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An unprecedented 29 different commemorative 50p coins were issued for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (large numbers of other coin denominations were also made in connection with the games, I got to 67 in total and then lost count!). The initial official reported mintage numbers seem to have crept up over 2012 – 2013. The numbers shown are the current figures and will be updated if new data come to light.
All share the same obverse (Type 4) and are shown below:
Obverse Type 4 (bust design by Ian Rank-Broadley):
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 17 (Olympic 1) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Types (design by Jonathan Olliffe):
Mintage for Circulation: 2,179,000 (a lot less for the error coin with lines on the face).
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 for the normal coin. 10 for the withdrawn coin with lines on the face.
The story behind the design:
The Aquatics coin, by Jonathan Olliffe shows a female swimmer in water. The Royal Mint sold all of the Olympic coins separately in sealed packs (they were also circulated normally). Some of the sealed individual packs contained a coin that was clearly not meant to have been sold and is now referred to as the ‘withdrawn’ or error Aquatics 50p with lines on the face of the swimmer (2nd images above). Later coins in packs and probably all of the coins that were circulated show a swimmer with hardly any lines on her face and with a reduced number of lines on her body (1st images above). The error coin is probably the most valuable coin that you could potentially find if you Check Your Change! Watch out for normal reverse coins that have had extra lines scratched into them to be passed off as the error coin.
WARNING: Fakes exist of the Aquatics withdrawn coin with the lines on the swimmer’s face. They seem to come from China and are quite convincing. On good quality fakes the Queen is more frosted, the ear and the eye are not well executed and the lettering is thinner.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 18 (Olympic 2) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Piotr Powaga):
Mintage for Circulation: 3,345,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Archery coin, by Piotr Powage shows a hand drawing an arrow in a bow.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 19 (Olympic 3) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Florence Jackson, aged 10 at time):
Mintage for Circulation: 2,224,000.
Collectability/Scarcity: 2 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Athletics coin, by Florence Jackson, uses her high jumper design as featured on the 2009 Blue Peter coin.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 20 (Olympic 4) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Emma Kelly):
Mintage for Circulation: 2,133,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Badminton coin, by Emma Kelly features a shuttlecock as its main design element.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 21 (Olympic 5) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Sarah Payne):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,748,000.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Basketball coin, by Sarah Payne features players on a ball textured background.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 22 (Olympic 6) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Justin Chung):
Mintage for Circulation: 2,166,000.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Boccia coin, by Justin Chung shows a player of the sport.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 23 (Olympic 7) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Shane Abery):
Mintage for Circulation: 2,148,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Boxing coin, by Shane Abery shows boxing gloves with ring ropes in the backgound.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 24 (Olympic 8) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Timothy Lees):
Mintage for Circulation: 2,166,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Canoeing coin, by Timothy Lees shows a canoeist in choppy waters.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 25 (Olympic 9) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Theo Crutchley-Mack):
Mintage for Circulation: 2,090,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Cycling coin, by Theo Crutchley-Mack shows a cyclist racing around a velodrome.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 26 (Olympic 10) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Thomas Babbage):
Mintage for Circulation: 2,142,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Equestrian coin by Thomas Babbage shows a horse, jumping.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 27 (Olympic 11) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Ruth Summerfield):
Mintage for Circulation: 2,115,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Fencing coin by Ruth Summerfield shows two people fencing.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 28 (Olympic 12) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Neil Wolfson):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,125,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 2 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Football coin by Neil Wolfson shows a diagram of the off-side rule.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 29 (Olympic 13) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Jonathan Wrenn):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,615,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Goalball coin by Jonathan Wrenn shows a playing with a ball in movement.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 30 (Olympic 14) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Jonathan Olliffe):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,720,813.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Gymnastics coin by Jonathan Ollife shows a gymnast with a long ribbon.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 31 (Olympic 15) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Natasha Ratcliffe):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,676,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Handball coin by Natasha Ratcliffe shows a player about to throw.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 32 (Olympic 16) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Robert Evans):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,773,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Hockey coin by Robert Evans shows a player attempting a tackle.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 33 (Olympic 17) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by David Cornell):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,161,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 2 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Judo coin by David Cornell shows a player throwing his opponent.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 34 (Olympic 18) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Daniel Brittain):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,689,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Modern Pentathlon coin by Daniel Brittain shows silhouettes of the five sports that make a pentathlon.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 35 (Olympic 19) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Davey Podmore):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,717,300.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Rowing coin by Davey Podmore shows two rowers and some guidance mottoes.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 36 (Olympic 20) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Bruce Rushin):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,749,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Sailing coin by Bruce Rushin shows sailing boats on the sea with a grid reference background and part of the coast of southern England above.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 37 (Olympic 21) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Pravin Dewdhory):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,656,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Shooting coin by Pravin Dewdhory shows a marksman taking aim.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 38 (Olympic 22) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Alan Linsdell):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,737,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Table Tennis coin by Alan Linsdell shows two bats and a ball bouncing over the net.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 39 (Olympic 23) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by David Gibbons):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,664,000.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Taekwando coin by David Gibbons shows two figures participating in Taekwando.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 40 (Olympic 24) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Tracy Baines):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,454,000.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Tennis coin by Tracy Baines shows a ball above a net.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 41 (Olympic 25) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Sarah Harvey):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,163,000.
Collectability/Scarcity: 2 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Triathlon coin by Sarah Harvey shows a runner, cyclist and swimmer.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 42 (Olympic 26) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Daniela Boothman):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,163,000.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Volleyball coin by Daniela Boothman shows three lady players in action, the ball temporarily eclipsing the sun.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 43 (Olympic 27) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Rob Shakespeare):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,879,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Weightlifting coin by Rob Shakespeare shows the basic outline of a weightlifter.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 44 (Olympic 28) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Natasha Ratcliffe):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,765,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Wheelchair Rugby coin by Natasha Ratcliffe shows a player in motion, ball on lap.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 45 (Olympic 29) (info on coin type numbers here):
Reverse Type (design by Roderick Enriquez):
Mintage for Circulation: 1,129,500.
Collectability/Scarcity: 2 (for scale details see here).
The story behind the design:
The Wrestling coin by Roderick Enriquez shows two wrestlers in action.
Commemorative 50p medal (Olympic 29) (info on coin type numbers here):
To round the set up to 30, the Royal Mint also made a ‘completer’ medal, which isn’t yet shown here.
Collectability/Scarcity: 3 (for scale details see here).
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