Representation of the People Act 50p

Description

Front Design:
Inspired by posters of the period and showing women, soldiers and middle-class men queuing to vote for the first time. Designed by Stephen Taylor.

Obverse Design:
Queen Elizabeth II portrait by Jody Clark.
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More about the Representation of the People Act 50p

These special edition 50p coins were issued in 2018 to commemorate 100 years since the Representation of the People Act in 1918. This historic anniversary saw women’s right to vote for the first time and was a huge victory for the suffragist movement.

The Act was passed in 1918 and gave the right to vote to all men over the age of 21, and any man 19 or older who had served in the armed forces. Women received the right to vote for the first time in UK history. There were certain conditions attached to the women’s vote (over 30 years of age and “of property”), but nevertheless this represented a massive step forward in attitudes. Ten years later the Equal Franchise Act was passed in 1928, which finally gave all women over 21 the same voting rights as men.