- The page has detailed information about this coin. In 2013 this United Kingdom circulating commemorative 50p coin celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of British composer Benjamin Britten. This unique coin is the first ever UK 50p to show both date and denomination on the obverse. Designed by artist Tom Phillips CBE RA, the coin features the uplifting words BLOW BUGLE BLOW.
- This will show you every all rare 50p coins in circulation. The following are the most sought-after 50p coins. Probably the most valuable fifty pence is the 2012 Olympic Aquatics 50p, with lines going across the swimmer’s face. Aquatics 50p rare coin. We recently saw one of these coins on eBay showing as sold for £1,850.
- Fifty (50p) coins issued by Royal Mint, UK in various design from 1969 till date (2016). The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Benjamin Britten (2013) 21.
Benjamin Britten 50p rare worth 500£ online offers rare 50p.Posted by Logan in other goods, hobbies, interests & collectibles in Newcastle. 20 December 2020.
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Three different 50p designs were issued in 2013. Two commemorative coins: one to show the rejected runner up design that was nearly used for the original 50p and a commemorative coin to mark the centenary of the birth of Benjamin Britten. The coin with the standard (new) design featuring the bottom section of the Royal Coat of Arms was also issued.
Obverse Type 5 (bust design by Ian Rank-Broadley):
Reverse Type 4 (design by Matthew Dent):
Mintage for Circulation: 10,301,000.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here)
The story behind the design:
The obverse portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley was used on all UK coinage from 1998 to 2014 and for some 2015 coins. It was the fourth portrait of the Queen used on coinage. For the new design 50p coins the design on the reverse is best suited for a coin with its ‘point’ facing downwards, so to accommodate this the obverse has also been rotated.
The reverse design, by Matthew Dent shows the lower part of the shield of the Royal Coat of Arms.
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 46: (info on coin type numbers here)
Obverse Type 4 (bust design by Ian Rank-Broadley):
Reverse Type (design by Christopher Ironside):
Mintage for Circulation: 7,000,000.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here)
Benjamin Britten 50p Worth
The story behind the design:
The obverse portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley was used on all UK coinage from 1998 to 2014 and also on some coins dated 2015. It was the fourth portrait of the Queen used on coinage.
The reverse shows the rejected Christopher Ironside design for the original 50p. Instead, the Britannia design was chosen (also by Christopher Ironside). Ironside was a prolific coin designer, designing coins for many nations, from the 1960s to 1980s. He passed away in 1992:
Commemorative 50p coin, Type 47: (info on coin type numbers here)
Obverse Type 4c (bust design by Ian Rank-Broadley):
Reverse Type (design by Tom Phillips):
Mintage for Circulation: 5,300,000.
Collectability/Scarcity: 1 (for scale details see here)
There is an urban legend that these coins are very rare. They aren’t! The confusion comes from the fact that the cased silver proof version is a little scarcer (in terms of numbers made) than other silver proof 50p coins. The bog standard circulation issue is very common. Any silly asking prices are just wishful thinking and anything that appears to be an actual sale for a large sum is likely to be a fake sale or criminal money laundering.
The story behind the design:
The obverse portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley was used on all UK coinage from 1998 to 2014 and also on some coins dated 2015. It was the fourth portrait of the Queen used on coinage. For this coin both the date and denomination ‘FIFTY PENCE’ are included on the obverse for the first time, as these are omitted from the reverse.
The reverse shows the name ‘BENJAMIN BRITTEN’ on musical notation paper, with the Lord Tennyson quotes (that Britten set to music) ‘BLOW BUGLE BLOW’ and ‘SET THE WILD ECHOES FLYING’. Benjamin Britten was a leading classical composer of the 20th century:
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The new Benjamin Britten 50p is not likely to be seen in your change until 2014
The Royal Mint’s latest 50p coin is certain to “strike a chord” with Change Checkers.
That’s because it celebrates the centenary of the birth of one of the UK’s most prominent classical composers – Sir Benjamin Britten.
Born in Suffolk on 22 November 1913, Britten studied at the Royal School of Music before going on to write some of the 20th Century’s best known opera, choral and classical pieces, including Peter Grimes (1945), a Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra (1945) and the War Requiem (1962).
Benjamin Britten 50p Coin Value
The new 50p design has been created by another composer and artist, Tom Phillips CBE, RA. Commenting on his design Phillips says: “What I wanted the coin to speak of was music. Thus the stave soon entered the design… and his name married well with the stave. The natural accompaniment with Britten’s passion for poetry as our preeminent composer of opera and song, was some kind of key quotation. The words which eventually suggested themselves, come from the Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings. What better clarion call for a musical anniversary could there be than “Blow, bugle, blow: set the wild echoes flying?”
Benjamin Britten Opera
Sadly though Change Checkers will have to wait several months until you can hope to see the new Benjamin Britten coin in general circulation.