Everything you need to know about the UK Olympic 50p Series
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games are in full swing and we can hardly believe it’s been 4 years since London 2012. It’s about time we revisited the iconic UK Olympic Fifty Pence series.
The Complete UK Olympic 50p Series
Without doubt, the 29 coin series created a storm among collectors – millions rose to the challenge of collecting all 29, and for many, it marked the start of their interest in coins.
The Royal Mint estimates that as many as 75% of the Olympic 50p coins have been removed from circulation by collectors.
Do you own the rarest Olympic 50p?
Olympic 50ps have long been a favourite amongst collectors, but did you know that only 1,125,500 Football fifty pence pieces entered circulation? It’s definitely the rare one to look out for.
Although the Football 50p narrowly holds the title of the rarest sport in the series, there were still over one million of those struck for circulation. To hold the honourable title as “rare”, we must look beyond the official Royal Mint circulation figures…
The withdrawn Aquatics ‘minting error’ Olympic 50p
The Aquatics 50p which we are familiar with today is actually a modified version which removed the waves passing over the swimmer’s face.
Despite the original coin being withdrawn from circulation and the design adapted – there are still a few out there.
The Aquatics 50p design was modified to make the swimmer more visible.
Although the exact quantity of the original Aquatics design remains a mystery, we know it’s not unusual for these special coins to exchange hands for close to £1000… not a bad return on a 50p coin!
2009 Athletics Olympic 50p
Only 100,000 Presentation Packs were issued
In 2009, nine-year old Florence Jackson became the youngest person to design a coin for circulation in the UK. Her Athletics Olympic 50p design was the ultimate winner of a Blue Peter competition.
Although you may recognise this coin, you may not know that a rare version of this coin exists. When the competition winner was revealed, only 100,000 special edition Blue Peter coin packs were released with a 2009 dated coin – making it the only Olympic 50p without a 2011 date.
That makes this 2009 Athletics Olympic 50p more than twice as rare as the famous Kew Gardens 50p.
The rarest of the series
A gold version of each design was presented to the respective artist
It is without doubt that the gold versions of each 50p remain the rarest of the collection.
Unfortunately for collectors, obtaining one of these is nearly impossible as only one gold version of each design was presented to the respective winning designer.
Aside from the precious metal content, their unique status and significance rank them as potentially the most valuable UK 50p coins in existence.
Is this the 30th Olympic 50p?
To the delight of many Olympic 50p collectors, this year the Royal Mint issued a special 50p to wish Team GB success for the Rio 2016 Games.
The new 2016 UK Team GB 50p Coin
The coins obverse features a swimmer with the Team GB logo, the Olympic rings and the inscription ‘TEAM GB’. Designed by Tim Sharp, the coin has been officially endorsed by Team GB and celebrates the spirit of British Olympians – a must have for all Olympic 50p Collectors.
The ’30th’ Olympic 50p
Click here to own the coin that will be popular with coin collectors and sports enthusiasts alike.
I have a coin either what looks like an image printed behind the queens head. Is this common or do I have something special??
I’d be very willing to buy a spare Judo 50p from somebody to complete my one & only set, please !!
Have you tried looking on the Change Checker Swap Centre to see if there is any up for swaps? http://www.changechecker.org/swaps.aspx
I wish people would stop saying Aquatics ‘minting error’ Olympic 50p, they were technically not an error coin. The mint changed the coin to show the swimmer’s face after a run had been done, but the original with the lines had been intended for circulation
I’ve got 2 football ones and I’m not trying
I agree come on its near impossible to get a set now give the rest a chance
I collect £2 & 50p coins. I only want 1 set. That in itself is a challenge. Any others I get I put back into circulation to give other collecters a chance.
My cousin started me collecting and I now have 23 sets 1650 coins in total.
Doing well with11sets I have 14sets just need4football3judo 1rowing1shootingthen 18 sets 930 coins coins in total and still counting
Only 19,751 Blue Peter Coins 2009 were issued making it much rarer than originally thought. This information was received from the Royal Mint via email when I queried the number of coins produced.
How much do you think the gold ones worth?
I’ve just bought ten 50p off you and I still need 12 more
As a family we been collecting the Olympic coins from day one. We now have 11 completed sets in folders and estimated 1500 coins we haven’t sorted yet.
Hi Nick, wow 11 full sets? That is really impressive!
No wonder I can’t complete mine
I also have 11 sets and nearly another one as well
Isn’t that a bit greedy? Let other people have a chance.