05 June 2023
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On 1 June, The Royal Mint released a collectable 50p celebrating the National Health Services 75th anniversary.
This new NHS 50p coin continues The Royal Mint’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the most influential individuals, organisations and institutions in Britain. The Royal Mint will donate 100 percent of the net proceeds to NHS Charities Together, a national charity that supports NHS staff, patients and communities, with a total donation of £225,000 estimated.
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Working with over 230 NHS charities throughout the United Kingdom, NHS Charities Together ensures that funds raised are directed to where they are needed the most, from providing counselling support and training for staff, to investing in specialist medical equipment and improving care for patients and communities.
The coin was designed by Alice Lediard, a Senior Designer at The Royal Mint and was one of the first 50p coins to feature King Charles on the obverse side when it featured in The Royal Mint’s Annual Sets in January.
This is the first time the coin will be available as an individual coin, rather than as part of the set.
The NHS 50p Design
The design on the reverse incorporates words such as ‘Dedication’, ‘Support’ and ‘Empathy’ that reflect the nation’s gratitude towards the NHS and its incredible staff.
Alice Lediard said:
‘The beating heart of the NHS is the staff who work for it, so I wanted to make sure the words encompassed everyone, presented a positive outlook and summed up decades of healthcare provision to the British public in a personal way that everyone could associate with.’
The design of the reverse centres around the words ‘National Health Service’ using a similar, angled font to the one used by the NHS and features the numbers ‘75’ to mark the anniversary.
Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services said,
‘The Royal Mint is committed to producing products that celebrate and commemorate Britain’s most influential individuals, organisations and institutions, and the NHS has played a pivotal role in British society, supporting millions of people every day. As one of Britain’s most respected and admired institutions, all of us at The Royal Mint have such appreciation for the work and difference that both past and present NHS employees have and continue to make. It is a privilege to be involved in celebrating and marking the NHS’ 75th anniversary with an official UK 50p coin.’
Previous NHS coins
The Royal Mint has celebrated previous NHS milestones on official UK coins over the past few decades, with a 50p introduced in 1998 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. In 2020, along with hundreds of other organisations, The Royal Mint pledged to support the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic by manufacturing 1.9 million medical visors for NHS staff.
The 50p coin celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NHS is available to buy via The Royal Mint’s website, with the price starting at £11.
