Fifty Pence (One year types), Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information

Fifty Pence (One year types), Coin Type from United Kingdom (issued 1998 - )
Coin TypeFifty Pence (One year types)

The British fifty pence (50p) coin - often pronounced fifty pee - is a unit of currency equalling one half of a pound sterling. It is a seven-sided coin formed as an equilateral-curve heptagon, or Reuleaux polygon - a curve of constant width, meaning that the diameter is constant across any bisection. This shape, which was revolutionary at the time, made it easily distinguishable from round coins both by feel and by sight, while its constant breadth allowed it to roll in vending machines.

The denomination was introduced in October 1969 when the 50p joined the 5p (shilling) and 10p (florin) coins in circulation, leaving only the three copper coins (1/2p, 1p and 2p) to be introduced on 15 February 1971 to complete the new series of decimal coins; unlike other coin types at the time though, the 50 pence coin was not equivalent to a pre-decimal coin - it replaced the old ten shilling banknote.

With the introduction of smaller 5p and 10p coins in 1990 and 1992 respectively, the 50p became the largest coin in circulation. In October 1994 the Government announced a further review of the United Kingdom coinage. The results revealed a requirement for a smaller 50p coin, which was duly introduced on 1 September 1997. The older (large) coins were removed from circulation and demonetised in 1998. The new (small) type initially retained the original Britania reverse design by Christopher Ironside, which was then superseded by the current version designed by Matthew Dent in 2008.

The 50p denomination has also been extensively used to celebrate important events, each being commemorated by a new reverse design and issued as a circulating commemorative coin. All of these are listed below.

Obverse
United Kingdom / Fifty Pence (One year types) - obverse photo

Portrait of the ruling British monarch, legend (in Latin), date.

So far, small commemorative fifty pence coins have been issued during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and carried two of her effigies: her Fourth Portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley (1998 - 2015), and her Fifth Portrait by Jody Clark (2015 - present).

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH · II D · G · REG · F · D · [year]
Reverse
United Kingdom / Fifty Pence (One year types) - reverse photo

The different reverses which have been used are described individually on each coin's page listed below.

Reverse Inscription 50 PENCE
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
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Coin Type: Fifty Pence (One year types) - (75) Coins
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Fifty Pence 1998 European Union (EU) 5,202,862 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 1998
Fifty Pence 1998 NHS 5,001,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 1998
Fifty Pence 2000 Public Libraries Act 11,453,219 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2000
Fifty Pence 2003 Suffragettes 3,290,124 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2003
Fifty Pence 2004 Roger Bannister 9,176,899 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2004
Fifty Pence 2005 Johnson's Dictionary 17,689,563 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2005
Fifty Pence 2006 Victoria Cross - Award 12,261,974 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2006
Fifty Pence 2006 Victoria Cross - Heroic Acts 10,169,564 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2006
Fifty Pence 2007 Scouting 7,887,475 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2007
Fifty Pence 2009 Kew Gardens 479,134 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II D · G REG · F · D FIFTY PENCE
Fifty Pence 2010 Girl Guiding 7,540,009 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2010
Fifty Pence 2011 WWF 3,496,273 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II D · G REG · F · D FIFTY PENCE
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Aquatics 2,179,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Archery 3,345,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Athletics 2,224,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Badminton 2,133,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Basketball 1,748,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Boccia 2,166,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Boxing 2,148,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Canoeing 2,166,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Cycling 2,090,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Equestrian 2,142,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Fencing 2,115,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Football 1,125,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Goalball 1,615,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Gymnastics 1,720,813 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Handball 1,676,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Hockey 1,773,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Judo 1,161,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Modern Pentathlon 1,689,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Rowing 1,717,300 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Sailing 1,749,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Shooting 1,656,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Table Tennis 1,737,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Taekwondo 1,664,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Tennis 1,454,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Triathlon 1,163,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Volleyball 2,133,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Weightlifting 1,879,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Wheelchair Rugby 1,765,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2011 - London 2012 - Wrestling 1,129,500 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2011
Fifty Pence 2013 Christopher Ironside 7,036,485 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2013
Fifty Pence 2013 Benjamin Britten 5,313,337 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G · REG · F · D FIFTY PENCE · 2013
Fifty Pence 2014 Commonwealth Games 6,550,488 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II D · G REG · F · D FIFTY PENCE
Fifty Pence 2015 Battle of Britain (Fourth Portrait) 33,818 Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 2015
Fifty Pence 2015 Battle of Britain (Fifth Portrait) 5,900,000 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE 2015 ·
Fifty Pence 2015 Battle of Britain (no denomination) 35,199 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF · 2015 ·
Fifty Pence 2016 Team GB 6,442,646 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE 2016 ·
Fifty Pence 2016 Battle of Hastings 6,771,009 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE ·
Fifty Pence 2016 Beatrix Potter 7,025,085 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2016 ·
Fifty Pence 2016 Peter Rabbit 9,851,012 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2016 ·
Fifty Pence 2016 Jemima Puddle-Duck 2,238,937 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2016 ·
Fifty Pence 2016 Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle 8,915,311 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2016 ·
Fifty Pence 2016 Squirrel Nutkin 5,114,321 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2016 ·
Fifty Pence 2017 Peter Rabbit 20,123,661 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2017 ·
Fifty Pence 2017 Tom Kitten 9,660,496 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2017 ·
Fifty Pence 2017 Mr. Jeremy Fisher 10,067,160 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2017 ·
Fifty Pence 2017 Benjamin Bunny 25,160,040 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2017 ·
Fifty Pence 2017 Sir Isaac Newton 1,909,787 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF· 2017 ·
Fifty Pence 2018 Representation of the People Act 9,082,636 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2018
Fifty Pence 2018 Peter Rabbit 1,563,403 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2018 ·
Fifty Pence 2018 Mrs. Tittlemouse 1,830,385 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2018 ·
Fifty Pence 2018 The Tailor of Gloucester 4,036,357 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2018 ·
Fifty Pence 2018 Flopsy Bunny 1,532,759 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2018 ·
Fifty Pence 2018 Paddington Bear at the Station 5,175,546 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2018 ·
Fifty Pence 2018 Paddington Bear at Buckingham Palace 6,050,842 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2018 ·
Fifty Pence 2019 Sherlock Holmes 8,721,913 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · DEI · GRA · REG · FID · DEF· 2019 ·
Fifty Pence 2019 Paddington Bear at St Paul's 9,084,718 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2019 ·
Fifty Pence 2019 Paddington Bear at the Tower 9,088,965 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2019 ·
Fifty Pence 2020 Brexit 10,309,362 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2020 ·
Fifty Pence 2020 Diversity 10,365,517 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2020 ·
Fifty Pence 2022 Platinum Jubilee 5,076,164 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2022 ·
Fifty Pence 2022 In Memory of Queen Elizabeth II 9,813,376 King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 50 PENCE ·
Fifty Pence 2022 50 Years of Pride 5,090,685 Queen Elizabeth II - Fifth Portrait ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2022 ·
Fifty Pence 2023 King Charles III Coronation 5,000,000 King Charles III - First Portrait CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2023 ·
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London Mint Office coins.
Fifty Pence (One year types): Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling
Sub-type ofFifty Pence
From1998
Face Value50 (x Penny)
CurrentYes
MaterialCuproNickel
Designer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeHeptagon (Seven-sided)
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size27.3000 mm
Thickness1.7800 mm
Mass8.0000 g
Fifty Pence (One year types): Photos
ImageDetails
Fifty Pence (One year types): Photo Great Britain, Elizabeth II, 50 Pence, 2000 Great Britain, Elizabeth II, 50 Pence, 2000
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source
Fifty Pence (One year types): Photo Great Britain, Elizabeth II, 50 Pence, 2000 Great Britain, Elizabeth II, 50 Pence, 2000
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source