British Commemorative 50p Coin Collection
A varied collection of 19 different genuine British commemorative 50p coins, bringing together designs celebrating important moments, people, organisations, sporting achievements and anniversaries from British history.
The collection spans several decades of modern British commemorative coinage, with a range or historical subjects.
Every design shown below is guaranteed to be included, making this an excellent starter collection or an easy way for an established collector to fill multiple gaps at once.
Roger Bannister Four-Minute Mile
Year: 2004
Circulation Mintage: 9,032,500
Issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Roger Bannister becoming the first person to run a mile in under four minutes.
Bannister achieved the historic feat on 6 May 1954, completing the mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. The coin’s design by James Butler depicts the legs of a runner alongside a stylised stopwatch, representing the combination of athletics and precise timing behind the achievement.
Victoria Cross Award
Year: 2006
Circulation Mintage: 12,087,000
The companion design to the Victoria Cross Heroic Acts coin, also released for the 150th anniversary of the institution of the Victoria Cross.
Designed by Claire Aldridge, the reverse depicts both sides of the Victoria Cross medal itself, accompanied by the letters VC and the date 29 January 1856, when the decoration was instituted by Queen Victoria.
Sherlock Holmes
Year: 2019
Circulation Mintage: 8,602,000
Released to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the birth of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes.
The design by Stephen Raw incorporates the famous detective’s silhouette surrounded by titles from Sherlock Holmes stories and novels, celebrating one of the most recognisable characters in British literature.
Scouting Movement
Year: 2007
Circulation Mintage: 7,710,750
Issued to commemorate the centenary of the foundation of the Scouting Movement.
The reverse features the famous fleur-de-lis emblem over a globe alongside the Scout motto BE PREPARED and the dates 1907 and 2007, representing the international development of the movement founded by Robert Baden-Powell.
Isaac Newton
Year: 2017
Circulation Mintage: 1,801,500
Issued to commemorate the 375th anniversary of the birth of Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most influential figures in the history of mathematics and science.
The intricate reverse by Aaron West incorporates elements inspired by one of Newton’s diagrams showing the relationship between the Sun, Moon and Earth.
With approximately 1.8 million released into circulation, this is one of the lower-mintage designs in this collection. The Royal Mint also produced separate Strike Your Own Newton coins at The Royal Mint Experience, which should not be confused with ordinary circulation examples.
Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary
Year: 2005
Circulation Mintage: 17,649,000
Issued to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the publication of Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language in 1755.
The distinctive typographic design by Tom Phillips reproduces dictionary-style entries for the words FIFTY and PENCE, celebrating one of the most important works in the history of the English language.
Suffragettes
Year: 2003
Circulation Mintage: 3,124,030
Issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Women’s Social and Political Union.
Designed by Mary Milner Dickens, the reverse depicts a suffragette chained to railings while holding a WSPU banner, alongside a ballot paper and the words GIVE WOMEN THE VOTE.
The coin commemorates the organised campaign for women’s suffrage and the women who fought for political representation in Britain.
NHS 50th Anniversary
Year: 1998
Circulation Mintage: 5,001,000
Released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the National Health Service, which was established in 1948.
The reverse features a pair of hands set against radiating lines, surrounded by the letters NHS, representing the care provided by the health service throughout its first half-century.
Christopher Ironside
Year: 2013
Circulation Mintage: 7,000,000
Issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Christopher Ironside, the artist responsible for designing Britain’s original decimal coinage.
The reverse uses Ironside’s Royal Arms design, which had originally been considered for the first 50p introduced in 1969 before his Britannia design was selected instead. The previously unused Royal Arms design was finally placed on a circulating 50p as a tribute to its creator.
UK Presidency Of The EU And EEC Anniversary
Year: 1998
Circulation Mintage: 5,043,000
Issued to commemorate both the UK’s Presidency of the European Union and the 25th anniversary of the UK’s accession to the European Economic Community in 1973.
Designed by John Mills, the reverse incorporates twelve European stars around the letters EU, together with the dates 1973 and 1998.
Girlguiding
Year: 2010
Circulation Mintage: 7,410,090
Issued to commemorate 100 years of Girlguiding in the United Kingdom.
The reverse features the Girlguiding trefoil emblem repeated within the design. Girlguiding developed after Agnes Baden-Powell became involved in establishing an organisation for girls following the growth of her brother Robert Baden-Powell’s Scouting Movement.
Public Libraries
Year: 2000
Circulation Mintage: 11,263,000
Released to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Public Libraries Act of 1850.
Designed by Mary Milner Dickens, the reverse depicts the turning pages of a book above a classical library building, combining traditional books with representations of compact discs to reflect the changing ways in which information could be accessed through public libraries.
WWF
Year: 2011
Circulation Mintage: 3,400,000
Issued to celebrate the 50th anniversary of WWF, the international conservation organisation founded in 1961.
The reverse by Matthew Dent features the famous WWF panda at its centre, surrounded by numerous symbols representing animals, plants, habitats and environmental issues associated with conservation.
With a circulation mintage of 3.4 million, it is one of the lower-mintage non-Olympic 50p designs from this period.
Representation Of The People Act
Year: 2018
Circulation Mintage: 9,000,000
Issued to commemorate the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918.
The legislation represented a major development in British democracy, substantially expanding the electorate and giving some women the parliamentary vote for the first time.
The reverse depicts a group of people representing the changing electorate alongside the words 1918 REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT.
Benjamin Britten
Year: 2013
Circulation Mintage: 5,300,000
Issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of British composer Benjamin Britten.
The reverse was designed by artist Tom Phillips and uses words inspired by Britten’s work arranged across musical staves, including references to his celebrated composition The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. The design was notable for being the first UK 50p to feature both the date and denomination on the obverse.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Year: 2014
Circulation Mintage: 6,500,000
Issued to commemorate the XX Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow in 2014.
The reverse depicts a cyclist and runner alongside the Scottish Saltire, representing two of the sporting disciplines contested during the Games and their Scottish host city.
Battle Of Hastings
Year: 2016
Circulation Mintage: 6,700,000
Issued to commemorate the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, one of the defining events in English history.
Designed by John Bergdahl, the reverse draws inspiration from the Bayeux Tapestry and depicts the famous scene traditionally interpreted as King Harold being struck in the eye by an arrow.
Team GB
Year: 2016
Circulation Mintage: 6,400,000
Released to celebrate Team GB’s participation in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Designed by Tim Sharp, the dynamic reverse combines representations of different Olympic sports with the Team GB logo, celebrating Britain’s athletes competing at the Rio Games.
Battle Of Britain
Year: 2015
Circulation Mintage: 5,900,000
Issued to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the major aerial campaign fought during the Second World War in 1940.
Designed by Gary Breeze, the reverse depicts three airmen looking towards aircraft flying overhead, with the inscription THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN 1940.
Coins Included:
Face Value: £9.50
Condition:
The photographs show an example of the collection available. Multiple quantities are available, so the exact individual coins received may not be the same physical examples shown in the photographs. However, all of the commemorative designs listed above are guaranteed to be included.
All coins are genuine circulated British 50p coins. As circulated coins, their individual condition will naturally vary. Please expect signs of previous use including scratches, scuffs, surface marks, small knocks, fingerprints, dirt, discolouration, toning, tarnishing and general age-related wear.
Some examples may be brighter or darker than others and individual coins may show more circulation wear than those pictured. They are sold as circulated collectable coins and are not being described as mint-state, proof or uncirculated examples.
Overall, the coins are in good collectable circulated condition and provide a varied selection of British commemorative 50p designs.
Postage & Multi-Buy:
Coins will be carefully packed between two pieces of card for protection and sent securely inside an envelope.
Multi-buy discounts are available across all eligible coin listings in my store, so you can mix and match additional 50p coins, £2 coins and other eligible collectable coins while saving on multiple purchases.