50 Pence - Elizabeth II Kew Gardens Silver Proof (2009)

About the 2009 50 Pence - Elizabeth II Kew Gardens – Silver Proof

The 2009 50 Pence - Elizabeth II Kew Gardens – Silver Proof is a collector 50 pence coin in the Kew Gardens 50p series, struck in 92.5% silver. It weighs 8g and measures 27.3mm across. Reverse design: A design showing the pagoda, a building associated with the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, encircled by a vine and dividing dates.

11,492 were struck.

Common questions

History and design

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

The Kew Gardens 50p was issued in 2009 to mark the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, which date their foundation to 1759. The royal proclamation setting out its design came into force on 10 October 2008.

Only 210,000 were struck for circulation. The Royal Mint puts this down to low demand for the 50p denomination in 2009, which kept that year's production of 50p coins unusually small. For comparison, the Mint's figures show 3,400,000 for the 2011 WWF 50p and more than a million for every one of the London 2012 Olympic designs.

It was the rarest 50p in circulation until October 2024, when the Royal Mint published a figure of 200,000 for the 2023 Atlantic Salmon 50p. Kew Gardens now ranks second among 50p coins in active circulation.

The reverse is by Christopher Le Brun. It shows the Great Pagoda, one of the best-known buildings at Kew, encircled by a climbing vine. The dates 1759 and 2009 sit either side of the tower and the word KEW is at its base.

There is no denomination on the reverse. 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, with FIFTY PENCE below the portrait. The edge is plain.