UK 50p issued to wish Team GB and ParalympicsGB luck in the 2024 Paris Olympics!

As excitement for the upcoming Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games builds, The Royal Mint have issued a new UK 50p to celebrate Team GB and ParalympicsGB. The 2024 UK Team GB & ParalympicsGB 50p not only commemorates our athletes’ dedication and achievements, but also represents the unity and pride of the United Kingdom as the teams prepare to complete on the world stage.

2024 UK Team GB & ParalympicsGB 50p
2024 UK Team GB & ParalympicsGB 50p

Return to Paris

The Olympic Games will return to Paris in 2024, exactly 100 years since the city last hosted the games. The Paralympics will also be held in Paris for the first time this year, making the games the biggest sporting event ever held in France.

1924 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony
Credit: Agence Rol, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know? The Ancient Olympic Games have been dated as far back as 776 BC, however the first modern international Summer Olympics were held in Athens in 1896, where 14 nations competed in 9 sports.

A tribute to excellence

You may recognise this coin as it actually featured in the 2024 Annual Coin set at the beginning of the year, however its now been individually issued.

In the centre of the design are two geometric athletes in action – one representing Team GB, the other representing ParalympicsGB – set against the iconic Union Jack. If you look closely, you’ll even see the Eiffel Tower at the bottom of the design, a nod to the hosting city.

This powerful imagery highlights Team GB and ParalympicsGB’s strength and resilience, along with the nation’s unwavering support.


A history of Olympic coins

The 2024 UK Team GB & ParalympicsGB 50p isn’t the first UK coin to be issued celebrating the Olympics, but it is the first UK sporting 50p to feature King Charles III on the obverse.

2011 Olympic 50ps

Perhaps the most well-known commemorative 50p series was issued in 2011 when 29 new coins were released, each representing a different Olympic sport.

The Olympic 50p series created a frenzy, and not just among collectors…millions rose to the challenge of collecting all 29, and for many, this marked the start of their interest in coins. So popular were these 50ps, that The Royal Mint estimates as many as 75% of them have been removed from circulation by collectors!

2016 Team GB 50p

To the delight of many Olympic 50p collectors, The Royal Mint issued a special 50p in 2016 to wish Team GB success for the Rio Olympic Games.

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 was officially endorsed by Team GB and celebrated the spirit of British Olympians.

Dual-Dated Team GB 50p

Back in 2020, a new Team GB 50p was released as part of the 2020 Annual Coin Set to celebrate Team GB’s participation in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the postponement of the Olympic Games to 2021, this 50p was never individually released in 2020…

Excitingly, this meant that there were two versions of the coin – one with the obverse dated 2020 from the 2020 Annual Coin Set and one with the obverse dated 2021 from the coin’s individual release, making it one of only a small handful of UK 50ps to feature a dual-date.


Secure the 2024 UK Team GB & ParalympicsGB 50p

Click here to add the 2024 Team GB & ParalympicsGB 50p to your collection for just £5.99 (+p&p) >>

NATIONAL TEAM GB 50p for 50p BALLOT ANNOUNCED!

*** UPDATE – BALLOT NOW CLOSED ***

The 2021 Team GB 50p ballot has now closed, but congratulations to our 650 lucky winners!


Despite the road to Tokyo 2020 not being easy for our Team GB athletes, their performances and dedication to their sports has be nothing short of inspirational.

The 2020 Games, amongst other things, were postponed for only the fourth time in Olympic history, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With this, we also saw the delay of the individual release of the official Team GB 50p, issued to celebrate our incredible athletes in the upcoming sporting event.

2021 Team GB 50p

So, to celebrate Team GB’s incredible success at this year’s Olympic Games and the release of this outstanding new 50p coin, Change Checker is incredibly excited to announce that we’re launching a National UK 50p for 50p Ballot.

Your chance to own the 2021 Team GB 50p for JUST 50p

We’re giving away 10 of these fantastic new coins at face value for every medal won by Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics!

That means 650 lucky collectors will have the chance to own this brand new coin, in Brilliant Uncirculated quality for JUST 50p.

The winners will be contacted via email on the 23rd August with details of how to claim the new 50p coin for just 50p.

Unusual Dual-Date

This coin was initially issued as part of the 2020 Annual Coin Set but with the postponement of the Olympic Games to 2021, this 50p was never individually released in 2020.

This 50p is already proving to be one of the most sought-after coins in recent years, especially after collectors have waited a whole year to get their hands on the individual issue.

Excitingly, this means that there are two versions of the coin – one with the obverse dated 2020 from the 2020 Annual Coin Set and one with the obverse dated 2021 from this year’s individual release.

What’s more, this makes the new 2021 UK Team GB 50p one of only a small handful of UK 50ps to feature a dual-date – only adding to the collectability of the new coin!

You can secure this coin for your collection for JUST £4.50 (+p&p) in Brilliant Uncirculated quality here >>

The coin we’ve all been waiting for… the 2021 UK Team GB 50p

Back in 2020, collectors were delighted by the announcement of the new Team GB 50p, released as part of the Annual Coin Set, to celebrate Team GB’s participation in the upcoming Olympic Games.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the postponement of the Olympic Games to 2021, this 50p was never individually released in 2020.

Collectors have desperately been waiting for the chance to get their hands on this coin and now the big day has arrived, at Change Checker HQ, we are so excited to be sharing the details of this brand new 50p with you!

The brand new coin, designed by David Knaption, features a depiction of various Olympic sports and the official Team GB logo. But, arguably the most exciting feature of this brand new coin, is that it’s dual-dated!

Unlike the version of this coin issued as part of the 2020 Annual Coin Set, this new coin features a 2021 dated obverse, whilst still keeping the original 2020 reverse design!

Excitingly for collectors, this makes the new 2021 UK Team GB 50p one of only a handful of UK coins to feature a dual-date – adding to it’s collectability!

To secure this coin for your collection for JUST £4.50 (+p&p) in Brilliant Uncirculated quality, presented in Official Change Checker packaging, simply click here >>

Dual-Dated Coins

This brand new 2021 UK Team GB 50p is one of only a handful of UK coins to feature a dual-date.

Other dual-dated 50ps include the 2019 dated Kew Gardens, Battle of Hastings and Scouts 50p coins, issued as part of the 50th anniversary of the 50p collections. These 50p coins featured both their original issue dates on the reverse and their re-issued 2019 dates on the obverse!

2019 50th Anniversary of the 50p coins. Top left:
Kew Gardens, Top Right: Scouting Centenary, and Bottom: Battle of Hastings.

Additionally, this 50p, which celebrates the UK’s presidency of the European Council of Ministers and the completion of the Single Market features both a 1992 and 1993 date on its reverse!

1992/93 UK EC Presidency 50p

Undoubtedly, the dual date on this brand new 2021 UK Team GB 50p will add to its collectability, as well as already being one of the biggest numismatic stories of the past year.

And, considering the popularity of previous Olympic 50ps, i’m sure collectors will be quick to snap this coin up for their collections.

Olympic 50p Craze

In 2012, 29 50p coins were released to commemorate the London Olympics and millions rose to the challenge of collecting them all. For many, this marked the start of their interest in coins.

The Royal Mint now estimates that as many as 75% of the Olympic 50p coins have been removed from circulation by collectors, which is a testament to their popularity.

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. It was considered by many to be the 30th Olympic 50p, so could the brand new Team GB 50p be considered the 31st?

Team GB 2016 United Kingdom 50p BU Coin UKU01856.
2016 Team GB 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 was officially endorsed by Team GB and celebrates the spirit of British Olympians.

But, now as the 2021 UK Team GB 50p coin takes centre stage, I’m sure the coin collecting community will be sent into a frenzy once more, with demand for this coin already being high.

Fourth Cancellation in Games Entire History

Since the opening of the modern Olympics in 1896, the international sports competition has only been cancelled three times: once during World War I and twice in World War II.

Olympic Torch at the Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The COVID-19 outbreak is the only non-militant threat to have disrupted the Olympic Games during peacetime.

This 50p marks not only Team GB’s participation in one of the most renowned sporting events worldwide, but also the impact the past year has had on centuries worth of tradition.

With the significance of this year’s Games playing a key part in the interest for this coin, we’re certain coin collectors and sporting fans alike will be eager to add the 2021 UK Team GB 50p to their collections.


Will you be adding this brand new dual-dated 2021 UK Team GB 50p to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!


Secure your 2021 UK Team GB 50p today!

Own the brand new 2021 UK Team GB 50p Coin in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality for JUST £4.50 (+p&p) and cheer on our incredible athletes as they chase their dreams in Tokyo this summer.

Your coin has been protectively encapsulated in Official Change Checker packaging with that all-important hologram to guarantee its superior quality.

Don’t miss this sought-after 50p! Secure your 2021 UK Team GB Tokyo 50p Coin today by clicking here >>