Location United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies)

Issuing entity The Royal Mint

Queen Elizabeth II (1952-2022)

Type Standard circulation coin

Years 1969-1981

Value 50 Pence (0.50 GBP)

Currency Pound sterling (decimalized, 1971-date)

Composition Copper-nickel (75% Cu, 25% Ni)

Weight 13.5 g

Diameter 30 mm

Thickness 2.45 mm

Shape Equilateral curve heptagon (7-sided)

Technique Milled

Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑

Demonetized 28 February 1998

Number N# 880 Help

References KM# 913, Sp# H1

Obverse

Second crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, legend around.

Script: Latin

Lettering: ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D·1969

Unabridged legend: Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensatrix

Translation: Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith

Designer: Arnold Machin Read more on Wikipedia

Reverse

A figure of Britannia seated beside a lion, with a shield resting against her right side, holding a trident in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, denomination below and legend above.

Script: Latin

Lettering:

NEW PENCE

50

Designer: Christopher Ironside Read more on Wikipedia

Edge

Plain

Mint

Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom (1968-date)

Comments

This reverse design by Christopher Ironside, together with the Arnold Machin second portrait of Her Majesty on the obverse, was first issued in 1969 to replace the 10-shilling banknote as part of the decimalisation process. In the years 1971, 1972, 1974 & 1975 the coin was only available in Annual Proof sets. There was not a strike issued in 1973 as a commemorative 50p was issued instead to celebrate the UK joining the European Economic Community. Finally, in 1982, 11 years after Decimalisation Day on 15th February 1971, the word 'NEW' was removed from the denomination on the reverse.

The design was re-issued with Ian Rank-Broadley fourth portrait obverse in 2009 with the original 'New Pence' legend as part of the 16-piece set to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 50 pence denomination. Again in 2019 the design was re-issued and featured Jody Clark's fifth obverse portrait and formed part of the 5-coin British Culture Set celebrating 50 years of the 50p.

Christopher Ironside designed all six new denominations for decimalisation for which he was awarded the OBE in 1971.