Be Prepared 50p Coin

Introducing the Be Prepared 50p Coin

To commemorate the centenary of the Foundation of the Scouting Movement in the UK, the Royal Mint released the Be Prepared 50p coin. Scouting in the UK started in the summer of 1907 on Brownsea Island through the efforts Robert Baden-Powell. Originally a boys only programme, the Scouts are now all-inclusive, welcoming all genders and faiths. The organisation encourages young people to push themselves to do more and learn more, learning about key life skills like teamwork, leadership, and resilience in the process. 

Be Prepared 2007 50p

The Be Prepared 50p coin features the organisation’s famous fleur-de-lis logo, designed by Kerry Jones. The logo is symbolic of the Scouts’ three-fold promise to uphold their duty to God and country, to themselves, and to others.  Along the bottom of the coin is the Scouting Movement’s motto, ‘Be Prepared,’ created by Robert Baden-Powell. The years marking the centenary are on the left and right edges of the coin. The obverse design is of the 2007 portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS. 

(Caption: The Scouts Association Logo)

How Much Is the Be Prepared 50p Worth? 

The Be Prepared 50p, also known by collectors as the “Scouts 50p” was minted 7.71 million times in 2007, a larger quantity than other coins such as the 2009 Kew Gardens (210,000) or many of the Olympic 50p coins (1-2m in circulation). In 2019, this coin has seen sold for up to £8.50 on ebay, 18 times its face value. 

In 2019 the coin was re-minted in very limited quantity by the Royal Mint to celebrate the 50 years since the release of the first seven-sided coin in 2009: “The 50 Years of the 50p”. The Scouts 50p was one of 5 commemorative coins of the set, which also included the most sought-after 50p: the 2009 Kew Gardens. This collection sold out within 2 hours of going on sale, showing an overwhelming response from collectors. Only 3,500 base Proof sets, 1,969 Silver Proof sets, and 75 Gold Proof sets were made available as part of this very limited 2019 release.

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You may also be interested in the Girl Guide 50p. Introduced 3 years later in 2010, this coin celebrates 100th anniversary of The Girl Guides.