Fifty Pence 2020 Dinosaurs - Hylaeosaurus, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

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UK Fifty Pence coin was issued in 1969 with the classic Britannia reverse design by Christopher Ironside, which was superseded in 2008 by the Matthew Dent design for circulation coins.The denomination is also extensively used to issue circulating commemorative coins.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).

This is the third coin in the Dinosauria series released by the Royal Mint, which is part of Tales of the Earth collection. It celebrates the discovery of the Hylaeosaurus by Gideon Mantell, an English obstetrician, geologist and palaeontologist. Hylaeosaurus was one of the first dinosaurs to be discovered, in 1832 by Gideon Mantell; he named it in a paper published in 1883, which is the date on the coin. In 1842 it was one of the three dinosaurs Richard Owen based the Dinosauria on. Four species were named in the genus, but only the type species Hylaeosaurus armatus is today considered valid. Only limited remains have been found of Hylaeosaurus and much of its anatomy is unknown.

No coins of this type were released into circulation.