Coin Collector

It would be almost twenty years before another commemorative 50p coin was issued, and once again it was to celebrate our links with Europe, this time to mark the UK’s entry into the single market. The design is a little more complicated this time, showing a table on which are placed twelve stars, linked by a network of lines to each other and also to twelve chairs around the table; in short, the countries of Europe working together. Collector notes This coin is another must-have for a 50p collection, though it won’t be as easy to find an example due to the low mintage. Indeed, it’s one of the rarest 50p coins out there. Examples have recently sold on eBay for between £45 and £55, with examples in original ‘first day’ packaging attracting higher prices. Eagle-eyed collectors will also note that the coin features not one but two years on the design ‘1992’ and ‘1993’ which adds even more appeal to this piece. Do pay attention to listings on internet auction sites. Some ‘reproduction’ examples of the coins are being offered for around £10.99; these are not original coins but modern replicas. Avoid! John Mills’ dramatic design was a sign of The Royal Mint’s growing confidence at producing striking, poignant designs on their modern coinage. The coin artwork represents the Allied invasion force heading for Normandy and filling the sea and sky. Collector notes You can pick up an example of the D-Day 50 for between £2 and £4, with some examples available in the original Royal Mint anniversary pack (these tend to sell for around £10). Uncirculated copies sell for about £10 and a Silver Proof version of the coin was also issued back in 1994 and now sell for around £20-£25. Be aware that the D-Day 50p was reissued in 2019 as part of the fiftieth anniversary of the 50p celebrations. The 2019 copy, which is in a smaller format to the original 50p, was not entered into circulation, so only brilliant uncirculated copies are available. Wouldn’t it be nice to have both the original and the smaller 2019 coin side by side in the same collection? This coin marks the 25th anniversary of the UK joining the EEC in 1973 which, as we have seen, was marked with a special 50p, showing just how important Britain’s links with Europe were, and still are, especially in terms of the nation’s economy. Again we see the stars of Europe on British coinage, this time in a celebratory arrangement with the years ‘1998’ and ‘1973’ shown. Collector notes This is another ‘nice-to-have’ but not hugely rare piece. The original circulated coin is worth around £1 to £2, Brilliant Uncirculated copies fetch £10-£12 and the Silver Proof versions sell for around £25. For the first time, The Royal Mint issued two commemorative 50p designs in the same year, and who can blame them when the second subject was as worthy as the National Health Service, which was fifty years old in July 1998. We see a pair of hands set against a pattern of radiating lines with the words ‘FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY’, the value and the initials ‘NHS’ around the outer border. Collector notes The NHS coin makes for another nice addition to a collection, but it is not particularly rare and examples can be bought online for as little as 75p. A nice coin cover, featuring the coin alongside Royal Mail stamps issued in the same year and postmarked with the date of the ‘first day’ of use, sell for around £18. 1992-93 - UK’s Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the completion of Single European Market 1994 - 50th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings Mintage: 109,000 Approx. value: £50 Mintage: 6,705,520 Approx. value: £3 1998 - United Kingdom’s Presidency of the EU, and the 25th Anniversary of the UK’s accession to the EEC Mintage: 5,043,000 Approx. value: £2 1998 - 50th Anniversary of the National Health Service Mintage: 5,001,000 Approx. value: £1.50