within just two hours of going on sale, the entire range completely sold out!
Many collectors were left feeling disappointed after missing out on the chance to own this set, however today The Royal Mint did later release a Brilliant Uncirculated edition to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 50p, giving a few more collectors the chance to secure them.
Find out about the coins featured in this set below…
Britannia 50p
The very first 50p coin issued in 1969 was designed by Christopher Ironside and featured the seated Britannia alongside a lion.
This coin was issued between 1969 and 2008, after which The Royal Mint held a public competition to redesign the reverse of UK coins, with Matthew Dent’s winning shield design featuring on the reverse of definitive 50p coins until 2023.
It seems only fitting therefore that the first 50p to be re-issued for the 50th birthday of the 50p was the ‘New Pence’ Britannia, featuring Ironside’s design, a firm favourite for collectors, representing a numismatic milestone for Britain.
Girl Guides 50p
The Girl Guides 50p was originally issued in 2010 to celebrate 100 years of Girl Guiding in the UK.
Girl Guiding began in the UK in 1910 after Robert Baden-Powell asked his sister Agnes to start a group especially for girls that would run in a similar way to the scouting movement he founded in 1907.
The trefoil Girlguiding logo seen on the reverse of the coin represents the threefold promise of the Guides, and is the focus of this commemorative 50p which celebrates the centenary of the organisation.
Scouts 50p
The next coin to be re-issued was the 2007 Scouts 50p. The Scouting movement was started in 1907 by Lord Robert Baden-Powell at an experimental camp on Brownsea Island in Dorset.
Baden-Powell was a decorated soldier, talented artist and free-thinker who believed in teaching boys practical outdoor activities and resourcefulness.
‘Be prepared’ became the motto of the scouting movement and features on the design of this commemorative 50p which was issued in 2007 to mark 100 years of the Scouting movement in the UK.
Roger Bannister 50p
Another firm favourite which featured in this set was the 2004 Roger Bannister 50p.
On 6 May 1954, 25-year old medical student Roger Bannister broke the 4 minute mile barrier, celebrated by this 50p issue. His time of 3mins 59.4 seconds was achieved at the Iffley Road track in Oxford and watched by around 3000 spectators.
This 50p is unusual in the sense that it is very rare for the achievement of a living person to be celebrated on a coin, and it was originally issued in 2004, prior to Bannister’s death in 2018.
Kew Gardens 50p
Of course, the Kew Gardens 50p, which remained the rarest 50p in circulation for 15 years until it was replaced by the 2023 Salmon 50p, had to be re-issued as part of the 2019 set.
Initially when the coin was released in 2009 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, its rarity was overlooked.
However in 2014 The Royal Mint revealed just how scarce this coin really is, with only 210,000 coins entering circulation. From this moment, prices on the secondary market began to skyrocket and collectors have since been desperate to add the coin to their collection, regarding the coin as one of the biggest prizes in the collecting world.
The 2019 re-issue of the most highly collected UK coin is a chance for collectors who have not already got this coin in their collection to finally own a genuine Kew, as many fakes have unfortunately been doing the rounds on the secondary market. Find out how to spot a Fake Kew Gardens here >>
Which coin from the 2019 50th Anniversary of the 50p Set is your favourite? Let us know in the comments!
The Return of Peter Rabbit! NEW 2019 coin released!
The BRAND NEW 2019 Peter Rabbit 50p has now been officially released!
In 2016 this mischievous little bunny re-inspired the nation to start checking their change.
And that’s because Beatrix Potter’s enchanting tales of countryside characters were brought to life on UK coinage with The Royal Mint’s introduction of the Beatrix Potter 50p series.
Likened to the 2012 Olympic 50p collecting sensation that gripped the nation, the release of these 50ps, including the very first UK Peter Rabbit coin, started a collecting frenzy across the UK.
And now this loveable little character has once again found his way out of Mr McGregor’s garden and onto a brand new UK 50p coin, for the fourth year running.
First issued to celebrate 150 years since the birth of the renowned Children’s author, Beatrix Potter, these 50p coins have been unprecedented in their popularity.
Thirteen coins have been issued since 2016, each featuring one of Potter’s delightful characters, from Flopsy Bunny to Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and even a special coin which includes elements celebrating Beatrix as the artist behind some of the best-loved characters in children’s literature.
The tale now continues with the 2019 Peter Rabbit 50p coin, featuring an original illustration of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter herself, carefully engraved by Royal Mint coin designer, Emma Noble.
The illustration has been taken from the book, ‘The Tales of Benjamin Bunny’ and shows Peter Rabbit wearing his blue jacket, which he daringly retrieved from Mr McGregor’s garden after losing it in ‘The Tales of Peter Rabbit’.
He can be seen clutching a handkerchief which was used to gather onions from the garden to take back for his aunt.
Taken from Beatrix Potter’s book, ‘The Tales of Benjamin Bunny’
The coin won’t be entering circulation, but is available to purchase in Brilliant Uncirculated quality here >>
There is no doubt that this Peter Rabbit 50p coin will be as popular as the previous years, and I’m sure collectors won’t want to let this bouncy bunny slip through their fingers.
Own the BRAND NEW 2019 Peter Rabbit 50p
This is your chance to be ahead of the crowd and secure your 2019 Peter Rabbit 50p in superior Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
Secure the Brilliant Uncirculated issue today for just £3.99 (+p&p) >>
Sign up for more Beatrix Potter news!
The Royal Mint has not confirmed if more Beatrix Potter coins will be issued this year, but if you’d like to be the first to know about any updates or future Beatrix Potter coins, you can sign up to receive updates using the form below:
Is there really no such thing as a Gruffalo? The first ever UK Gruffalo 50p!
In 2019, an elusive British book character made his way out of the forest and onto a UK 50p coin, making his debut appearance especially for collectors!
After months of anticipation, The Royal Mint released the first ever UK Gruffalo® 50p in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Julia Donaldson’s classic children’s Tale.
The Gruffalo has sold over 13.5 million copies worldwide and is adored by children and families across the globe, who I’m sure were delighted to see this character (terrible tusks and all) immortalised on a UK 50p coin for the very first time.
The reverse design by Magic Light Pictures beautifully captured the mysterious and unusual beast, described in Donaldson’s book as having ‘two large, curved horns at the top of his head’ and ‘an enormous, poisonous wart on the end of his wet nose.’
Since the release of the first Beatrix Potter 50p coins in 2016 – a collecting sensation, appealing to not just dedicated collectors, but the wider public and fans of the children’s stories too – classic book and film characters have been a real favourite theme for 50p coins.
The release of the first Snowman 50p in 2018 created a flurry of excitement as collectors and lovers of the story rushed to add this coin to their collection, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the latest fictional character to take to our UK coinage becomes the next must-have coin.
From publication of The Gruffalo in 1999 to the film adaptation, to the west-end theatre production and now to the 50p coin, the adoration for this endearing character amongst children and adults alike makes the 20th anniversary of the Gruffalo a wonderful occasion to celebrate.
Sensational Sell Outs
Shortly after the 2019 Gruffalo 50p was released, it became one of the most sought-after 50ps of recent years, with more than 239,000 Brilliant Uncirculated 50ps sold and all 25,500 Silver Proof Gruffalo 50ps selling out! Find out more about what made the Gruffalo 50ps so popular here >>