2015 Great Britain UK Britannia £50 For £50 .999 Fine Silver Coin

Description

Introducing the UK’s first ever £50 coin
Featuring two British icons, Britannia and The Queen
A new addition to our commemorative range, this is the United Kingdom’s first ever commemorative £50 coin available to buy for £50. Struck in fine silver, it features two of the most famous symbols of Britain – Britannia and Her Majesty The Queen. Unusually, the designs on both sides of the coin are by the same artist, Royal Mint engraver, Jody Clark. Both subjects are instantly recognisable, making this a celebration of Britain’s story, heritage and values and a piece of coinage history.
About the Coin
It is not common in recent times for a coin to feature obverse and reverse designs by the same artist, but Jody Clark’s contemporary interpretation of Britannia with the British lion, and his portrait of The Queen, complement one another perfectly.
Britannia is a popular representation of Britain, reimagined through the centuries, always reflecting the United Kingdom at a moment in time. She personifies our nation, our history and the values we uphold. Today’s Britannia, depicted by Jody Clark, is strong and elegant, standing before the world with the British lion at her side. Her Majesty The Queen is respected and admired all around the world, her portrait on our coins a reassuring presence for more than six decades. These two unmistakable figures were the perfect choice for this £50 coin issued by The Royal Mint, in the year Britannia returns to the circulating coinage.
This £50 coin, the very first of its kind, joins a series of silver commemorative coins released in recent years. In 2013, the UK’s first £20 coin was issued, bearing Benedetto Pistrucci's famous St George and the dragon design. A silver £100 coin was then struck in 2015, featuring the national landmark, Big Ben.
Britannia has appeared on British coins since Roman times, a familiar presence, ‘queen of the seas’ and guardian of these shores. She has been a constant on our coins since the seventeenth century, and in 1987, the flagship Britannia coin was launched. The Britannia coin is now struck annually, with Proof editions bearing a new interpretation of this legend each year – she is the changing face of Britain. In 2015, Britannia made a welcome return to the circulating coinage, appearing on the £2 coin, which will become the definitive United Kingdom edition.
Commemorative coins are generally treasured for their aesthetic and collectable value, or for their rarity. Collectors appreciate the detailed hand-finished processes and expert skills used to make them.
All coins made by The Royal Mint are legal tender, whether commemorative or circulating. However, only circulating legal tender coins are designed to be spent and traded at businesses and banks.
This coin is a commemorative coin so banks, post offices and shops will not accept them.