The 2021 Fifty Pence Coin - 50th Anniversary of DecimalisationThis 50p coin is to commemorate the 50 year anniversary of decimalisation. It was probably obvious that the Royal Mint would recognise this milestone but they created a nice surprise with the obverse portrait.
This coin was runner-up in The Royal Mint Coin of the Year 2021.
There are many collectors who can personally remember decimalisation on 15 February 1971 and it's strange to think it is now 50 years ago. From what I remember it went fairly smoothly. It you don't remember it it may be interesting to read Introduction to British Coins – Current and Pre-Decimal.
The Reverse, by Dominique Evans, shows fragments of the coins we had to say goodbye do at decimalisation, such as the shilling, half-crown and the Wren of the farthing.
The Obverse may be a surprise. It features the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin (30 September 1911 – 9 March 1999) which was the one used at the time of decimalisation and was used on coins between 1968-1984.Coin shown is the Proof version. This coin is only available in the 2021 Annual Sets.
Image credit: The Royal Mint
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Mintage: Not known
Minted at The Royal Mint.
Remember 2021 ?
The Monarch is Queen Elizabeth II. Prime Minster is Boris Johnson. New (20 January) US President is Joe Biden (D-Delaware) and vice-president is Kamala Harris. The Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic still dominates World news and face masks are the norm. People and Businesses struggle after a long lockdown.
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
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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| 2021 50P CHARLES BABBAGE FIFTY PENCE BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED BU COIN £ 25.00 |
| 2020-2024 Dinosaur 50p Coins Fifty Pence Inc Megalosaurus & Tyrannosaurus £ 13.29 |
| 2021 Team GB 50p Fifty Pence Royal Mint Brilliant Uncirculated BU £ 12.00 |
| 2021 Royal Mint Insulin 50p Fifty Pence Coin Pack Sealed Uncirculated £ 15.00 |
 | 2021 Decimal Day 50p Fifty Pence Coin - Arnold Machin Obverse £ 15.49 |
 | Rare 50p Coins Olympic Beatrix Potter Kew Isle of Man WWF Snowman Fifty Pence £ 15.79 |
 | 2021 John Logie Baird BU 50p Fifty Pence Coin Brilliant Uncirculated Pack £ 12.00 |
 | 2021 50P - TIGGER FIFTY PENCE - BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED - BU - COIN PACK £ 19.99 |
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