Many stunning designs have excited the public and collectors, and the 50p continues to be the coin of choice for commemorative editions.
To honour the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the 1994 coin featured a stunning design by John Mills that depicted the Allied forces moving towards Normandy. In 1973, The Royal Mint produced a special edition to celebrate the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community. Due to the size and shape of this bold new coin, it was immediately used to introduce commemorative designs into circulation.