Decimal Coins of the UK
by Tony Clayton
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Decimal Coins of the UKby Tony Clayton |
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Decimal Twenty Pence <<-- : -->> Decimal One Pound
Values of Decimal 20p and 50p coins
Pictures of Decimal Fifty Pence coins on www.ukcoinpics.co.uk
Both the 20p and 50p coins are seven-sided to aid identification. The sides are not straight, but curved, with the centre of curvature being the opposite apex. This means that when used in slot machines they always appear to have exactly the same diameter regardless of the orientation of the coin when it is put in. In all 50p coins except the new style design introduced in 2008 the central apex is above the Queen's head.
The fifty pence coin originally weighed 13.5 grams and had a diameter of 30 mm.
It was introduced in 1969 to replace the ten shilling note as part of the run up towards decimalisation two years later. The ten shilling note ceased to be legal tender from 22nd November 1970.
In 1997 a new smaller version of the 50p was introduced weighing 8.00 grams and with a diameter of 27.30 mm.
There are nineteen types of the 50 pence coin.
Obv: First Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D (date)
starting top right
Rev: Britannia, 50 below, NEW PENCE above. Designed by Christopher Ironside.
Issued from 1969 to 1972, and 1974 to 1981 (1971-72 and 1974-75 in Proof only)
Obv: First Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D
starting top right (no date on obverse)
Rev: Nine clasped hands in a circle,
1973 / 50 / PENCE in the centre
Issued in 1973 only. The Proof is arguably more common than the uncirculated circulation issue.
Obv: First Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D (date)
starting top right
Rev: Britannia, 50 below, FIFTY PENCE above
Issued from 1982 to 1984 (1984 only obtainable from Mint and Proof sets)
Obv: Second Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D (date)
starting low left
Rev: Britannia, 50 below, FIFTY PENCE above
Issued from 1985 to 1993 and 1995 to 1997 (All except 1985 obtainable only
from Mint and Proof sets). The 1996 version exists as a silver proof.
Obv: Second Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D
starting low left (no date on obverse)
Rev: Conference Table with seats and stars, 50 PENCE below, 1992 1993 above.
This was issued to celebrate the completion of the EC single market and the
British Presidency. A circulation issue was made, but in such small
quantities that I never saw one in change. It was designed by Mary Milner Dickens.
Obv: Second Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 1994
starting low left
Rev: An invasion force of planes and ships. 50 PENCE to right
This was issued to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. A circulation issue was made,
but in small quantities. A few were found in change. Designed by John Mills.
Obv: Second Portrait,
inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D (date) starting low left
Rev: Britannia, 50 below, FIFTY PENCE above
Issued only in 1997, but in large numbers.
Obv: Third Portrait,
inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D (date) starting low left.
Initials IRB below bust. Central point above Queen's head.
Rev: Britannia, 50 below, FIFTY PENCE above
Issued from 1998 to 2008. About 55 million 1998 50p's were issued.
50p coins of this design dated 2007 are available in proof Royal Mint sets,
but not in the Uncirculated Coin Set. This is probably because there are two
commemorative designs for 2007.
2008 Britannia type coins have been seen in circulation.
Obv: Third Portrait,
inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D (date) starting low left. Initials IRB below bust.
Rev: Commemorative design marking 25th anniversary of UK's entry into
the European Community.
It looks like a firework display of 12 stars with
the inscription 1973 EU 1998 underneath, with 50 PENCE below.
Issued in 1998. About 5 million issued. Designed by John Mills.
Obv: Third Portrait,
inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D (date) starting low left. Initials IRB below bust.
Rev: Commemorative design marking 50th anniversary of the formation
of the National Health Service.
'Caring hands' holding suns rays, FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
above, 50 PENCE below, NHS repeated 5 times in the border
Issued in 1998. About 5 million issued
Obv: Third Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2000
starting low left. Initials IRB below bust.
Rev: Commemorative design marking the centenary of the Public Libraries Act of 1850.
Open book above pillared building inscribed PUBLIC LIBRARIES, 1850 2000 above, 50 PENCE to the right.
Issued in 2000. Designed by Mary Milner Dickens.
Obv: Third Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2003
starting low left. Initials IRB below bust.
Rev: Commemorative design marking the centenary of the
Women's Social and Political Union (The Suffragettes).
Suffragette chained to railing and holding banner inscribed WSPU in her left hand. 50 PENCE to the left,
and a billboard inscribed GIVE WOMEN THE VOTE to the right, with 1903 below and 2003 to the right.
Issued for circulation in 2003. Designed by Mary Milner Dickens.
Obv: Third Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2004
starting low left. Initials IRB below bust.
Rev: Commemorative design marking the
fiftieth anniversary of the first four-minute mile by Roger Bannister.
Legs of a runner with a stopwatch showing just under four minutes. 50 PENCE below. Designed by James Butler.
Obv: Third Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2005
starting low left. Initials IRB below bust.
Rev: Commemorative design marking the
two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Samuel Johnson's first English Dictionary.
50/FI'FTY.adj/s.[FIFTIZ, Saxon.]/PENCE .n.s./plural of penny/JOHNSON'S/DICTIONARY 1755. Designed by Tom Phillips.
Obv: Third Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2006
starting low left. Initials IRB below bust.
Rev: Commemorative design marking the
one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the Victoria Cross.
Pictures of both sides of the Victoria Cross, the reverse engraved 29 JAN 1856. VC FIFTY PENCE below.
Designed by Claire Aldridge.
Obv: Third Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2006
starting low left. Initials IRB below bust.
Rev: Commemorative design marking the one hundred
and fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the Victoria Cross.
Soldier carrying wounded comrade, FIFTY PENCE below.
Designed by Clive Duncan.
Obv: Third Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2007
starting low left. Initials IRB below bust.
Rev: Commemorative design
marking the one hundredth anniversary of the Scout Movement.
Fleur-de-Lys symbol of the Scout Movement, FIFTY PENCE above, BE PREPARED below, 1907 to the left and 2007 to the right
Designed by Kerry Jones.
Obv: Third Portrait,
inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D (date)
starting low left. Initials IRB below bust. Central point of edge below Queen's head.
Rev: Bottom apex of the Royal Arms, FIFTY PENCE below
Issued from 2008. 2009 not yet seen in circulation; available in Royal Mint sets only.
Proofs in silver, 2008 and 2009
Obv: Third Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D
starting low left. Initials IRB below bust. (to be confirmed; denomination possibly on obverse)
Rev: The Kew Chinese Pagoda, climbing plant around, 1759 to left, 2009 to right
To be issued in 2009. Not yet seen in circulation; available in Royal Mint sets only.
Proofs in silver.
The full designation of the Britannia reverse is 'The seated figure of Britannia'. The use of this figure carries on a long tradition of using this type of reverse, dating back to the time of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, whose main claim to fame (in the UK) is the Antonine Wall that he had built out of turf between the Forth and the Clyde. The removal of Britannia from UK coins in 2008 was the cause of considerable controversy.
After the introduction of the pound coin in 1983 demand for the coin dropped significantly, and although well used, fewer were tied up in slot machines, so the banks had a large surplus in stock. This is why so few have been released into circulation since 1985.
The need to reduce the size was not made clear. One argument at the time of its introduction was that the coin's circulation life of 50 years is far in excess of the circulation life of a 10 shilling banknote. They did not even reach 30 years.
With the reduction in size the old larger coins have now been withdrawn from circulation, and demonetized with effect from 28th February 1998, although they can still be exchanged at banks.
Unusually for the time, all three designs of 1998 50p piece were issued for circulation. Previously, when a commemorative design has been issued for general circulation, the traditional Britannia reverse version had only been available (if at all) in Proof or Uncirculated sets. This has now changed, because a decision has been made by the Royal Mint to keep commemorative designs a bit special.
I have been informed that such special designs can be expected to have a normal issue level of 5 million. If the annual demand for 50p coins exceeds this, the balance are struck with the Britannia reverse.
See my Main Coins Index page for acknowledgements
My thanks to Alan Wright for the image of the 1994 D-Day 50p coin.
Main Index
Previous page - Decimal Twenty Pence
Next page - Decimal One Pound
Values Index
Values of 20p and 50p coins.
Pictures of Decimal Fifty Pence Coins
Pictures Index
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