50p Coins
Commemorate 75 years of the Windrush Generation
A new UK 50p coin has just been issued to commemorate 75 years since HMT Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, Essex!
The design on this new coin is a tribute to the important story of the passengers aboard the Windrush vessel in 1948, featuring two people of the Windrush Generation against a background of the Union flag.
Order your 2023 UK 75 Years of the Windrush Generation CERTIFIED BU 50p >>
In January, the 75 Years of the Windrush Generation 50p made an appearance in the 2023 Annual Coin Set – the first of its kind to feature King Charles III on the obverses!
And today, collectors can own this coin individually for the first time, so make sure you don’t miss out by ordering yours today >>
Struck to a Brilliant Uncirculated quality, the 2023 UK Windrush Generation 50p is available from Change Checker for just £5.99 (+p&p)!
HMT Empire Windrush
On the 22nd June, 1948, the famous ship arrived in the Essex dock after stopping in Trinidad, Jamaica, Mexico, Cuba and Bermuda.
Credit: BBC
Many of those aboard sought work and a new life in their destination, England. This was during a period where the UK faced economic collapse and needed more workers to rebuild the country after the war.
Since the Second World War, the Windrush Generation have helped shape modern British culture and society. To commemorate, Windrush Day is held on the 22nd of June each year – marking the date the ship disembarked.
2023 UK 75 Years of the Windrush Generation CERTIFIED BU 50p
To add this incredible coin to your collection for just £5.99 (+p&p), click here >>
UK 50p celebrates 75 years of the NHS
2023 marks 75 years of our NHS, and to celebrate, a UK 50p has been issued.
This coin may look familiar, and that’s because it featured in the 2023 Annual Coin Set released earlier this year, but now you can finally own it individually!
A closer look
The 2023 UK NHS 50p represents the nation’s appreciation for NHS workers and services, with an original design by Alice Lediard. The reverse design features key words associated with the NHS such as dedication, hope, support and compassion. The words ‘National Health Service 75’ can also be seen highlighted in the centre of the coin.
What’s more, The Royal Mint are donating 100% of the profit made from these coins to NHS Charities Together. Over 230 NHS Charities across the UK provide additional support and resources for both staff and patients.
What better way to say thank you for the last 75 years or service.
The nation’s service
Since it was established in 1948, the National Health Service has played a pivotal role in the lives of the British public. It provides millions of people with vital care and medical services. This was especially apparent in recent years during the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
University of Liverpool Faculty of Health & Life Sciences from Liverpool, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Numismatic history of the NHS
This isn’t the first time the NHS has been celebrated on a UK coin…
1998 50th Anniversary of the NHS 50p
In 1998, a UK 50p was released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the NHS.
The reverse design by David Cornell shows a pair of hands cupping rays of light along with the inscription ‘NHS FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY’.
2018 A-Z ‘N’ NHS 10p
Almost 20 years later in 2018, the NHS 10p was released as part of the 26 coin A-Z 10p series.
The series celebrated all things British, so it’s no surprise that the NHS was chosen to represent the letter N. The reverse design shows a stethoscope wrapped around the letter N in the shape of a heart.
The A-Z 10ps have become some of the hardest UK circulation coins to find, with a mintage of only 304,000 per letter.
And that brings us to 2023 and the new 75th anniversary of the NHS 50p, which you can own in brilliant uncirculated quality.
Secure your 2023 UK 75 Years of the NHS Certified BU 50p
Your 2023 UK NHS 50p is presented in official Change Checker packaging so it’s safely preserved for generations to come. Secure yours here >>
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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