The British fifty pence (50p) coin - often pronounced as "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 of its introduction, makes it easily distinguishable from round coins both by feel and by sight, while its constant breadth allows it to roll in vending machines.
The first UK Fifty Pence coin was issued in 1969 with the classic Britannia reverse design by Christopher Ironside, which was superseded in 2008 by the Matthew Dent design for circulation coins.The denomination is also extensively used to issue circulating commemorative coins.
Beginning in 2009, the Royal Mint started issuing 50 pence coins for collectors - such as this one - which are not meant to be released in circulation, so are classified as Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT).
To celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Royal Mint released a series of circulating commemorative coins representing various sports: Aquatics, Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boccia, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Goalball, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Modern Pentathlon, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wheelchair Rugby and Wrestling.
All of these were designed by different artists and were issued into circulation before the Games - dated 2011; for each of them the Royal Mint struck a gold proof and presented it to the artist. Another gold proof was initially supposed to be presented to the gold medallists in each sport; after the Olympics though, the Royal Mint decided to do something different: only the coins in the eleven sports where the United Kingdom had won at least one medal were re-issued as gold proof piedforts - dated 2012, and the issue was limited to 29 - the total number of medals the UK won.
These were issued in two formats. Most were in 11-coin sets housed in a quality cabinet-style wooden presentation box with a separate drawer for the certificate and a CD, the certificates being numbered as 1/29, 2/29 etc. However, according to a London Coins sales record, there were only 15 such sets, with the rest of the coins being distributed in individual walnut-wood boxes, with not all of them minted to the 29 pieces maximum. The record goes on to say that Royal Mint sales figures (rather than mintage limits) indicate that apart from these 15 sets of 11 coins each, the additional coins issued separately take the total mintages to: Athletics 26, Boxing 18, Canoeing 17, Cycling 26, Equestrian 22, Rowing 26, Sailing 17, Shooting 17, Taekwondo 15, Tennis 25, Triathlon 22; therefore no Taekwondo coins exist other than in these 15 sets.
No 2012-dated coins of this type were issued into circulation. |
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