2003 50 Pence Coin – Suffragette

2003 Fifty Pence Suffragette Reverse

The 2003 50 Pence Coin - Suffragette

Official title of this coin is the 2003 Women’s Social and Political Union 50p but most dealers describe it as the Suffragette 50p.

This 2003 coin celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the formation of the Women’s Social and Political Union. The coin depicts a figure of a suffragette chained to railings and holding a banner showing the letters "WSPU" (Women's Social and Political Union), to the right a ballot paper marked with a cross and the words "GIVE WOMEN THE VOTE".

The reverse was designed by Mary Milner Dickens.

Obverse is the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Image credit: The Royal Mint


Mintage: 3,124,030 (may include coins in sets)
Silver Proof: 6,267
Silver Proof Piedfort: 6,795
Gold Proof: 942
Minted at The Royal Mint.
Remember 2003 ?
Elizabeth II was in her 51st year as Queen. George W Bush is U.S. President. Iraq war begins. China has its first astronaut in space as Rover Spirit and Opportunity head for Mars. The London congestion charge introduced. Twenty20 cricket matches are played between counties. J K Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix published. Concorde makes its last commercial flight. England are rugby world champions. M6 Toll opens.
Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning British Monarch ever, reigning for over 70 years. Born on 21 April 1926 to King George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, she became Queen in 1952 and her Coronation was on 2 June 1953. She died on 8 September 2022. Some coins were released dated 2023.

Queen Elizabeth II issued many coins and was monarch during decimalisation. She married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947 and had four children. Her eldest son succeeded the throne as King Charles III. House of Windsor.
Category: 50 Pence Coins

The British Fifty Pence (50p) coin was introduced in October 1969 as part of the decimalisation of the British currency. It replaced the 10 shilling note, both being equivalent to half of one pound (£0.50). It is colloquially called the '50 pee'. The coin has 7 sides (heptagonal) but has rounded corners on each apex so that the coin will roll and work in vending machines.

Originally, the coin has a diameter of 30mm and weighed 13.5g, but in 1997 this was replaced with a smaller version of diameter 27.3mm and weight of 8g. The thickness was kept at 1.78mm. The coin is made of Cupro-Nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel). The larger version was demonitised (i.e. ceased to be legal tender) in 1998.

There are four versions of the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II:

  • 1969-1984 - Designer: Arnold Machin
  • 1985-1997 - Designer: Raphael Maklouf
  • 1998-2015 - Designer: Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
  • 2015-2022 - Designer: Jody Clark
The reverse has shown a large variety of important UK milestones or people, and in doing so has made the coin very popular with collectors. Besides the coins intended for circulation, the Royal Mint have issued silver (normal and Piedfort), platinum and gold proof versions of the 50 pence piece.

There are also 29 different variants which were minted in 2011 in celebration of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Which Mint: The Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the designated place for the UK to mint coins. It dates back well over 1000 years and is a Government-owned company. 

Formed in the reign of Alfred the Great about the year 886, during the period 1279-1812 it was generally referred to as The Tower Mint as it was housed at the Tower of London. The Master of The Royal Mint has included famous figures such as Sir Isaac Newton.

Since 2010 it has operated as Royal Mint Ltd, a company owned by HM Treasury, under an exclusive contract to supply all coinage for the UK although it also produces medals and coins for other countries. It is currently located at Llantrisant, Wales.
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
The United Kingdom (UK) is the Union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is often refered to as Great Britain (GBR). It has a long, rich history.

The orignal coinage was Pounds, Shillings and Pence but since decimalisation on 15 February 1971, it is £1 = 100p, that is One Pound = 100 pence. The coinage of the UK is also a long history, the Royal Mint being established as long ago as 886AD when coins were hammered. Today there is perhaps 30 billion coins in circulation, and many (numismatic) collectors coins and sets are issued frequently in gold, silver and other metals.
If you don't see a coin in the list below try the 50 Pence Coins page on eBay UK
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2003 50p Fifty Pence Coin Suffragette 100th Anniversary Uncirculated UK BUNC
2003 50p Fifty Pence Coin Suffragette 100th Anniversary Uncirculated UK BUNC
£ 28.00
Rare 50p Coins Olympic Beatrix Potter Kew Isle of Man WWF Snowman Fifty Pence
Rare 50p Coins Olympic Beatrix Potter Kew Isle of Man WWF Snowman Fifty Pence
£ 7.19
UK 50p PROOF ENGLISH DECIMAL FIFTY PENCE COINS CHOICE OF DATE 1971-2017
UK 50p PROOF ENGLISH DECIMAL FIFTY PENCE COINS CHOICE OF DATE 1971-2017
£ 19.99
50 pence coin 2003 depicting SUFFRAGETTES 1903/2003 GIVE WOMEN THE VOTE
50 pence coin 2003 depicting SUFFRAGETTES 1903/2003 GIVE WOMEN THE VOTE
£ 50.00
2003 BUNC 50p Suffragette Fifty Pence coin Brilliant Uncirculated
2003 BUNC 50p Suffragette Fifty Pence coin Brilliant Uncirculated
£ 16.95
2003 PROOF 50p Fifty Pence Suffragette coin Brilliant Uncirculated
2003 PROOF 50p Fifty Pence Suffragette coin Brilliant Uncirculated
£ 16.75
50 pence coins, incl WWF, Puddle Duck, Paddington, Newton, Suffragette etc UK.
50 pence coins, incl WWF, Puddle Duck, Paddington, Newton, Suffragette etc UK.
£ 5.50
2003 50P - SUFFRAGETTE FIFTY PENCE - BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED - BU - COIN PACK
2003 50P - SUFFRAGETTE FIFTY PENCE - BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED - BU - COIN PACK
£ 49.99

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