1998 Fifty Pence

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Three different 50p coins were issued in 1998. The standard Britannia design and two commemorative coins – one to mark the 25th anniversary since joining the EEC and another for the 50th anniversary of the NHS.

The Standard Design:

Obverse Type 4 (bust design by Ian Rank-Broadley):

Reverse Type 3 (design by Christopher Ironside):

Mintage for Circulation: 64,306,500.

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

The story behind the design:

The obverse portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley was used on all UK coinage from 1998 to 2014 and also on some coins dated 2015. It was the fourth portrait of the Queen used on coinage.

The reverse design, by Christopher Ironside, shows Briannia seated. Britannia had appeared on at least one British coin denomination since the 1670s, and in fact long before that there were Roman coins showing the word ‘BRITANNIA’ and the helmeted female representation of Britannia to celebrate the Roman capture of Britain.

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 4:

Obverse Type 4 (bust design by Ian Rank-Broadley):

Reverse Type (design by David Cornell):

Mintage for Circulation: 5,043,000.

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

The story behind the design:

The obverse portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley was used on all UK coinage from 1998 to 2014 and also on some coins dated 2015. It was the fourth portrait of the Queen used on coinage.

The reverse design, by John Mills shows the twelve EU stars. In 1998 the UK marked the joining of the EEC in 1973 and also the UK presidency of the Council of Ministers. The 50p denomination has been used to mark a number of European related events over the years. The EEC was originally created in 1957:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Economic_Community

 

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 5:

Obverse Type 4 (bust design by Ian Rank-Broadley):

Reverse Type (design by David Cornell):

Mintage for Circulation: 5,001,000.

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

The story behind the design:

The obverse portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley was used on all UK coinage from 1998 to 2014 and also on some coins dated 2015. It was the fourth portrait of the Queen used on coinage.

The reverse design, by David Cornell shows caring hands holding sun’s rays. The National Health Service was formed in 1948 to be free at the point of delivery:

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/nhshistory/Pages/NHShistory1948.aspx

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