The Third 50p coin in the Royal Mint’s Dinosauria Collection is Hylaeosaurus 50p

Hylaeosaurus

The third 50p coin in the Royal Mint’s Dinosauria Collection is Hylaeosaurus. The coin is available as BU, colour BU, silver proof, colour silver proof and gold proof. The coins are available individually or as a set.

Dr Gideon Mantell and the Hylaeosaurus

After his success with the Iguanodon and his 1827 book called ‘Illustrations of the Geology of Sussex‘, Dr Gideon Mantell continued his research into the fossil remains of what became known as dinosaurs. In 1932 in a quarry in West Sussex, Mantell discovered Hylaeosaurus, a creature from the Early Cretaceous period some 136 million years ago.

However, all was not well. Mantell was a medical doctor but his practice had deteriorated. He still had not convinced everyone that his findings were of this new family of huge creatures, and after struggling with lack of money had to sell his entire collection to the British Museum for £4,000.

2020 Silver Proof 50p Hylaeosaurus Reverse
2020 Silver Proof 50p Hylaeosaurus Reverse (Image credit: The Rotal Mint)

While at its new home at the Museum, the anatomist Richard Owen was able to study the objects in depth and although he had publicly doubted Mantell now realised that these remains were of dinosaurs. Owen was a controversial, if not brilliant figure, but his influence validated the existence of dinosaurs.

Owen took much of the credit that Mantell probably deserved at the time although we know now that Gideon Mantell was paramount in discovering and identifying dinosaurs. Mantell went back to being a doctor in South London and sadly had several misfortunes in his later life. He died in 1852.

Hylaeosaurus 50p Coin Description

The Reverse, by Robert Nicholls, shows an image of the Hylaeosaurus.

The Obverse shows a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark.

2020 Silver Proof 50p Hylaeosaurus Obverse
2020 Silver Proof 50p Hylaeosaurus Obverse (Image credit: The Rotal Mint)

Images shown are the colourised silver proof, used by permission of The Royal Mint


List items on:

2020 Hylaeosaurus Dinosaur SILVER PROOF 50p Coin Limited Edition 6,717/7,000
2020 Hylaeosaurus Dinosaur SILVER PROOF 50p Coin Limited Edition 6,717/7,000
£ 59.95
Hylaeosaurus Tales Of The Earth 2020 Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin Royal Mint
Hylaeosaurus Tales Of The Earth 2020 Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin Royal Mint
£ 45.00
2020 Dinosaur Coloured Silver Proof UK 50p Coin Complete Hylaeosaurus
2020 Dinosaur Coloured Silver Proof UK 50p Coin Complete Hylaeosaurus
£ 49.99
TALES OF THE EARTH HYLAEOSAURUS SILVER PROOF 50P COLOURED. 2020 31.
TALES OF THE EARTH HYLAEOSAURUS SILVER PROOF 50P COLOURED. 2020 31.
£ 40.00
2020 50p Silver Proof Hylaeosaurus (enhanced colour) with COA.
2020 50p Silver Proof Hylaeosaurus (enhanced colour) with COA.
£ 65.00
Silver Proof Colour Hylaeosaurus 2020 UK 50p Coin - COA 5346 Royal Mint Sell Out
Silver Proof Colour Hylaeosaurus 2020 UK 50p Coin - COA 5346 Royal Mint Sell Out
£ 55.00
Royal Mint Tales Of The Earth HYLAEOSAURUS 2020 Silver Proof Colour 50p Coin
Royal Mint Tales Of The Earth HYLAEOSAURUS 2020 Silver Proof Colour 50p Coin
£ 89.95
2020 SILVER PROOF TALES OF THE EARTH - HYLAEOSAURUS FIFTY 50 PENCE
2020 SILVER PROOF TALES OF THE EARTH - HYLAEOSAURUS FIFTY 50 PENCE
£ 119.50

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