Fifty Pence 2021 Winnie the Pooh - Tigger, 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UK Fifty Pence coin was issued in 1969 with the classic Britannia reverse design by Christopher Ironside, which was superseded in 2008 by the Matthew Dent design for circulation coins.The denomination is also extensively used to issue circulating commemorative coins.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 50p commemorative coin is the sixth issue in the Winnie the Pooh and Friends Collection of nine coins celebrating the favourite children's book Winnie the Pooh, and features story character Tigger.

The first collection of stories about the character was A. A. Milne's book "Winnie-the-Pooh" (1926), and this was followed by "The House at Pooh Corner" (1928). Milne also included a poem about the bear in the children's verse book "When We Were Very Young" (1924) and many more in "Now We Are Six" (1927). All four volumes were illustrated by E. H. Shepard. The coins in the series have reverse designs adapted from E. H. Shepard's drawings (which are now copyrighted by Disney, so the name of the company features on each reverse).

The series was announced in September 2020, with three coins to be issued - one a month - in 2020, the next three coins in 2021 and the last three in 2022.

These 50 pence coins were struck in various collector formats but none were issued into general circulation.