The British decimal fifty pence (50p)coin was issued in October 1969 in the run_up to decimalisation to replace the ten shilling note.
The coin is minted from an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel. Between 1969 and 1997 the coin weighed 13.50 grams and had a diameter of 30.0 millimetres. In 1997 the coin was reduced in size to weigh 8.00 grams and have a diameter of 27.3 millimetres. Note that the coin is not circular but an equilaterally curved heptagon (seven-sided) to aid identification -- the sides are not straight but are curved so that the centre of curvature is the opposite apex of the coin, allowing the coin to roll freely and have its diameter measured correctly in slot machines (see also: curve of constant width). This shape was also later used for the Twenty Pence piece.
This denomination has frequently been used for commemorative purposes, and consequently there are more design variations in this coin than in any other current British denomination.
The normal reverse of the coin, designed by Christopher Ironside, depicts the seated Britannia with a lion, with the numeral "50" beneath, and either NEW PENCE (1969-1981) or FIFTY PENCE (since 1982) above Britannia.
During the history of the coin, three different obverses have been used so far - between 1969 and 1984 the head of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin was used, between 1985 and 1997 the head by Raphael Maklouf was used, and since 1998 one by Ian Rank-Broadley has been used.
Variations
Up to 2003 there have been twelve varieties of 50p coin, six large and six small, as follows:
Large
1969-1972, 1974-1981
Obverse: Machin head, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D date, starting to the right of the head.
Reverse: Britannia and lion, 50 below NEW PENCE above.
Obverse: Maklouf head, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 1994, starting to the bottom left of the head.
Reverse: An invasion force of ships and planes, 50 PENCE to the right.
Small
1997
Obverse: Maklouf head, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 1997, starting to the bottom left of the head.
Reverse: Britannia and lion, 50 below FIFTY PENCE above.
Issued only in 1997, but in very large numbers as it had to replace all the earlier types of 50p coin, which were withdrawn from circulation within 6 months.
1998-date
Obverse: Rank-Broadley head, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D date, starting to the bottom left of the head, IRB under the bust.
Reverse: Britannia and lion, 50 below FIFTY PENCE above.
Obverse: Rank_Broadley head, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D date, starting to the bottom left of the head, IRB under the bust.
Reverse: Caring hands holding sun's rays FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY above and 50 PENCE below, NHS repeated 5 times around the border.
5 million minted, but not often found in circulation.
2000: 150th anniversary of the Public Libraries Act of 1850.
Obverse: Rank_Broadley head, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2000, starting to the bottom left of the head, IRB under the bust.
Reverse: Open book above pillared building inscribed PUBLIC LIBRARIES 1850 2000 above and 50 PENCE to the right.
5 million minted, but not often found in circulation.
2003: Centenary of the Women's Social and Political Union (the Suffragettes).
Obverse: Rank_Broadley head, inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D 2003, starting to the bottom left of the head, IRB under the bust.
Reverse: Suffragette chained to railing holding a banner inscribed WSPU in her left hand, 50 PENCE to the left and a billboard inscribed GIVE WOMEN THE VOTE to the right, with 1903 below and 2003 to the right.
Some coins have coin orientation, where the coin must be flipped vertically to see the other side; other coins, such as Britishcoins, have medallic orientation, where the coin must be flipped horizontally to see the other side.
Coins that are not round (British 50 pence for example) usually have an odd number of sides, with the edges rounded off.
Coins are popularly used as a sort of two-sided die; in order to choose between two options with a random possibility, one choice will be labeled "heads" and the other "tails," and a coin will be flipped or "tossed" to see whether the heads or tails side comes up on top.
Some coins have coin orientation, where the coin must be flipped vertically to see the other side; other coins, such as Britishcoins, have medallic orientation, where the coin must be flipped horizontally to see the other side.
Coins that are not round (British 50 pence for example) usually have an odd number of sides, with the edges rounded off.
Coins are popularly used as a sort of two-sided die; in order to choose between two options with a random possibility, one choice will be labeled "heads"?title=and the other "tails,"?title=and a coin will be flipped or "tossed"?title=to see whether the heads or tails side comes up on top.
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