Judo 50p

Introducing the Judo 50p Coin

In 2011, the Royal Mint released 29 50p coins in a collection celebrating the sports of the 2012 London Summer Olympics and Paralympics. One of the sports featured is judo, first included in the Summer Olympics at the 1964 Tokyo Games. The sport first started in Japan in 1882. Considered a modern martial art, judo specialises in throwing or grappling the opponent. Over the course of its Olympic history, it was only until the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona when both men and women were allowed to compete and medal. 

Judo 2011 50p

The Judo 50p coin features two athletes in full traditional uniform. One athlete is gripping the collar of the other as he performs a sweeping throw technique, bringing his opponent towards the floor to win a point. 

The designer of the coin is David Cornell, an artist from Sussex who also used to practice judo. In an interview with the Royal Mint, he describes his design, “When I saw the publicity about the competition and as a coin designer I thought I would have a go at doing a few of the designs. I did four and got selected for Judo which was my favourite subject because I used to do competitive Judo when I was in my twenties and the particular design that I did was the throw that I got thrown in a contest and I damaged my shoulder really badly and had to give it up. So it’s something I’ve always had a hate, love relationship with because I hated having to stop doing Judo but I still love the sport.”

(Caption: Pictogram for Judo for the 2012 London Olympics)

How Much is the Judo 50p Worth?

The Judo 50p is one of the lowest minted coins in the 2012 Olympics 50p coin collection, a figure of 1.16 million, only about 40,000 more minted than the hardest to find 2012 Olympics coin, the Offside Rule 50p. As of 2019, the highest price on eBay was £18.00 for a Brilliant Uncirculated version in a Royal Mint pack. 

Other Versions of the Judo 50p Coin

The Judo 50 pence also was released as a Brilliant Uncirculated coin, usually in special presentation packs, and Silver Proof (mintage of 30,000). 

Other Olympics Coins

The Olympic games are a popular subject for the Royal Mint. They released a series of two £2 coins to celebrate the Handover Ceremonies and a four £5 coin series from 2009 to 2012 to countdown to the 2012 Olympics. Chancery Coins has some of the other 29 2012 Olympic sport coins like the Swimming 50p and the Triathlon 50p. 

The Royal Mint also released a 50p for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro and a 2-pound coin for the 100^th anniversary of the 1908 London Olympics.