The Royal Mint to re-issue the UK’s RAREST 50p
The UK’s RAREST 50p coin in circulation will be re-issued by The Royal Mint in 2019 it has been confirmed.
The Kew Gardens 50p hit the headlines in February 2014 when it was revealed as the most scarce 50p in circulation. At the peak of the hype surrounding its value, some coins were exchanging hands for hundreds of pounds!
According to the Royal Proclamation, published on 8 November, a total of TEN new 50p coins will be issued in 2019, all of which will be re-issues of previous designs.
The coins to be re-issued comprise:
- Britannia 50p – the figure of Britannia, seated beside a lion, with a shield resting against her right side, holding a trident in her right hand and an olive branch in her left hand; and the figure “50” together with the words “NEW PENCE”;
- D-Day Landings 50p– a design representing the D-Day landings of the Allied invasion force heading for Normandy and filling the sea and sky, with the inscription “50 PENCE”;
- Roger Bannister 50p – the legs of a running athlete with a stylized stopwatch in the background and, with the inscription “50 PENCE”;
- Victoria Cross Medal 50p – a depiction of the obverse and reverse of a Victoria Cross with the date “29. JAN 1856” in the centre of the reverse of the Cross, with the inscription “VC” “FIFTY PENCE”;
- Victoria Cross Soldier 50p – a depiction of a soldier carrying a wounded comrade with an outline of the Victoria Cross surrounded by a sunburst effect in the background with the inscription “FIFTY PENCE” ;
- Boy Scouts 50p – a fleur-de-lis superimposed over a globe and accompanied by the inscription “BE PREPARED” and the dates “∙ 1907 ∙” and “∙ 2007 ∙”, and the denomination “FIFTY PENCE”;
- Kew Gardens 50p – a design showing the pagoda, a building strongly associated with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, encircled by a vine and accompanied by the dates “1759” and “2009”, with the word “KEW” at the base of the pagoda;
- Battle of Hastings 50p – a design showing the scene from the Bayeux tapestry depicting King Harold with an arrow in his eye accompanied by the inscription “BATTLE OF HASTINGS 1066” and the date “2016”;
- Battle of Britain 50p – a design showing airmen running to their planes with enemy aircraft overhead accompanied by the inscription “THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN 1940”;
- Girl Guides 50p – a design which depicts a repeating pattern of the current identity of Girlguiding UK, accompanied by the inscription “CELEBRATING ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF GIRLGUIDING UK” and the denomination “50 PENCE”.
It’s expected the coins will be issued in 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 50p with commemorative collector’s editions in Cupro-Nickel, Silver and Gold being made available. It is not yet clear whether any of the new 50ps will be issued for circulation.
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Hi Rachel thanks for letting me know about the change checker app I only missed out on one £5.00 coin the 2012 paralympic one.I managed to find one on amazon and already bought it. I am a bit surprised that you have not put the 8 £20.. coins the 2 £50.00 coins and the three £100.00 coins on this brilliant app. very happy to have confirmed that I have all the coins on this app.
MANY THANKS AGAIN PAUL
That’s amazing that your collection is so complete. It shows real dedication so well done Paul. Unfortunately we haven’t listed the £20, £50 or £100 coins as we only include base metal coins on the app. Thanks, Rachel
Hi Rachel can you confirm the number of coins minted since decimalisation in case i have missed any. my list is 72==50p 26==£1 54==£2 58==£5 8==£20 2==£50 3==£100
Hi Paul, you can use our Change Checker app to check that your collection includes each UK issued since decimalisation: https://www.changechecker.org/find-a-coin.aspx
Unfortunately we do not have a list of banknotes issued. Thanks, Rachel
please keep me informed as i have all coins since decimalisation and don’t want to miss out on these new coins
Hi Paul, it’s fantastic that you’ve been able to collect so many coins, your collection must be very impressive. So long as you’ve registered your interest using the sign up form on the blog you will be kept up to date with these new coins. Thanks, Rachel
I would like to publish a Kew Gardens 50p coin when it arrives cheers John
Please keep notified as and when new coins are released in the UK. Thankyou
Hi Kathy, so long as you’ve signed up using the form on this blog you’ll be kept up to date with all the news about these 2019 coins. Thanks, Rachel
Please keep me informed
Hi John, you can fill in the form at the bottom of this blog to be kept up to date with this topic. Thanks, Rachel
I am really at a loss to understand why any particular coin should be reissued and also the fact there are going to be a total of 10 previous 50p designs. Each one of those particular 50p designs are very individual and commemorate a special subject or occasion and year date. Each are to be in base, silver and gold and purely as a collectors commemorative edition. To be really cynical the only thing I see is a money making exercise by the Mint and their subsidiaries. There are numerous subjects and occasions past and present still unexplored that could be used to really extend the range and appeal of our 50p piece.
I as a collector have examples of all 50p’s issued, I will not however be rushing to buy plagiarized duplicates of
previously dated designs with 2019 on them.
Hi David, you make a very fair point and I think there will be other collectors out there who agree with you. On the other hand, as the coins chosen are so individual and commemorate such a special date, it seems like a fitting way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 50p by re-issuing some of the favourites. As they are 2019 dated they won’t affect the scarcity of the original coins, but it will be exciting for those collectors that haven’t been able to find the originals to be able to own the collector editions instead. There will also be other 50ps issued next year to commemorate different occasions (we already know of the Gruffalo and Brexit 50p), so I hope you don’t feel too disheartened by next year’s coins. Thanks, Rachel
Given that the Britannia and D Day 50ps were large size and the rest smaller will ALL the reissued 50ps be small sized?
Also, given that the Paddington Bear 50ps are now in circulation will you issue ID cards for them, the 4 RAF £2 coins and the Captain Cook £2 coin so that I can add them to my Change Checker book
Hi Jim, we don’t yet know what size the pre 1997 re-issued 50ps will be, although it would make sense for them all to be the standard smaller size or a new die will be needed. It will be interesting to see what The Royal Mint decide to do. We do offer ID cards for the 2018 coins, you can find them here: https://www.westminstercollection.com/p-506K/Change-Checker-2018-ID-Cards-Sheet-1.aspx and here: https://www.westminstercollection.com/p-577H/Change-Checker-2018-ID-Cards-Sheet-2.aspx
Hi Rachel how much will it cost
Hi John, we don’t know how much the set will cost yet, but if you’d like to be kept up to date with all the latest you can sign up using the form at the bottom of this blog. Thanks, Rachel
Obviously any re-issues of the old large 30mm coin designs (e.g D-DAY) will be the new 27.3mm size I take it, or if not released into general circulation could remain as the original size.
Hi Les, we’re not yet 100% sure what size the pre 1997 re-issued 50ps will be struck to, although it would make sense to be the standard 27.3mm or else they would need to create a larger die. It will be interesting to see what The Royal Mint decide to do that’s for sure!
I’m an avid collector and I would be extremely interested in the new Kew gardens 50p.
It will be really exciting for people that haven’t been able to find the 2009 coin to have the chance to own the re-issued version.
Why is there no coin celebrating the 150th anniversary of the only gold rush in Britain?
is the new kew gardens going to be issued with the date 2009 or 2019 if so will this affect the value of the 2009 kew gardens
Hi Nicola. The new coin will be dated 2019 so won’t affect the original coin’s scarcity.
looking forward for new coins really excited
I recall that when I was a lad, the coin that was put in the Christmas pudding mix was not a sixpence but an older, smaller, silver three pence coin that we called a “Joey”. Even at that time, in the 1940/50’s this coin was a rarity, but we wouldn’t have dreamed of using a sixpence instead.
Hi Bryan, that’s really interesting, did you ever manage to find a Joey in your portion of pudding? It’s a lovely Christmas tradition.
Hi,
Will there ever be a coin to remember the 5 time champion of the world Eric Bristow who sadly passed away on the 5th of April 2018.
That’s a great suggestion Liam. I’m sure many people would support an Eric Bristow coin. Unfortunately we don’t issue coins ourselves, so it would be down to The Royal Mint to decide on that one.
Good news! Thank you!!!)
Just a bit confusing – it says they are being released next year and at the end it says ..”it is unclear whether they will be released into general circulation,”which presumably means BU silver and gold only ,RM packs,blue cards and years sets.
Would that be a fair assumption ?
cheers Lew
Hi Lewis, we believe that the coins will be released for sale next year in BU, Silver and Gold, but we don’t yet know if The Royal Mint will also release the coins for circulation. We’ll keep you updated as soon as we know more. I hope that helps. Thanks, Rachel
I have the airplane ones I had them for 25 years have 8 of them
What are the airplane ones?
Hi Mike, this is the D-Day 50p. You can find out more about it here: https://www.changechecker.org/coin/109/pre-1997-50p-D-Day.aspx
Aha! In my collection. I was beginning to think I had missed a minting.
Will the coins have s 2019 date to differentiate them from the originals?
Yes, these coins will be dated 2019 🙂
I am surprised that the coins are exactly the same as previous coins released 🙁
These particular 50ps are re-issues of previous designs, but there will be new coins next year as well. We already know about the Gruffalo 50p which will be very exciting! You can find out more about this coin here: https://www.changechecker.org/2018/11/13/the-gruffalo-50p-coin-what-we-know-so-far/
And of course the Brexit 50p, unless of course it’s been thought better of and scrapped already!?
Hi Dan, the Brexit 50p is due to be released in March next year. There will be other 50ps beside the 10 re-issued coins to mark the 50th anniversary of the 50p, such as the Gruffalo 50p which we also know will be released next year. Thanks, Rachel
The full range will only be made in gold piedfort. Base, silver and gold standard weight feature just Britannia, the Euro designs and B-day landings
Hi Jon, we don’t yet know if the full range will also be released into circulation. We’ll keep you updated when we know more. Thanks, Rachel
Interesting selection and great to see my favourite the original Britannia design re-used, complete with “New Pence” inscription. I do hope that gets issued for circulation: Will bring back loads of memories for us older change-checkers! I was in primary school in October 1969 and had to wait weeks before my dad got a 50p piece in his change instead of a Ten Shilling note (I was too young to realise I could have gone to the bank to get one and ten bob was a lot of money back then). Looks like 2019 will be a good year for collectors.
It will be really exciting to see these much loved coins re-issued next year, and what wonderful memories they bring back for you Jim. Thanks for sharing.
Regarding the new coins, especially the Kew
How will this effect the rarity of the Kew Gardens previously issued
Hi Steve, the re-issued coins will be dated 2019 and therefore will not affect the rarity of the original coins. We don’t yet know if the new coins will actually enter circulation or not, be we’ll keep you updated as soon as we know more. Thanks, Rachel
Thanks for the great info regarding 2019 re-issues, will we be able to pre-order these coins ? If so, put me down for 1 of each !! Many thanks.
Hi John, unfortunately these coins aren’t available to pre order at the moment, but if you register your interest by signing up using the form at the bottom of the blog, you will be kept up to date and be one of the first to know as soon as they are available. Thanks, Rachel