Could the 2018 Sir Isaac Newton 50p coin become the rarest 50p EVER?

By Change Checker | January 4, 2018 |

The mintage figures for the 2017 UK base metal 50p coins have been released but that’ll have to wait a minute… there’s some even more exciting news!

The Royal Mint have announced that there will be a 2018 Sir Isaac Newton 50p coin but the ONLY place you’ll be able to get your hands on one of these is The Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant, Wales! Interestingly, these 2018 dated coins will not be released into circulation.

Anybody visiting The Mint will get to strike a 2018 Sir Isaac Newton 50p coin but this will only be for a short period of time and subject to availability.

The ONLY place to get your hands on a 2018 dated Sir Isaac Newton 50p coin is at The Royal Mint Experience! (Image: The Royal Mint)

We’re predicting that due to the short time frame and visitor numbers, there could well be substantially less than 210,000 of these coins struck, meaning the 2018 Sir Isaac Newton 50p coin could well have a lower mintage figure than even the Kew Gardens 50p!

2017 UK Base Metal Mintage Figures

Early on Christmas Eve morning The Royal Mint released the mintage figures for the 2017 UK base metal commemorative coins. What immediately caught our eye was the surprisingly low number of Sir Isaac Newton 50p coins that had been struck.

At just 1.8 million the Sir Isaac Newton 50p coin has a lower mintage than the 2016 Jemima Puddle-Duck coin. Making it the SECOND LOWEST UK circulation 50p coin behind Kew Gardens (excluding the Olympic 50p range).

Granted it is someway behind Kew Gardens, which has a mintage figure of just 210,000, but it is the only other UK commemorative circulation 50p coin with a mintage under 2 million.

Good news for Beatrix Potter Fans

Unlike the 2016 Beatrix Potter 50p coins, the good news is that all the 2017 coins have a consistent mintage figure. In 2016 the Jemima Puddle-Duck 50p had a substantially lower mintage figure than the other coins from the series making it very hard for Change Checkers to complete their sets.

All 4 of the 2017 Beatrix Potter coins have a mintage of at least 9.3 million meaning there shouldn’t be any problems completing your 2017 sets.

It’s going to be interesting to see how these new mintage figures affect our Change Checker Scarcity Index update, due at the end of January.

What about the 2017 £2 coins?

As yet, we are still waiting for the mintage figures for the 2017 Jane Austen and 2017 First World War Aviation £2 coins to be released. We’ll be sure to update you as soon as anything is announced.

Own the 2017 UK Isaac Newton CERTIFIED BU 50p

This special 50p coin commemorates the legacy of Sir Isaac Newton, genius of the Scientific Revolution and one of the most famous figures to ever hold the role of Master of the Mint.

Designed by Aaron West, the reverse of this striking coin is based on elements of Proposition 11, in Book One of Newton’s Principia Mathematica. Whilst the obverse features the Jody Clark portrait of Her Majesty the Queen.

This specially struck 50p coin comes securely encapsulated and as a Change Checker CERTIFIED BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED issue, you’ll know your coin will be protected forever and guaranteed by its Certified Hologram.

ORDER YOURS TODAY >>

Posted in 50p Coins, Blog Home, Coin News, General info, Mintages

34 Comments

  1. Darren starkey on January 23, 2018 at 12:06 pm

    Hi guys.
    How can I find out details about visiting the royal mint in wales and striking my own 2018 Isaac newton coin. I have seen the previous post,but there’s no details. Could you either post more details or a link please.would love to go and do this ?



    • Luke Hearn on January 23, 2018 at 12:22 pm

      Hi Darren, the link to The Royal Mint experience website is here: https://www.royalmint.com/the-royal-mint-experience/ this should have all the info but if not, it may be worth phoning them to double check that you can still strike a 2018 Sir Isaac Newton 50p. Hope this helps – Luke



  2. Stuart on January 16, 2018 at 12:14 pm

    Hi I thought I’d read on mintage figures benjimn bunny was 4.7 million



    • Luke Hearn on January 16, 2018 at 2:51 pm

      Hi Stuart, you’re correct, this is what was previous listed but the figures were amended by The Royal Mint. Thanks Luke



  3. Jim Kentley on January 9, 2018 at 8:19 pm

    Dear Luke,
    where can I find the full 2017 Royal Mint mintage figures? as I cannot find them on the Royal Mint website



  4. michael ashton on January 7, 2018 at 6:25 am

    Hi Luke , thank`s for information, that`ll be something worth watching out for. Can you tell me anything about booking up for the Royal mint experience please ? I would have to go from Slough , west London . Many thank`s .



  5. Mark on January 6, 2018 at 10:53 pm

    Hi,
    Wouldn’t the Blue Peter 2015 dated Olympic 50p still be the rarest?



    • Dave on January 8, 2018 at 8:59 am

      There isn’t one. It’s 2009. It depends if more than 19,751 turn up to strike it. Even then, it hasn’t been released by the mint, it’s people turning up to ‘have a go’. Plenty will be flawed.



  6. Mike McGregor on January 6, 2018 at 7:30 pm

    Hi I have a number of 50pence pieces including the suffragetts scouting battle of Britain Benjamin Britten William tell plural of penny Johnson’s dictionary miss tight winkle Roger bannister WWF the EU team GB Victoria cross and £2 coins with abolishing of slavery Charles Dickens the blitz anniversary Magna carta and would appreciate your comments



  7. Robert wainwright on January 5, 2018 at 11:03 pm

    i luke i got a 2017 sir isaac Newton 50p coin in my change today what is it worth please. Robert wainwright



    • Luke Hearn on January 8, 2018 at 8:21 am

      Hi Robert, we do not offer a valuation service i’m afraid, i’d suggest taking a look on eBay to see if any 2017 Isaac Newton 50p coins have recently sold. Thanks Luke



  8. James on January 5, 2018 at 2:59 am

    Will the Beatrix Potter series of 50p’s continue in 2018 with new characters?

    Also when do we expect to see Tom, Benjamin and Jeremy in circulation?



    • Luke Hearn on January 5, 2018 at 8:15 am

      Hi James, Nothing has been announced about 2018 Beatrix Potter coins, but should we hear anything we will of course let you know. Benjamin Bunny and Tom kitten are now in general circulation however we are still waiting for the Jeremy Fisher 50p. Thanks Luke



  9. Stuart on January 4, 2018 at 9:49 pm

    Luke until the start of February Luke or the end?

    Thanks



    • Luke Hearn on January 5, 2018 at 8:13 am

      Hi Stuart, I’m afraid I do not know an exact date, I would suggest contacting The Royal Mint Experience who should hopefully be able to confirm this for you. Thanks Luke



  10. Wayne cherry on January 4, 2018 at 9:07 pm

    Hi just wondering why you are classing this as a circulated coin when when you go and strike your own they are actually bunc and even says that on the back of the packaging?



  11. Claire Webber on January 4, 2018 at 8:43 pm

    Hi, i am an avid 50p coin collector. I have 3 sets of olympic coins, with commemorative coins in 2 and a 5.00 coin in the third. I have nearly £20.00 in olympic offside rule 50ps, nearly £100 in other double olympic 50ps as well as wwf, guides, nhs, 1066, among others. I also have a Isaac Newton 50p that i got in summer this year. Is it worth having my collection valued and insured? I value your opinion.



    • Luke Hearn on January 5, 2018 at 8:18 am

      Hi Claire, It sounds like you have a fantastic collection of coins – well done. The honest answer is that it’s completely up to you. It sounds as though you have quite a high monetary value in your collection just based on face value so if you are concerned by this, you may wish to insure them. Thanks Luke



  12. Les Kent on January 4, 2018 at 8:04 pm

    Once again this is the Royal mint ripping off the true collectors and profiteering from
    us and the general public It’s a bloody disgrace just because they have the Monopoly.
    I for one will NOT be buying any more coins.
    Les .



  13. Tony on January 4, 2018 at 7:41 pm

    Hi
    You say that the mintage figures for Jane Austin and WW1 airforce £2 coins.have not been released
    I and a number of my friends have not seen them in circulation.
    When was they put into General circ
    Thanks Tony



    • Luke Hearn on January 5, 2018 at 8:06 am

      Hi Tony, As yet the 2017 commemorative £2 coins are yet to be released into general circulation. Thanks Luke



  14. James on January 4, 2018 at 7:28 pm

    Is that the confirmed mintage figures for the 2017 Beatrix Potter 50ps? Seems quite high compared to the 2016 editions.

    Also are likely to see future editions (2018) of the Beatrix 50ps?



    • Luke Hearn on January 5, 2018 at 8:07 am

      Hi James, yes – these are the mintage figures released by The Royal Mint. There is no news regarding any 2018 Beatrix Potter coins, but we’ll be sure to let you know if any are announced. Thanks Luke



  15. candice clews on January 4, 2018 at 7:23 pm

    How come tbe benjamin bunny mintage figure has changed? 🙂 thanks



    • Luke Hearn on January 5, 2018 at 8:11 am

      Hi Candice, we’re not totally sure, however it has been updated on The Royal Mint website. Thanks Luke



  16. Sharon Hutchinson on January 4, 2018 at 6:08 pm

    When can I book a strike for this.is it available now plz if not could you please give me a date.



    • Luke Hearn on January 5, 2018 at 8:08 am

      Hi Sharon, you’ll have to contact The Royal Mint Experience for these details. Thanks Luke



  17. Julia hunt on January 4, 2018 at 5:54 pm

    And we have 8!! All 2018 sir Isaac Newton 50ps and all the covers are signed by Aaron West!! Only 100 available. I wonder what they are worth!! We went new years day with the children to the mint. Was a great day out.



    • Darren starkey on January 23, 2018 at 12:08 pm

      Hi Julia,
      Would you be kind enough to give me more details of this pleeeaaassse



  18. nikblack on January 4, 2018 at 4:59 pm

    hello I have a question, when it begins and when it finishes the delivery of the coins, by the visits to the royal mint?



    • Luke Hearn on January 4, 2018 at 5:47 pm

      Hi Nikblack, you can visit The Mint now to strike a 2018 Isaac Newton coin and we believe this will last until February. Thanks Luke