The lady on the obverse (heads side) of UK 50p coins is Queen Elizabeth II. Portraits used include designs by Raphael Maklouf (1985–1997), Jody Clark (2015–2022), and Arnold Machin (1968–1984). The reverse often features Britannia, the female embodiment of the UK.
Its origins can be traced back to Roman times when it referred to the Roman province of Britain. On Roman coins, Britannia was depicted as a helmeted woman, wielding a trident and shield, embodying the conquered land's strength and identity.
Who is Britannia based on? Britannia is based on the Roman goddess Minerva, symbolizing wisdom and warfare. The figure represents the British Isles and was inspired by Roman depictions of conquered provinces.
Queen Elizabeth II coins vary greatly in value, from face value for common circulated coins (like most £1 coins) to hundreds or thousands of pounds for rare proofs, low mintage issues (like some 2022 £1s or specific 50p/£2 coins), error coins, or special commemorative editions in pristine condition, with collectors seeking low mintage or unique variations, not just any old coin. Check for low mintage years, special designs (Beatrix Potter, Britannia, etc.), error coins (double strikes), or proof sets for potential value beyond face value.
Description. This silver 2020 50p coin commemorating the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union is finished in mirror quality proof and features the inscription; 'Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations'.
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How did Romans view homosexuality?
In ancient Rome, same-sex relations were viewed through a lens of power, status, and gender roles, not sexual orientation; it was acceptable for a freeborn man to be sexually active (penetrative) with lower-status partners like slaves, prostitutes, or young boys, but being the passive partner (penetrated) by another freeborn man was considered scandalous and unmanly, damaging a citizen's honor, while same-sex relationships between soldiers were condemned for undermining military masculinity, though emperors like Hadrian famously had male lovers, and some aristocratic men engaged in relationships with younger males, viewing them as acceptable partners for sexual expression outside marriage.
Minerva, as a girl's name, is of Latin origin. Meaning “intellect,” “wisdom,” or “mind," Minerva is a brilliant choice for the brightest of little ones. In mythology, Minerva is a Roman goddess of wisdom, medicine, handicrafts, and later, war, equivalent to the Greek deity Athena.
Apollo, the god of sun and music, is considered the patron of same sex love, as he had many male lovers and was often invoked to bless homosexual unions. He is also called "the champion of male love" by Andrew Callimach.
No 50ps intended for circulation were struck to the old, larger specification in 1997. However, there were brilliant uncirculated and proof coins produced to the old larger specification for collectors. These can be seen in collectors sets like the 1997 UK Proof Set which includes an old-spec 50p and a new-design one.
President Jimmy Carter signed legislation authorizing the Susan B. Anthony dollar on October 10, 1978. The coin was designed to replace the large Eisenhower dollar with a smaller, more practical alternative that would encourage public use over dollar bills.
Britannia is typically associated with Queen Boudica or Boadicea; the Celtic Iceni ruler who led a revolt against the rule of the Roman empire. The symbolic figure of Britannia actually predates Boadicea however, to the time when the Romans first occupied land in the British Isles.
The modern English, French, Breton and Gallo names for the area, all derive from a literal use of Britannia meaning "land of the Britons". The two "Britannias" gave rise to the term Grande Bretagne (Great Britain) to distinguish the island of Britain from the continental peninsula.
Britannia 50ps are some of the most common coins in circulation, however there is one date you should keep an eye out for. If you come across a 2008 dated Britannia 50p, you should consider yourself lucky, as only 3,500,000 of these entered circulation!
“French girl names including Josephine, Eloise, Sophie and Adeline are all in the U.S. Top 100, and names such as Elodie, Margot, Sylvie, Juliette, Estelle, Colette, Soleil, Esme, Louise, Rosalie and Celine are very fashionable rising choices,” Kihm adds.
The most famous Roman emperor known for a male lover was Hadrian, who had a deep, passionate relationship with the beautiful Greek youth Antinous, even deifying him after his tragic death in the Nile; however, other emperors like Nero, who famously 'married' men, and possibly Galba, also had male partners, as same-sex relationships were common in Roman society, though defined differently than today.
Accordingly, as expressed by Christine Allen, if this interaction is being used to express Plato's view of homosexuality, “then it becomes clear that his main concern is to elevate love above the sexual level rather than to compare male homosexuality with heterosexuality.”10 As a result, Plato further defends the idea ...
The Roman Catholic Church, the largest Christian denomination in the United States with an estimated 62 million members, has welcomed celibate gay and lesbian people into its church life but increasingly is becoming more intolerant even of this population.
On 28th October 2019, the day before Brexit was due to go ahead, it was announced that it would be delayed yet again until 31st January 2020. Therefore, the majority of Brexit 50ps that has been struck featuring the date '31 October 2019′ had to be melted.
