50 Pence - Elizabeth II Equestrian Silver (2011)

We have no sold price for this coin yet. This range is the middle of what 12 similar coins sold for as issued: the same denomination and metal, struck within 5 years. Treat it as a guide, not a valuation.

• 50 Pence - Elizabeth II Archery – Silver (2011) £45.37
• 50 Pence - Elizabeth II Canoeing – Silver (2011) £17.77
• 50 Pence - Elizabeth II Cycling – Silver (2011) £24.86
• 50 Pence - Elizabeth II Hockey – Silver (2011) £20.00
• 50 Pence - Elizabeth II Rowing – Silver (2011) £29.99

About the 2011 50 Pence - Elizabeth II Equestrian – Silver

The 2011 50 Pence - Elizabeth II Equestrian – Silver is a collector 50 pence coin in the Olympic 50p (2011) series, struck in 92.5% silver. It weighs 8g and measures 27.3mm across. Reverse design: Rider on horse jumping over a fence, London 2012 logo above, denomination below.

5,382 were struck.

Common questions

History and design

This is a collector version of the 50 Pence - Elizabeth II – Equestrian. The history below is that coin's; the mintage, varieties and collecting notes on its page do not apply to this strike.

The Equestrian 50p is one of 29 coins issued for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, one for each sport. The designs came from a competition open to the general public, the equestrian design was among those authorised by a royal proclamation in force from 12 May 2010, and every coin in the series is dated 2011.

The Royal Mint's figures give a circulating mintage of 2,142,500. That is the seventh highest of the 29. It sits in a tight group near the top of the series: Boxing is just above at 2,148,500, and Badminton and Volleyball are just below at 2,133,500 each. In all, 22 designs were struck in smaller numbers.

The reverse is by Thomas Babbage and was chosen from more than 30,000 public submissions. The proclamation describes it as "a horse and rider jumping over a fence". The pair are shown in mid-jump, with the London 2012 logo above and 50 PENCE below.

Accuracy was the point of the design. Babbage told the Royal Mint Museum that he studied photographs of horses in competition because he "wanted to make the horse look true to a horse riding event", so that people who know the sport "would feel that this is something that they would see on a regular occasion."

He was working in Austria when he heard about the competition, had "a lot of free time" and entered several coins, of which this one won. He admitted that the Olympics had meant little to him before, but said that winning made the Games "more personal". He called the coin "my fifteen minutes of fame".

The obverse carries the fourth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, in which she wears the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. The edge is plain.