50p Coins
First-Ever UK Dinosaur 50p Series Released!
A brand new United Kingdom 50p series has been announced and the news is so colossal it’s sure to shake the coin collecting community!
The new series celebrates the Discovery of Dinosaurs with three brand new 50p coins.
British anatomist Richard Owen proposed the term ‘Dinosauria’ in 1842 and this comprised the first three dinosaurs to be discovered – the Megalosaurus, Iguanodon, and Hylaeosaurus.
Excitingly, this is the FIRST-TIME ever Dinosaurs have featured on UK coinage so we’re very excited by this numismatic first!
What’s more, this new series of 50p coins has been issued in partnership with the Natural History Museum so the coins are sure to be popular with palaeontologists and collectors alike!
So without further delay, let’s take a closer look at the designs of these coins…
Hylaeosaurus 50p
The final coin in the incredibly popular Dinosauria 50p series has JUST been released and features the Hylaeosaurus.
It is estimated this dinosaur was around five metres long, however limited remains have been found of this particular species…
Designer, Robert Nicholls wanted to pay homage to the life-sized Crystal Palace Park Hylaeosaurus sculpture and we think he’s done an amazing job with this truly unique coin design.
This is the final coin in this series and has been officially released today!
So, if you don’t want to miss out on completing the series, then you can secure this brand new 50p to your collection here.
This 50p is available in Gold Proof, Silver Proof and Brilliant Uncirculated Quality.
Iguanodon 50p
The second coin in the incredibly popular Dinosauria 50p series features the Iguanodon.
Distinctively, the Iguanodon had large spikes on their thumbs which you can see clearly in the intricate details of the coin design.
It is thought these spikes could have been used for defence against predators. As Iguanodons were large herbivores, it is unlikely these would have been used for hunting.
This 50p is available in Gold Proof, Silver Proof and Brilliant Uncirculated Quality. You can secure this coin to your collection here.
Megalosaurus 50p
The first coin in the series was released in February and features the Megalosaurus Rex.
‘Megalosaurus’ translates to mean ‘Great Lizard’ and I think it definitely lives up to its name!
Living on earth around 166 million years ago, this great dinosaur could reach up to nine meters in length!
As the first coin in the Dinosaur series, this 50p is available in Gold Proof, Silver Proof and Brilliant Uncirculated Quality.
So there we have it! A good look at the brand new United Kingdom 50p series celebrating the Discovery of Dinosaurs.
As this is the first time Dinosaurs have ever featured on UK coinage, the coins have been issued in partnership with the Natural History Museum, AND they are brand new UK 50ps (the most collected coin in the country!) we’re certain this series is going to be immensely popular with collectors.
Do you have a favourite coin from the series? Let us know in the comments below!
2020 UK Hylaeosaurus CERTIFIED BU 50p
Do you want to add this exciting new 50p to your collection? Click here to secure yours today in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality!
You can now own the FINAL 50p coin in the Dinosauria series.
To secure this coin for your collection, click here.
Your guide to the Pre-1997 50p Coins
In recent years, the 50 pence piece has become the most collected coin in the world.
But here at Change Checker, we get asked a lot about the older specification 50p coins… “How many old 50ps are there to collect? How rare are my old 50ps? Can I still find these coins in circulation?” are just a few of the questions frequently asked.
So, we’ve put together a guide answering your questions and giving you the key facts we think you need to know about these out-of-circulation coins!
What are old specification 50ps?
The 50p emerged in 1969 as the first coin in the new decimal series.
It was also the world’s first seven-sided coin and has since become the most collected coin in the country!
In 1997, the specification for the 50p changed to the size and feel we’re familiar with today.
But, between 1969-1997, there were five 50p coins issued in these older specifications. But what was different about these coins?
Left to Right: Britannia New Pence, Entry to the EEC, Britannia Fifty Pence, EC Presidency, D-Day
Spot the difference
| Pre-1997 (old specification) | 1998 onwards (new specification) | |
| Weight | 13.05g | 8.00g |
| Diameter | 30mm | 27.30mm |
| Metal | Cupro-Nickel | Cupro-Nickel |
| Obverse Effigy | 1969-1985 – 2nd Portrait, Arnold Machin 1985-1997 – 3rd Portrait, Raphael Maklouf | 1998-2015 – 4th Portrait, Ian Rank-Broadley 2015-onwards – 5th Portrait, Jody Clark |
As you can see, despite the 50p retaining the same metal composition, the older specification was much bigger and heavier than the coin we’re used to today – imagine carrying around a bundle of those in your pockets!
These coins were removed from circulation when the new specifications were introduced, so you won’t come across these in your change.
What’s more, shop keepers and banks won’t accept these as legal tender, so we imagine a lot of these will have been kept by collectors for their private collections!
So, how many of these coins were issued? Let’s take a look at our Pre-1997 50p Mintage Chart and see..
You might have spotted the top coin in our chart has a mintage of JUST 109,000! Let’s take a look at each of these coins in closer detail to get the full story..
1969 Britannia New Pence
Fact File:
- Year of Issue: 1969-1981
- Obverse Designer: Arnold Machin
- Reverse Designer: Christopher Ironside
- Mintage: 594,917,500
The New Pence 50p was the first 50p coin ever issued and it featured Christopher Ironside’s iconic Britannia design.
Britannia first appeared on UK coinage in 1672 and since then has always been present on at least one denomination.
With a mintage of 594,917,500 is the most common of the pre-1997 50p designs, which is hardly surprising as it was the definitive 50p design between 1969-1981.
Despite it’s considerably high circulating mintage, this coin is still considered collectible as it’s no longer in circulation.
1973 Entry to the EEC 50p
Fact File:
- Year of Issue: 1973
- Obverse Designer: Arnold Machin
- Reverse Designer: David Wynne
- Mintage: 89,775,000
This coin was issued to celebrate the UK’s entry to the EU (then called the European Economic Council or the EEC).
With a mintage of 89,775,000 it is less common that the definitive design but not the rarest out there!
It is still incredibly sought-after by collectors though as this was the FIRST-EVER commemorative 50p!
1982 Britannia Fifty Pence
Fact File:
- Year of Issue: 1982/83/85
- Obverse Designer: Arnold Machin (1982/82) Raphael Maklouf (1985)
- Reverse Designer: Christopher Ironside
- Mintage: 114,819,007
In 1982 the ‘New Pence’ in the design was replaced with ‘Fifty Pence’ as the design was no longer considered new.
Although still the definitive design, this coin was only issued in 1982, 1983 and 1985 and featured two different portraits of Her Majesty on the obverse! Machin in ’82 and ’83 and the new Maklouf portrait in ’85.
With a mintage of 114,819,007, it’s the second most-common of the Pre-1997 50ps.
1992/93 EC Presidency 50p
Fact File:
- Year of Issue: 1992/93
- Obverse Designer: Raphael Maklouf
- Reverse Designer: Mary Milner
- Mintage: 109,000
Designed by Mary Milner, this 50p celebrates the UK’s presidency of the European Council of Ministers.
Excitingly, this 50p is the RAREST ever UK 50p to enter circulation. With a mintage of just 109,000 it’s even rarer than the sought-after Kew Gardens 50p which has a mintage of 210,000.
As this coin is no longer in circulation AND has the lowest ever UK 50p circulating mintage, it’s incredibly sought-after by collectors and if you’re lucky enough to have one in your collection, you should be extremely pleased!
1994 D-Day Landings 50p
Fact File:
- Year of Issue: 1994
- Obverse Designer: Raphael Maklouf
- Reverse Designer: John Mills
- Mintage: 6,705,520
Issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, this was the final 50p issued in the older specifications.
Interestingly, this has been voted Change Checkers ‘Favourite Ever’ 50p!
With a mintage of 6,705,520 it is the second rarest of the pre-1997 50p coins.
So hopefully our guide to the Pre-1997 50p coins will help you along the way to expanding your collection!
What’s most exciting about all five of these coins is that now they’re out of circulation, they are all considered particularly sought-after by collectors!
Do you have any of these coins in your collection already? Let us know in the comments below!
Own the UK’s FIRST-EVER Commemorative 50p
Could the 2020 Team GB become the most sought-after 50p ever?
Issued as part of the 2020 Annual Coin Set, the 50p coin supporting Team GB at the Tokyo Olympic Games has quickly become the talk of the collecting world…
As the news broke that this year’s Olympic Games would be postponed until 2021, collectors were soon asking the question, “What will happen to the 2020 Team GB 50p?”
Despite being released at the start of the year within the Annual Coin Set, the coin is yet to be individually released. We now know that this too will be postponed, in line with the Olympic Games, meaning collectors will have to wait until 2021 for the individual release of the Team GB 50p.
Two versions of the Team GB 50p
Excitingly, this will mean that there are two versions of the coin – one with the obverse dated 2020 from this year’s Annual Coin Set and one with the obverse dated 2021 for next year’s individual release.
The reverse design by David Knapton currently depicts the individual Olympic sports accompanied by the Olympic Rings, the Team GB logo, the inscription ‘TEAM GB’ and the date ‘2020’. But will this also be updated to reflect the new date of the Games – 2021?
Already in high demand
Already, the 2020 version of the Team GB 50p is being listed on secondary market sites for well over face value, as collectors rush to secure this version of the coin.
In fact, it appears that collectors have removed the coin from Annual Sets and is seen selling on eBay for over £35.
Demand for the 2020 version of the Team GB 50p is sure to be high, especially as it is only available as part of the Annual Set, meaning far fewer will be minted than if it were individually released.
Olympic 50p craze
Olympic themed coins are no stranger to the limelight…
In fact, it was the 2012 Olympic 50p collecting craze which kick started many collector’s interest in the hobby.
Since then an estimated 75% of these coins have been removed from circulation by collectors adding them to their collection.
And so collectors were delighted in 2016 when The Royal Mint issued a special 50p to wish Team GB success for the Rio 2016 Games, considered by many to be the 30th Olympic 50p.
The coin’s 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.
But now as the 2020 Team GB 50p takes centre stage, the coin collecting community has been sent into a frenzy once more.
I’m sure not only Olympic 50p collectors, but all Change Checkers will be really eager to secure this highly sought-after coin and will also be looking forward to the individual release of the updated version next year.
Own the 2020 Team GB 50p in the Brilliant Uncirculated Annual Coin Set
Don’t miss the opportunity to secure the sought-after 2020 Team GB 50p as part of the Annual Coin Set.
Own the set today in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for £40.00 (+p&p).