Battle of Hastings 50p

Introducing the Battle of Hastings 50p Coin

On 14 October 1066, the Battle of Hastings changed the course of British (and world) history forever. The French army, led by Duke William II of Normandy, fought to take the British throne from the newly crowned king, Harold Godwinson. King Harold II was defeated on that day and William became William the Conqueror, the first Norman King of England. The Bayeux Tapestry was stitched within a few years of the battle, recounting the fight from the point of view of the Normans. Its most famous image is the same image on the Battle of Hastings 50p coin, one of King Harold II being killed by an arrow.

2016 Battle of Hastings

2016 marks 950 years since that momentous day and to celebrate the pivotal historic event, the Royal Mint released the Battle of Hastings 50p coin, complete with the year, 1066, stamped around the defeated Anglo-Saxon king. Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, the reverse side of the coin was designed by John Bergdahl while the obverse features the fifth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark. The Battle of Hastings 50p 2016 coin is perfect for British and history enthusiasts and, of course, coin collectors who want to complete their 50p coin collection for the Great British Coin Hunt.

Bergdahl described how the tapestry influenced him. “The Bayeux Tapestry formed the basis for this design, as it is so famous and the only real visual record of the battle. The design, much like the reverse for the Magna Carta £2, is inspired by the medieval, it’s very much of the period when the battle took place. The figure in the composition is based on images thought to be King Harold, with the famous arrow to the eye. The all-important date is at the centre of the arrangement.”

(Caption: The Bayeux Tapestry)

Other Battle of Hastings Coins

Beyond the common circulation version you can find in your change, the Royal Mint also released a Brilliant Uncirculated, Gold Proof (mintage: 350), and Silver Proof (mintage: 3000), and Silver Proof Piedfort (mintage: 1,500) versions for collectors.