UK 40th Anniversary 50p Silver Proof Collection

Celebrating the introduction of a revolutionary new coin four decades ago, the Royal Mint has released the 2009 UK 40th Anniversary 50p Silver Proof Collection. The 50p coin made history in 1969 by becoming the first seven-sided coin struck for mass circulation.

This unique shape is not only aesthetically pleasing, it also serves the functional purpose of aiding in quick identification, with each worth 50 pence. Known as an equilaterally curved heptagon, the shape is also functional in vending machines as the curved sides still allow the coin to roll.

The obverse of these 50p coins have always contained an image of Queen Elizabeth II, with Arnold Machin’s portrait gracing the coin from 1969 through 1984. Raphael Maklouf’s image of the Queen was on the coin from 1985 to 1997 and Ian Rank-Broadley’s effigy has been featured since 1998.

Upon its introduction, the 50p showcased an image of Britannia designed by Christopher Ironside on its reverse. Britannia is the mythical figure used to represent the power of the British Empire. It was initially thought that the use of her image on the coin would improve its acceptance into use as it was meant to replace the 10s note.

Throughout the years, Britannia has still been the definitive figure on the coins, with Ironside’s version being replaced by Matthew Dent’s in 2008. Thirteen different commemorative reverses have also been used:

• 1973 Ring-Of-Hands – Great Britain’s entry to EEC
• 1992-1993 – Britain’s Presidency of EC
• 1994 – Remembered D-Day
• 1998 – NHS 50th Anniversary
• 1998 – EC 25th Anniversary
• 2000 – Public Libraries Act recalled
• 2003 – Suffragette Centenary
• 2004 – Four-minute mile recalled
• 2005 – First English Dictionary
• 2006 – Victoria Cross Heroic Acts
• 2006 – Victoria Cross Award
• 2007 – Scouting Centenary
• 2009 – Kew Gardens commemorative

The 16 coin silver proof set contains all of these unique designs in one collection. All of the obverses portray the modern day image of the Queen while the reverses pay homage to the history of the coin by each featuring a different design that would have been seen on the 50p coin in the last 40 years.

Each coin is struck from 8 grams of .925 Sterling Silver. The 27.3mm diameter coins will all come in a black display case with a maximum of 2,500 silver proof sets created.

For more information or to purchase the set for £425.00 go to the Royal Mints website: http://www.royalmint.com.

About The Royal Mint

The Royal Mint is a department of government and its primary responsibility remains the provision of the United Kingdom coinage. Its reputation, however, extends beyond this and internationally it has a reputation for making some fascinating coins for over 100 countries.

The history of the Royal Mint itself stretches back over 1100 years. There is an unbroken link from the scattered workshops of the moneyers of Anglo-Saxon London to a single mint within the Tower of London, from a purpose-built premises at Tower Hill to the huge modern coining plant in South Wales.

In April 1975 the Mint was established as a Government Trading Fund, operationally very similar to a government-owned company.