- Circulation: 6,400,000
- Year issued: 2016
- Value circulated: 50p
- Value circulated in excellent condition: £1.00
- Value uncirculated: £5.00
- Composition: cupro-nickel
- Scarcity index: 2
The Team GB 50p was minted in 2016 to commemorate the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro. In 2012 the team did well at the London Olympics and the Team GB 50p is a nice addition anyone who collected the 2012 Olympics coins and also for sports enthusiasts.
History of the coin
Prior to 1971 the country used pounds, shillings and pence. In 1971, decimalised currency was introduced and this mean the creation of a new set of coins. In 1968 the Royal Mint introduced the first two decimalized coins – the 5p and 10p. In 1969 they minted the first 50p.
It still has its original 7 sided design and despite being made smaller in 1997, it is still easily recognisable.
Following the success of Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics, a 50p was minted to commemorate their participation in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro.
About Team GB
The idea behind the Team GB 50p is to celebrate the spirit of the Olympic Games and those who participated. It is a tribute to all the men and women who give their all to compete and act as a reminder that we can all work towards being the best we can.
In 2012 the Royal Mint released a set of 50p coins to commemorate the London Olympics. These coins are highly collectable, and the Team GB coin is a good addition to that set.
Team GB increased the number of medals they had won in the previous Olympics. In total they won 67 medals: 27 gold, 23 silver and 17 bronze.
How many Team GB coins were made?
In 2016, 6,400,000 Team GB 50p coins were put in to circulation.
Design and Designer
- Front design:
The front of the coin has a swimmer doing the butterfly stroke with his arms raised. The Team GB logo is in the middle, with the words ‘Team GB’ underneath. Below that are the Olympic rings.
- Obverse design:
The obverse has Ian Rank-Broadley’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. This is the 4th portrait of Her Majesty to be used on coins.
- Designer: Tim Sharp / Peter Blake
The designers behind the Team GB 50p were Tim Sharp and Peter Blake from the Uniform Brand Agency.
The agency has worked for many well-known brands, including Primark, Mitre and Fever-Tree.
The message Tim and Peter wanted to convey with their design was ‘pride and hope’, following on from the success at the London Olympics 4 years earlier. The idea for a swimmer on the coin was to represent athletes in general. The swimmer is powerful and graceful and signifies the determination and energy of all competing athletes.
Variations
In 2016 when the coin was minted, 6,400,000 Team GB 50p coins were circulated.
- 34,162 Brilliant uncirculated coins are available
- 302 Gold Proof coins were produced
- 3,956 Silver Proof coins were produced.
- 1,296 Silver Proof Piedfort coins were produced.
