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These circulating commemorative coins mark the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. The British decimal 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 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. Twenty pence and fifty pence coins are legal tender only up to the sum of £10; this means that it is permissible to refuse payment of sums greater than this amount in 20p and 50p coins in order to settle a debt. Coins issued in 2009 have now been in circulation for 16 years. | ||||||||||||
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Royal Mint |
Variety | Specimen in presentation folder | |
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Images |
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Mintage | Issued: 128,364 (included in total) | |
Variety | In mint sets | |
Mintage | Issued: 106,332 (included in total) | |
Details | On its web site, the Royal Mint lists only "sets" for the year, with combined mintage of 106,332. However, some of them do not contain this coin so its mintage is somewhat lower (by an unknown number). | |
In Set |
2009 United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Collection, mintage unknown, limited to 100,000
11 coins: £2 Technology, £2 Burns, £2 Darwin, £1 Royal Shield, 50p, 50p Kew Gardens, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p - variety: 2009 United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Collection (Baby Gift Set), mintage unknown (included in the above set) | |
Variety | Proof FDC | |
Mintage | Issued: 35,477 (included in total) | |
In Sets |
The 2009 UK Proof Coin Set, mintage 34,438
12 coins: £5 King Henry VIII, £2 Technology, £2 Burns, £2 Darwin, £1 Royal Shield, 50p, 50p Kew Gardens, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p - variety: The 2009 UK Proof Coin Set (Deluxe), mintage unknown, limited to 15,000 (included in the above set) - variety: The 2009 UK Executive Proof Coin Set, mintage unknown, limited to 5,000 (included in the above set) The UK 50p Proof Collection - 40th Anniversary (1969 - 2009), mintage 1,039 16 coins: 50p New Pence, 50p EEC, 50p Britannia, 50p Single Market, 50p D-Day, 50p EU, 50p NHS, 50p Public Libraries, 50p Suffragettes, 50p Roger Bannister, 50p Dictionary, 50p VC - Award, 50p VC - Heroic Acts, 50p Scouting, 50p Shield, 50p Kew Gardens | |
Variety | Silver Proof FDC | |
Mintage | Issued: 7,575 | |
Material | 0.925 Silver | |
Details | 8.00 g., 0.925 Silver 0.2379 oz. ASW, 27.3 mm. Silver proof Kew Gardens 50 pence were included in several different sets; the Royal Mint lists mintage of 7,575, which presumably includes all sets. | |
In Sets |
The 2009 UK Silver Proof Coin Set, mintage 2,749
12 coins: £5 King Henry VIII, £2 Technology, £2 Burns, £2 Darwin, £1 Royal Shield, 50p, 50p Kew Gardens, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p The 2009 UK Family Silver Proof Collection, mintage unknown, limited to 1,500 6 coins: £5 King Henry VIII, £2 Britannia, £1 Shield, £2 Burns, £2 Darwin, 50p Kew Gardens The UK 50p Silver Proof Collection - 40th Anniversary (1969 - 2009), mintage 1,163 16 coins: 50p New Pence, 50p EEC, 50p Britannia, 50p Single Market, 50p D-Day, 50p EU, 50p NHS, 50p Public Libraries, 50p Suffragettes, 50p Roger Bannister, 50p Dictionary, 50p VC - Award, 50p VC - Heroic Acts, 50p Scouting, 50p Shield, 50p Kew Gardens | |
Variety | Silver Proof Piedfort | |
Mintage | Issued: 2,967 | |
Material | 0.925 Silver | |
In Set |
The 2009 UK Silver Proof Piedfort Four-Coin Collection, mintage unknown
4 coins: £5 King Henry VIII, £2 Burns, £2 Darwin, 50p Kew Gardens | |
Variety | Gold Proof FDC | |
Images |
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Mintage | Issued: 629 | |
Material | 0.917 Gold | |
Details | 629 total mintage, incl. 70 issued in the 16-coin gold proof set. | |
In Set |
The UK 50p Gold Proof Collection - 40th Anniversary (1969 - 2009), mintage 70
16 coins: 50p New Pence, 50p EEC, 50p Britannia, 50p Single Market, 50p D-Day, 50p EU, 50p NHS, 50p Public Libraries, 50p Suffragettes, 50p Roger Bannister, 50p Dictionary, 50p VC - Award, 50p VC - Heroic Acts, 50p Scouting, 50p Shield, 50p Kew Gardens | |
Variety | Gold Proof Piedfort | |
Images |
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Mintage | Issued: 40 | |
Material | 0.917 Gold | |
In Set |
The UK 50p Gold Proof Piedfort Collection - 40th Anniversary (1969 - 2009), mintage 40
16 coins: 50p New Pence, 50p EEC, 50p Britannia, 50p Single Market, 50p D-Day, 50p EU, 50p NHS, 50p Public Libraries, 50p Suffragettes, 50p Roger Bannister, 50p Dictionary, 50p VC - Award, 50p VC - Heroic Acts, 50p Scouting, 50p Shield, 50p Kew Gardens |
Source | Edition | About | Link | Notes |
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Royal Mint | 2010 | Coin description | link | |
Royal Mint | 28th March 2019 | Mint | link | |
Royal Mint | 28th March 2019 | Mintage | link | Circulation mintage |
Royal Mint | Mintage | link | Varieties mintage |
The coin was also issued in the 40th Anniversary (1969 - 2009) sets featuring sixteen different 50 pence designs, in copper-nickel, silver and gold (proof and piedfort). The coins in the mint set were:
01. Fifty New Pence 2009 (Britannia) - like Spink H1
02. Fifty Pence EEC 2009 - like Spink H2
03. Fifty Pence Britannia 2009 - like Spink H3
04. Fifty Pence Single Market 2009 - like Spink H5
05. Fifty Pence D-Day 2009 - like Spink H6
06. Fifty Pence EU 2009 - like Spink H9
07. Fifty Pence NHS 2009 - like Spink H10
08. Fifty Pence Public Libraries Act 2009 - like Spink H11
09. Fifty Pence Suffragettes 2009 - like Spink H12
10. Fifty Pence Roger Bannister 2009 - like Spink H13
11. Fifty Pence Dictionary 2009 - like Spink H14
12. Fifty Pence Victoria Cross - Award 2009 - like Spink H15
13. Fifty Pence Victoria Cross - Heroic Acts 2009 - like Spink H16
14. Fifty Pence Scouting 2009 - like Spink H17
15. Fifty Pence Royal Shield of Arms 2009 - Spink H18
16. Fifty Pence Kew Gardens - Spink H19
The design was re-issued in 2019 as a Non-Circulating Legal Tender coin to mark the 50th Anniversary of the 50p denomination.
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London Mint Office coins. |
Country | United Kingdom |
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Currency | Pound Sterling |
Coin Type | Fifty Pence (One year types) |
Issued | 2009 |
Monarch | Queen Elizabeth II |
Effigy | Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait, by Ian Rank-Broadley |
Face Value | 50 (x Penny) |
Circulation Mintage | 210,000 |
Total Mintage | 479,134, Rarity: S (Scarce) |
Current | Yes |
Material | CuproNickel |
Designer | Christopher Le Brun |
Technology | Milled (machine-made) |
Shape | Heptagon (Seven-sided) |
Orientation | Medal Alignment (Axis 0) |
Size | 27.3000 mm |
Thickness | 1.7800 mm |
Mass | 8.0000 g |
OCC ID | DRMK-GOZA-CXWB-ENXQ |
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Buy gold and silver bullion online! |
Image | Details |
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gold proof Fifty Pence 2009 250th Anniversary of Kew Gardens
Copyright: Sovereign Rarities Notes: Gold Proof. Source |
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gold proof Fifty Pence 2009 250th Anniversary of Kew Gardens
Copyright: Sovereign Rarities Notes: Gold Proof. Source |
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Kew Gardens 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Coin
Copyright: Royal Mint Source |
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2009 UK Coin 50p BU Kew Gardens
Copyright: Chards Source |
Source | Reference ID |
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Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom | H19 (was 4621) |
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins | Great Britain KM# 1114, 1114a (Silver) |
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins | Great Britain KM# P98 (Silver Proof Piedfort) |