The British fifty pence (50p) coin - often pronounced fifty pee - is a unit of currency equalling one half of a Pound Sterling. It is a seven-sided coin formed as an equilateral-curve heptagon, or Reuleaux polygon - a curve of constant width, meaning that the diameter is constant across any bisection. This shape, which was revolutionary at the time of its introduction, makes it easily distinguishable from round coins both by feel and by sight, while its constant breadth allows it to roll in vending machines.

The first UK Fifty Pence coin was issued in 1969 with the classic Britannia reverse design by Christopher Ironside, which was superseded in 2008 by the Matthew Dent design for circulation coins.The denomination is also extensively used to issue circulating commemorative coins.

• The Victoria Cross 50 pence was released in 2006 to mark the 150th Anniversary of the original creation of the Victoria Cross medal. On 29th January 1856, Queen Victoria signed the Royal Warrant for the creation of the Victoria Cross medal.
• Depictions of the obverse and reverse of a Victoria Cross with the date 29 JAN 1856 in the centre of the reverse of the Cross, the letters VC to the right and the value FIFTY PENCE below. The Victoria Cross is the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

Beginning in 2009, the Royal Mint started issuing 50 pence coins for collectors - such as this one - which are not meant to be released in circulation, so are classified as Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT).

The original Fifty Pence Victoria Cross - Award coin was issued in 2006 as a circulating commemorative to mark the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross - 'The Institution'.

A backlit shape of the Victoria Cross is the background from which a heroic soldier carries an injured colleague back to safety. The medal is given to mark extraordinary acts of valour and courage. How much is the Soldier 50p worth? A 50p coin created for UK circulation by The Royal Mint will always be worth at least 50p. A recommendation for the Victoria Cross is normally issued by an officer at regimental level or equivalent and has to be supported by three witnesses. 634 VC's were awarded in World War One and 182 in World War Two. You might be interested in: The five 50p coins RE-ISSUED to celebrate British Military History.

The Victoria Cross is the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. All who have received it have shown extraordinary bravery, many at the cost of their own lives. The original idea for the Victoria Cross was proposed by the Duke of Newcastle in 1854 and the Royal Warrant for the creation of the medal was signed by Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace on 29 January 1856. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the institution of the Victoria Cross The Royal Mint struck two fifty pence coins (another coin depicts the Heroic Acts of the persons awarded with the VC).

This coin is part of a 16-coin set featuring sixteen different 50 pence designs (of which this was the twelfth) to mark 40 years since the introduction of the denomination. The UK 50p 40th Anniversary (1969 - 2009) Set was issued as copper-nickel proofs, silver proofs, gold proofs and gold piedfort proofs.

No 2009-dated coins of this type were issued into circulation.

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Two different 50p coins were issued in 2000. The standard Britannia design and a commemorative coin to mark the 150th anniversary of the public libraries.

The Standard Design:

Obverse Type 4 (bust design by Ian Rank-Broadley):

Reverse Type 3 (design by Christopher Ironside):

Mintage for Circulation: 27,915,500.

Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

Victoria Cross Video

The obverse portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley was used on all UK coinage from 1998 to 2014 and also on some coins dated 2015. It was the fourth portrait of the Queen used on coinage.

The reverse design, by Christopher Ironside, shows Briannia seated. Britannia had appeared on at least one British coin denomination since the 1670s, and in fact long before that there were Roman coins showing the word ‘BRITANNIA’ and the helmeted female representation of Britannia to celebrate the Roman capture of Britain.

Commemorative 50p coin, Type 6: (info on coin type numbers here)

Obverse Type 4 (bust design by Ian Rank-Broadley):

Reverse Type (design by Mary Milner Dickens):

Mintage for Circulation: 11,263,000.

Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here)

The story behind the design:

Victoria Cross 50p Pence

The obverse portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley was used on all UK coinage from 1998 to 2014 and also on some coins dated 2015. It was the fourth portrait of the Queen used on coinage.

The reverse design, by Mary Milner Dickens shows an opened book on top of a pillared public library building with the dates 1850 and 2000 above it. The Public Libraries Act was passed in 1850 to provide education to the public:

Victoria Cross Pool

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