Christopher Ironside 50p

Description

Front Design:
This coin features Ironside’s Royal Arms design which was runner-up in a competition. First was his own Britannia design, which was featured on the 50p piece from 1969 until 2008.

Obverse Design:
Queen Elizabeth II portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley.
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More about the Christopher Ironside 50p

These special edition 50p coins were issued in 2013 to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside, designer of the UK’s first decimal coins.

The familiar design of Britannia was used for the 50p at the time of decimalisation, but among the other designs that Ironside submitted was this version of the Royal Arms. The design was by liked so much by The Royal Mint that trial pieces of the coin were made in 1969 in the hope that a use might be found for it. Some 44 years later it’s eventual appearance on this 2013 50p was a fitting tribute to a great artist on the 100th anniversary of his birth.