2020 Fifty Pence

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There were 13 different 50p’s sold in 2020, two of which actually circulated (the ‘Brexit’ and ‘Diversity’ coins). The year started with the regular shield reverse and the Team GB 2020 Olympics coin, both of which were included in the 2020 annual sets. There then followed about one new 50p every month on average, despite a bit of a slow down due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Brexit coin came first, and actually circulated in large numbers, it was followed by three different Dinosaur themed coins, another (and the last!) Peter Rabbit, one for Rosalind Franklin as part of the Innovators of Science series, then three Winnie-the-Pooh themed coins, a Diversity message and another Snowman to round it all off.

Obverse Type 6 (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark, dated 2020):

Reverse Type 4 (design by Matthew Dent):

Mintage for Circulation: Not yet known.

Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

The obverse portrait of the Queen by Mr Jody Clark was introduced in March 2015 and was used on all Queen Elizabeth II circulating coinage up to her death in 2022. It is the fifth portrait of the Queen used on coinage.

The reverse design, by Matthew Dent shows the bottom part of the shield of the Royal Coat of Arms.

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 81: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type (design by David Knapton):

Mintage for Circulation: None, this coin could only be purchased.

Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

To support Team GB in the 2020 Olympic games. When the 2020 games was cancelled due to Covid-19 values went silly for this coin, which was selling on eBay for silly amounts, even though you could still get it in the complete 2020 BU annual set, for cheaper!

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 82: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type (design by Royal Mint in-house):

Mintage for Circulation: Suspected to be high as it has appeared widely in circulation.

Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

Perhaps a propaganda coin essentially and also maybe a small aid to help reunite a very divided UK populace, with it’s promise of ‘Peace, Prosperity and Friendship with all Nations’. Whether you supported Brexit or not, there is a coin to mark its occurrence and it will circulate in large numbers. The UK left the European Union on the 31st of January 2020. Coins of an identical design (with different date) were prepared in 2019 but had to be melted down.

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 83: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type (design by Robert Nicholls):

Mintage for Circulation: None, this coin could only be purchased.

Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

The first of three new coins (in 2020) to err, commemorate Dinosaurs. Megalosaurus is the first. It will be followed by Iguanodon and Hylaeosaurus. ‘Buckland 1824’ is a reference to William Buckland, who, in 1824, produced the first description of a giant pre-historic beast based on fossilised jaw bones.

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 84: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type (design by Robert Nicholls):

Mintage for Circulation: None, this coin could only be purchased.

Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

Iguanodon. The second of three new ‘Dinosauria’ coins (in 2020).

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 85: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type (design by Emma Noble):

Mintage for Circulation: None, this coin could only be purchased.

Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

It’s Peter Rabbit again, this time he’s squeezing under Mr McGregor’s gate. This is the last Beatrix Potter themed coin.

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 86: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type (design by Robert Nicholls):

Mintage for Circulation: None, this coin could only be purchased.

Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

Hylaeosaurus. The third of three new ‘Dinosauria’ coins (in 2020).

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 87: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type (design by David Knapton):

Mintage for Circulation: None, this coin could only be purchased.

Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

Part of the Innovators in Science series, this coin designed by David Knapton commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Rosalind Franklin. Photograph 51 depicted on the reverse of the coins shows an X-ray diffraction picture of a DNA molecule. https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/rosalind-franklin-a-crucial-contribution-6538012/

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 88: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type (design by Disney):

Mintage for Circulation: None, this coin could only be purchased.

Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

The first of nine Winnie-the-Pooh themed coins (three of which were released in 2020). This one shows the main protagonist, Winnie-the-Pooh. Originally written by A. A. Milne and illustrated by E. H. Shepard. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Winnie-the-Pooh-childrens-stories-by-Milne

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 89: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type (design by Disney):

Mintage for Circulation: None, this coin could only be purchased.

Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

The second of three Winnie-the-Pooh themed coins issued in 2020. This one features Christopher Robin.

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 90: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type (design by Dominique Evans):

Mintage for Circulation: Suspected to be high as it has appeared widely in circulation.

Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

Just in case you didn’t consider the Royal Mint very woke, well this clearly proves otherwise. Doesn’t it? While the message is undoubtedly true, it does seem to be a bit of a box ticking exercise for what is currently a ‘hot topic’. The design is pretty uninspiring, but they say it marks a change for UK coinage, but I hardly think one coin claiming to celebrate British diversity actually goes any way towards achieving it.

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 91: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type (design by Disney):

Mintage for Circulation: None, this coin could only be purchased.

Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

The third of three Winnie-the-Pooh themed coins issued in 2020. This one features Piglet.

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 92: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type (bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type (design by Robin Shaw):

Mintage for Circulation: None, this coin could only be purchased.

Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

A third The Snowman themed coin, just in time for Christmas sales. Originally the popular The Snowman character was featured on a coin in 2018 to mark the 40th anniversary of the book by Raymond Briggs. The original film came four years later, in 1982. https://www.thesnowman.com/film-and-music/the-snowman/

 

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