Sir Isaac Newton 50p becomes EVEN MORE collectible
The Sir Isaac Newton 50p is one of the most popular 50ps in circulation. Shortly after it was issued in 2017, it ranked as the second rarest 50p in circulation after the Kew Gardens 50p, with a mintage figure of just 1.8 million.
Due to its huge popularity, the following year The Royal Mint announced that collectors would be able to strike their own 2018 dated Sir Isaac Newton 50p at The Royal Mint Experience. The 2018 dated coin became one of the rarest 50ps, as the only way to get one was to strike your own.
What makes this 50p so popular?
The coin’s incredibly detailed reverse design by Aaron West is based on elements of Propsition 11, in Book One of Newton’s Principia Mathematica. It also pays tribute to the legacy of Sir Isaac Newton, a genius of the Scientific Revolution and one of the most famous figures to ever hold the role of Master of the Mint.
Change Checkers even voted the 2017 Sir Isaac Newton 50p as their all time favourite Queen Elizabeth II circulating 50p in a poll last year.
An interesting error
As if this coin’s incredible popularity, intricate design and low mintage figure weren’t enough to make it extremely collectible, there’s something else you should look out for...
Several collectors have reported finding an error on their 2017 Sir Isaac Newton 50p. The reverse design looks normal, however the obverse appears to have several extra lines across Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait.
Credit: @The50pC on Twitter
This is thought to be an error caused during the striking process, a result of what is known as a die clash. Interestingly, the extra lines aren’t grooves scratched into the surface of the coin, but rather ‘whiskers’ standing slightly proud of the surface.
How rare is it?
Although we don’t know for sure how many of these error coins are in circulation, they’re thought to be extremely rare. They’ve even been listed on the secondary market for more than 100 times face value!
Always make sure you’re careful buying coins on the secondary market to avoid being overcharged.
Have you ever found an error coin in your change? Or perhaps you have this one? Let us know in the comments below!
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I have 5 of these sir Isaac Newton error coins just checked my coins. Don’t see any on eBay for sale right enough.
i have a issac newton fifty pence, i also have a ten pence with w on the back also another with f and a two pence with william shakespear!
Bought one on ebay the same day as recieved this blog in my email.It wasn’t listed as an ‘error’ so i don’t think the seller new what it was(ah the guilt) anyway i trawled through all the newtons available and found this.I ended up paying £14.50p + free p&p as there was another bidder,all in all i think i got a bargain and the coin itself is in excellent used condition possibly meeting the AUNC threshold.It is almost identical to the coin in the first photos with the same pattern of ‘whiskers’ around the neck/shoulder area.
I have a team GB swimmer 50p coin where the picture is twisted so the corners on the picture don’t line up with the corners on the coin
I have a pound coin it looks like 2 coins stuck together on half of the coin and the other half is OK I looks like it hasn’t being pressed properly
I have this “ghosting” on a 2014 50p shield and 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games 50p whereby part of the reverse design “lines” are imprinted on the head side. Appears to be the same sort of thing as Newton.
After checking my collection I have 13 of these coins in total with 1 of them being the error coin ??
It’s called a strike error and many coins have them but doesn’t mean it’s worth the world can pick em up for about £8 on the coin groups. EBay prices are ridiculous compared to what coins actually sell for
Sorry meant to 2016 £1 coin.
I have a Queen Elizabeth 2016 which is silver coloured in the middle but round the outside it’s te colour of an old Penny it’s very dull but looks reel just wonder why it would have this colouring.
Found one in my collection
These errors are noteworthy enough to be recognised by NGC. There are some examples in this video:
I came across 2 newtons in 2017 when they 1st came out and I also found another 1 about a month ago from another postoffice in dewsbury ?
Oh yes, appreciate the mention, there were several on Ebay when I bought this.
Who doesn’t like an error!
Kind Regards Les
@The50pCollector
I’ll look at mine later but was lucky enough a few months ago to find an updated 20p in not to bad condition
Sorry if you think you have an undated 20p, I sent my 20p coins to the royal mint and had it returned with a letter saying, it was not minted here by the Royal mint, I bought five of these coins on E bay the year the coins were minted, so yes it is a genuine 20p however the date was very professionally polished out, as the die that makes the coin is made with the date included so it is virtually impossible to strike the coin omitting the date.
I hope this will show all those holding one of these 20p pieces .If you can find where you got it from, or contact E bay or from wherever you got the coin and try to find out who is selling these cobbled coins.
I have found in my change a 2011 £2 coin with the Queens head almost 180 degrees out of position.
I have a English 2p coin (New pence )1979 in copper nickel same size and weight as any other two pence coin
I checked for this error and found one in amongst my collection of more than a dozen Newtons.
I’m not entirely convinced this is worth noting and place the error alongside the “Pemember” error
on the Gunpowder Plot £2 coin from 2005. Ebay has sold prices from £3 to £13.99, but only seven
such sales listed.
I’ve a 50p that looks like it has fractured would post a pic but doesn’t seem.to have this option here