The Old Definitive Silver Fifty Pence

Description

When Britain changed to decimal currency in 1971 the fifty pence was our highest face value coin. The initial plans for our coinage didn’t provide for a 50p coin as there was already a ten shilling banknote (equal in face value) in circulation.

However, when it was found that the designs of the other five coins did NOT include Britannia called for a re-think: the result was Britannia sitting majestically on the new seven-sided coin – although the shape is more accurately known as an ‘equilateral curve heptagon. This in itself was a triumph – a seven sided shape that is the same diameter across wherever it is measured – which overcame the needs of vending machine operators in relation to a multi-sided coin. And so, the first Britannia 50p coin was issued in 1969, and the last one forty years later in 2009.

It is one of our most recognisable designs of the first decimal series. It was only minted in sterling silver on five occasions – here is your chance to own one.