Description

Front Design:
Figure of Britannia seated beside a lion, by Christopher Ironside.

Obverse Design(s):
Queen Elizabeth II portrait by Raphael Maklouf.
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More about the Britannia 50p

The figure of Britannia seated beside a lion is the most common 50p design in circulation and first appeared in 1672 on a British coin during the reign of Charles II. Long before then there were Roman coins showing the word ‘BRITANNIA’ and the helmeted female representation of Britannia to celebrate the Roman capture of Britain.

Both the old larger type 50p and the new smaller 50p were made dated 1997 (when the coin size changed), however the larger version was only made for year sets. The smaller version was the only one that was circulated in large numbers.

Britannia was always present on at least one coin denomination until 2008, when the decision was made to remove her from the 50 pence piece. This was met with hostility by Daily Mail readers and objection by dozens of MPs who launched a ‘Save Britannia’ campaign at the time. 

Despite the objections, the Britannia 50p design was replaced by the new Royal Shield in 2008 as the standard 50p design, and none have been issued since.

Mintage by Year (large 50p)

1969 – 188,400,000
1970 – 19,461,500
1976 – 43,746,500
1977 – 49,536,000
1978 – 72,005,500
1979 – 58,680,000
1980 – 89,086,000
1981 – 74,002,000
1982 – 51,312,000
1983 – 62,824,904
1985 – 682,103

Mintage by Year (current 50p)
1997 – 456,364,100
1998 – 64,306,500
1999 – 24,905,000
2000 – 27,915,500
2001 – 84,998,500
2002 – 23,907,500
2003 – 23,583,000
2004 – 35,315,500
2005 – 25,363,500
2006 – 24,567,000
2007 – 11,200,000
2008 – 3,500,000