21 January 2022
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The Royal Mint has confirmed that a 50p coin celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be released into circulation via Post Offices across the UK from Monday 7 February.
The special 50p coin features a commemorative Platinum Jubilee design on the ‘tails’ side of the coin and will be circulated to mark the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the throne in 1952.
This is the first new 50p to go into general circulation since the so-called 'Brexit 50p' which was issued in January 2020.
Post Offices to be given 1.3 million coins
According to The Royal Mint, a collaboration with UK Post Offices will ensure that members of the public will get the chance to receive the special 50p coin in their change at branches nationwide from 7 February onwards.
The Royal Mint stated:
"To be in with the chance of receiving the new 50p, a Post Office customer will need to purchase a product or service at the branch. It is not possible to swap a 50p coin for this special 50p coin at the Post Office counter."
The coin's design
It is the first time that a Royal event has been celebrated on a 50p, Britain’s most collectable coin, and the unique design has been personally approved by The Queen.
Designed by artists Osborne Ross, the coin features the number 70 with the Royal Cypher and the dates of Her Majesty’s reign framed inside the zero. On the opposite side is the fifth definitive portrait of The Queen, by Jody Clark, which appears on all circulating UK coin.
What is the coin's mintage?
The Platinum Jubilee 50p coins are expected to be highly sought after due to the limited release of 1.3 million for UK Post Offices. The Royal Mint have revealed that the maximum mintage is set at 5,000,070 coins – in a special nod to 70 years on the throne.
How does this differ to other 50p coins put into circulation? Well, just 210,000 copies of the very rare Kew Gardens 50p were minted, whilst the over 10 million Brexit 50ps were issued.
We think the 5 million mintage will mean the coin will be relatively common, but with collectors wanting to keep examples to make the Jubilee, there could be a growing demand, and, comparing to similar 50p mintages, the value could be around £1 to £2 in a few years' time.
The Royal Mint’s Director of UK Currency Mark Loveridge said:
“This special 50 pence features an elegant and bold number 70 in celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee year, and we expect it to become one of the nation’s most collectable coins. We are delighted that 1.3 million coins baring this unique design will be accessible at Post Offices across the UK.”
Nick Read, Chief Executive at the Post Office, said: “We are thrilled to be part of the celebrations for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee year and that our 11,500 Post Offices across the whole of the United Kingdom will exclusively start the circulation of this special 50p coin from Monday 7 February. Postmasters are at the heart of their local communities and have been throughout our 360-year history. I have no doubt that this will be a real honour and privilege for Postmasters and their teams.”
QUICK LINKS
Find the latest 50p coins in the Royal Mint shop! (opens in new window)
Buy the 'Collect Modern Coin' souvenir guide
How much are the Beatrix Potter 50p coins worth?
