The shape of the 50 pence made it the ideal canvas for special commemorative designs, and over 70 events, anniversaries and individuals have been celebrated on circulating 50 pence pieces. The changeover inspired thousands of people to become coin collectors, and over the decades the 50 pence grew to become Britain’s most collectable coin. The figures have been revealed ahead of the 50 th anniversary of Decimalisation, which takes place on 15 th February 2021 and saw the introduction of many of the coins used today. In 2019 over 500 million coins were released into circulation, including three new 50 pence designs celebrating Arthur Conon Doyle’s iconic Sherlock Holmes, and Paddington the Bear at St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. Many of the Sovereigns struck in that year were sent to the United States of America to pay off war debt.īelow shows the mintage figures for the calendar year of 2019, providing the only official guide to the rarest coins in circulation. Sovereigns ceased to be issued for use in circulation as a result and production at The Royal Mint in London ceased in 1917. Before the war, it was seen as a huge luxury to have gold in your change but during the war it was seen as impractical due to funds being needed for the war effort. Here are some of Matt’s favourites:Ĭirculating gold coinage was a casualty of the First World War. We spoke to Matt Curtis, The Royal Mint’s Historics and Collector Services Expert, about some of the rare coins that have been minted over the years. In fact, the circulating, bimetallic £2 coin is only just over 20 years old. The decimal system we use today has only been around since 1971 and many of the shapes and sizes of coins in daily use have changed in that time. Many people have collected coins throughout their lives or have been handed coins which have moved from generation to generation. Some of these coins could possibly be rare and might be very valuable. The Royal Mint has been creating coins since AD 886 and, as such, people across the country own coins which are no longer in use. Over 30 billion coins are estimated to be in circulation in the United Kingdom today.
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