The UK 50p (fifty pence) coin is a seven-sided (equilateral curve heptagon) decimal coin worth 1 / 2 1 / 2 of a pound sterling, first introduced in 1969. It is widely used for its distinctive shape, which allows for easy recognition and vending machine compatibility. The current smaller, lighter version (8g, 27.3mm) has been in circulation since 1997.
The 50p coin is one of the UK's most collected denominations. Over the years, the Royal Mint has released dozens of commemorative designs — celebrating everything from the Olympics to beloved characters like Paddington Bear. While most 50p coins are worth just face value, some have become rare and highly sought after.
Today, the 50p is used to commemorate historical occasions and has inspired many to start collecting, with the coin often credited as the gateway coin to starting a collection.
This silver proof 50 pence piece is one of 3,510 in this presentation. It weighs the standard 8.00 grams with a diameter of 27.30 millimetres, and is struck in . 925 sterling silver.
What is EVERY 50p Coin REALLY Worth?? (UK Circulation)
How to tell if a coin is 100% silver?
The best way to determine if your coins are silver is to view the edge of the coin. If the coin has a solid silver stripe, then you can feel confident that it's silver. If you can see a copper stripe, then the coin is clad. A more subdued silver stripe with faint traces of copper could mean that the coin is 40% silver.
Silver was eliminated altogether in 1947, except for Maundy coinage, which returned to the pre-1920 92.5% silver composition. The 1816 weight/value ratio and size system survived the debasement of silver in 1920, and the adoption of token coins of cupronickel in 1947.
British 50 pence coins are circular coins that are used as legal tender in the United Kingdom. They have a diameter of 27.3mm and are made of cupro-nickel, an alloy of copper and nickel.
The British £1 coin that we all know, struck in 22-carat Gold by The Royal Mint in a minimum of good to fair condition. The one pound coin comes in a range of designs but rest assured you will receive a great looking coin - all are marked "One Pound".
Based solely on circulating mintage figures, the rarest Beatrix Potter 50ps are the Flopsy Bunny 50p and the 2018 Peter Rabbit 50p, each with a mintage figure of just 1,400,000. The most common coin in the series is the Benjamin Bunny 50p, which has a circulating mintage of 25,000,000.
Get familiar with the parts of a coin and basic coin terms. Fun Fact! A person who collects coins is called a numismatist ("noo-miz-ma-tist"). Numismatics ("noo-miz-ma-ticks") is the study and collecting of things that are used as money, including coins, tokens, and paper bills.
Older coins that show deep age coloration are more desirable than coins whose surfaces have been stripped away by improper polishing or cleaning. If you do polish a coin to remove dirt, use mild soap and water. Once you've washed the coin, pat it dry with a soft towel.
1. 1849 Double Eagle Gold Coin. With just one coin currently in existence, the gold 1849 Double Eagle is considered the rarest and most valuable coin in US history.
A standard 1983 one pound coin isn't rare, as over 444 million were minted, but certain variations or errors can make them valuable, like proof versions, coins with the edge lettering "DECUS ET TUTAMEN" appearing upside down (a common feature, not an error, but rumored to be valuable), or those in flawless, uncirculated condition, although most valuable errors are from later years or different denominations, according to sources like The Royal Mint and coin dealer websites https://www.justanswer.com/antiques/stckw-queen-elizabeth-ii-1983-one-pound-coin-value.html,.
In the past, pennies were made of 100% copper and even steel, but pennies made in 1982 and later are copper-plated zinc. There also have been pennies containing various metallic mixtures of copper with other metals, such as nickel, tin and zinc.
The 1965 Washington quarter was the first US quarter not made of 90% pure silver. This transition from silver "hard money" to copper coinage resulted in the rare and valuable 1965 silver quarter—one of the most sought-after transitional error coins in American numismatics.
An unworn sixpence dated prior to 1920 contains 0.0841 oz of silver, and this gives a bullion value of about £3.12 or US$4.11. Sixpence from the period 1920 to 1946 contain 0.0454 oz of silver and thus had a bullion value of £1.68 or US$2.22. Please note that the silver price and exchange rates fluctuate.
