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Design
details:
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Christopher Ironside,
designer of the UK's first decimal coins, this 50p features his Royal Arms
design which was the runner-up to the winning design of Britannia for the
first 50p in 1969. The Royal Arms design now appears in public for the
first time some 44 years after its creation.
Ironside's familiar design of Britannia was adopted for the 50p at the
time of decimalisation, but among the other designs that he submitted was
a version of the Royal Arms. This was liked so much by members of The
Royal Mint Advisory Committee that trial pieces of the design were made
and the hope was expressed that a use might be found for it. Its
appearance in 2013 is therefore a fitting tribute to a great numismatic
artist.
The design in its original form used the designation NEW PENCE but this
would be inappropriate for 2013 and the value has been amended to FIFTY
PENCE
text source and credit Royal Mint |
