Introducing the Victoria Cross 50p Coin
The Victoria Cross is the highest and most prestigious award in the British honours system, given to soldiers who showed ‘gallantry in the presence of the enemy.’ Awarded to a person of any military rank and of any military service, the award was first proposed by the Secretary of State for War, the Duke of Newcastle in 1855. The Royal Warrant for its creation was signed on 29 January 1856. It was then first given by Queen Victoria on 26 June 1857 in response to the acts of valour during the Crimean War.
Victoria Cross 2006 50p
To honour the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross, the Royal Mint struck two Victoria Cross 50p coins for the special occasion. This VC 50p coin, called the “Victoria Cross Award Coin”, presents the details of both sides of the medal, with the date on the reverse side being the date the Royal Warrant was signed. It is designed by Claire Aldridge. The obverse design is of the 2006 portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.
In an interview with Coin Update, when asked about which project she was most proud of, Claire Aldridge chose this Victoria Cross coin. She explains, “From the day I started here at the Royal Mint the goal was to have an actual UK circulation coin issued and I think it’s the same for us all who work in this department. One of our aims is to design a coin which is in circulation and although some of our coin designs circulate in other countries it’s not quite the same if you don’t live there. With a UK coin, it’s your design, it’s been chosen and you feel so proud knowing it is in people’s pockets and hands. I hope in the future I’ll have another coin out there… fingers crossed!”
(Caption: The Victoria Cross Award)
How Much Is the Victoria Cross 50p Worth?
The mintage of the Victoria Cross is about 12 million, making this coin a very common find in your change. Because of this, the highest price on eBay for a circulated coin has only been £5 as of the end of March 2019.
Other Victoria Cross Coin Versions
The Royal Mint has released other versions of the Victoria Cross Award 50p coin. They are Brilliant Uncirculated, Gold Proof, Silver Proof (mintage 7,500), and Silver Proof Piedfort (mintage 5,000).
This 50p coin has also been reissued, once in 2009 for the 40th anniversary of the 50p and rumoured to be re-released again in 2019 for the 50th anniversary of the 50p.
Specifications | |
Issued | 2006 |
Diameter | 27.30mm |
Weight | 8.00g |
Thickness | 1.78mm |
Composition | Cupro-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel) |
Obverse Designer | Portrait of Her Majesty the Queen 2006 – Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS |
Reverse Designer | Claire Aldridge |
Edge | Plain |
Mintage | 12,087,000* |
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