LGBTQ+ 50p coin

Since the first official Pride UK event in 1972, the Pride UK movement has been one of significant political and cultural importance. Now in its 50th year, Pride UK is more popular than ever and continues to fight against societal oppression and stand up for rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

Will the Pride 50p coins be rare?

The Royal Mint have now revealed that five million copies of the Pride 50p will be entered into circulation, so you might find one in your change!

The reported mintage of five million means the coin will be common (compare it to the Kew Gardens 50p which had a mintage of just 210,000) but we're yet to know how popular the coin will prove to be – collectors could snap up the coins and take them out of circulation, meaning demand could soon outstrip supply, and the value may go up.

Buy the Pride 50p directly from the Royal Mint

Alongside the circulated coins, the following special versions are available from The Royal Mint and other coin dealers:

• 50 Years of Pride 2022 UK 50p Gold Proof Piedfort Coin
• 50 Years of Pride 2022 UK 50p Gold Proof Coin
• 50 Years of Pride 2022 UK 50p Silver Piedfort Proof Coloured Coin
• 50 Years of Pride 2022 UK 50p Silver Proof Coloured Coin
• 50 Years of Pride 2022 UK 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Coloured Coin
• 50 Years of Pride 2022 UK 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Coin

The 50p coin's design

The coin has been designed by Dominque Holmes, an east London artist, writer, and LGBTQ+ activist with a varied artistic background that includes tattoo artistry.

The coin design features Pride in London’s values of Protest, Visibility, Unity, and Equality in rainbows.

With state-of-the-art colour printing technology, the iconic colours of the Pride progression flag are recreated with special-edition colour versions of the silver and BU coins.

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Asad Shaykh, Director of Marketing and Communications at Pride in London said:

'It was a privilege to visit The Royal Mint as part of our partnership and see our coin being made.

'It humbles me greatly that the words that I coined for the brand, PROTEST, VISIBILITY, UNITY & EQUALITY - will be on an actual coin, opposite the Queen. This queer brown immigrant has come a long way, powered by hope, love and this city. Nowhere in the world had this been possible, except the UK. Pride in London feels very proud today.'

As part of the coin's launch, The Royal Mint made a financial contribution to London LGBT Community Pride C.I.C.

Royal Mint's commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

The launch of the new LGBTQ+ coin forms part of The Royal Mint’s wider commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Alongside D&I training for all employees, a network of D&I Champions has been established to support The Royal Mint’s wider vision of celebrating differences for an inclusive future. 

This commitment also extends to an LGBTQ+ society for employees at The Royal Mint; established last year. Named ‘Enfys’, the Welsh word for Rainbow, the group has hosted Q+A sessions, shared their personal stories and encouraged visibility and allyship amongst employees.