5 Unusual 50p Coin Designs

Having produced magnificent coins since 1965, Pobjoy Mint has proudly released an impressive selection of unusual coin designs, 52 of which are 'World Firsts' coins. Not only has Pobjoy seen success in producing 'World Firsts' coins in a variety of metals, countries and denominations but also in producing 'World Firsts' metals. In 1978 Pobjoy Mint became the first company to successfully develop the 'World Firsts' satisfactory man-made metal, Virenium®. 

Join us for a recap of 5 of our most creative 50p coin designs to date!

 

2022:

World's First Titanium 50 pence - The Antarctic Blue Whale - Blue Titanium 50p - SGA - This brand new 2022 50p coin has been produced in blue Titanium, making it the world’s first Titanium 50 pence coin! The design of this unique coin features the world’s largest animal ever known to have lived on earth, the blue whale. The obverse of the 50p coin carries the exclusive Pobjoy Mint effigy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Due to the difficulty of striking Titanium coins and the fact that Titanium reacts differently with every strike, each coin is one-of-a-kind and features a lined effect that is unique to this metal.  

2020:

180th Anniversary of the Penny Black Stamp - Proof Sterling Silver with Pearl Black Finish 50p - GIB - The stunning coin in question was produced to commemorate the anniversary of the world’s first adhesive stamp, which was introduced in Britain in 1840 by Rowland Hill. This stamp quickly became very popular and was well known all over the World as the “Penny Black”. This 2020 50 pence coin has been reproduced using the same design, showing the image from the stamp but with a change of anniversary and denomination. All versions feature the lustrous ‘Pearl Black’ finish which is a special technique adopted by Pobjoy Mint in order to create a beautiful effect, complemented by the incused rim and for the first time struck as a 50p! Issued on behalf of the Government of Gibraltar, the obverse of this coin features the Pobjoy Mint Effigy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

2018:

Boaty McBoatFace - Unc. Coloured Cupro Nickel Diamond Finish 50p - BAT - When a campaign was launched to name the UK's new polar research ship, there was one suggestion that caught the nation’s imagination, Boaty McBoatface! The name suggested was not thought suitable for the state-of-the-art research ship, but instead the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) aboard the newly named RRS Sir David Attenborough ship carried the name. The design on this special 50p coin shows Boaty McBoatface submerged in the Antarctic Ocean with the research ship RRS James Clark Ross sitting among the icebergs and Penguins. The obverse of this coin features Pobjoy Mint's exclusive Effigy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

2017:

Southern Rockhopper - Coloured Cupro Nickel Diamond Finish 50p - FAL - The design of this beautiful 50 pence coin features an adult Southern Rockhopper, a quirky penguin with a signature hairstyle, and part of our most popular coin series of 2017, with the 50p being an extremely attractive purchase to animal lovers and numismatists alike. The Southern Rockhopper is depicted with its wings raised, poised in a position the penguin takes before it hops. The Northern Rockhopper penguin was originally released as part of this series but not being native to the islands quickly made it a sensation and only a limited amount of coins were available to the public, making it a limited edition bonus coin. The obverse of this new 50 pence coin features an exclusive effigy design of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, produced exclusively by Pobjoy Mint.

2003:

The Snowman™  - Coloured Cupro Nickel Diamond Finish 50p - IOM - 2003 saw the release of our most sought-after collector's piece to this day. The Snowman™ 50p portrays a scene from the book The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, which in fact celebrated its 25th Anniversary the very same year this coin was released. The cupro nickel diamond finish and proof sterling silver coins were available in stunning colour versions, helping to bring to life this beloved magical story. The design shown on this exceptional coin features an image of The Snowman™ and James joyfully skipping through a snowy winter's forest. The obverse of this 50p features an effigy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

 

This isn't all... check out out our impressive collection of "World Firsts" coins here!