Guide
Dinosauria 50p Series: Megalosaurus, Iguanodon and More
The Royal Mint Dinosauria 50p series launched in 2020 to celebrate the dinosaurs originally identified by Sir Richard Owen, who coined the term "dinosaur" in 1842. Six coins released so far, the original three Megalosaurus, Iguanodon and Hylaeosaurus (2020), plus Stegosaurus, Diplodocus and a Megalosaurus variant (2024). All collector-only; no Dinosauria 50p has ever entered circulation. This guide covers each coin, mintages, format prices and authentication.
Reviewed by Connor Jones, Editor
Last updated:
In brief. 6 coins 2020-2024, none in circulation. Coloured BU: £15-35.
Silver proof (mintage 4,500-6,000): £90-160. Silver Piedfort (mintage 800-1,500):
£220-380. Gold proof (mintage 200-500): £1,800-2,800.
CGT-exempt as UK legal tender. 2020 Megalosaurus is the most-collected; 2020 Iguanodon Piedfort the rarest at
mintage 800.
The series so far
| Year | Dinosaur | Coloured BU | Silver proof | Piedfort mintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Megalosaurus | £25-40 | £110-160 | 1,500 |
| 2020 | Iguanodon | £25-38 | £105-150 | 800 |
| 2020 | Hylaeosaurus | £28-42 | £110-160 | 1,200 |
| 2024 | Stegosaurus | £30-45 | £100-145 | 1,000 |
| 2024 | Diplodocus | £25-40 | £95-140 | 1,000 |
| 2024 | Megalosaurus (variant) | £22-38 | £95-140 | 1,000 |
Owen and the original three
The first three coins (Megalosaurus, Iguanodon, Hylaeosaurus) reference the three dinosaurs identified by Sir Richard Owen when he coined the term "dinosaur" (from Greek deinos sauros, "terrible lizard") in his 1842 paper Report on British Fossil Reptiles. Owen distinguished these three as a separate sub-order of large extinct reptiles distinct from modern lizards, marking the birth of palaeontology as a discipline. The Royal Mint partnered with the Natural History Museum London on the designs, each coin shows a scientifically accurate skeletal reconstruction by artist Robert Nicholls.
Featured Dinosauria coins on MyCoinage
Frequently asked questions
What is the Dinosauria 50p series?
The Dinosauria series is a Royal Mint commemorative 50p programme launched in 2020 to celebrate British palaeontology. The first three coins (2020) featured Megalosaurus, Iguanodon and Hylaeosaurus, the three dinosaurs originally identified by Sir Richard Owen, who coined the term "Dinosauria" in his landmark 1842 paper Report on British Fossil Reptiles. A second three-coin "Iconic Specimens" run in 2024 added Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus and Diplodocus. The series is collector-only (no circulation issues). All designs feature palaeo-art by Robert Nicholls (Paleocreations) with scientific guidance from Prof. Paul Barrett of the Natural History Museum, London, the same museum that holds many of the original Owen-era dinosaur specimens.
How much is a Dinosauria 50p worth?
BU coloured Royal Mint cards trade at £15-35 on eBay UK. The 2020 Megalosaurus had a confirmed BU pack distribution of 106,506 (per 50pence.co.uk, the most precisely documented figure in the series). Sealed silver proofs (typically capped 3,000-5,000 per character) trade at £90-160. Silver Piedforts (mintage 800-1,500) trade at £220-380. Gold proofs (mintage 200-500) trade at £1,800-2,800. The 2020 Megalosaurus is the most-collected single Dinosauria 50p, it was also the first dinosaur ever named in 1824 by Reverend William Buckland, and trades at the upper end of each format range. The 2024 Tyrannosaurus is the strongest secondary-market climber from the second series.
Are Dinosauria 50ps in circulation?
No. The Dinosauria series is collector-only; no Dinosauria 50p has ever been struck for general circulation. All examples were sold direct from the Royal Mint or through licensed retailers in BU, silver proof, silver Piedfort and gold proof formats. Cannot find one in change. Distinct from the broader UK 50p commemorative tradition where most coins (Beatrix Potter, Olympic, etc.) entered circulation alongside their collector counterparts. The Dinosauria series follows the Harry Potter and Winnie the Pooh approach of collector-only releases.
Which Dinosauria 50p is the rarest?
In coloured BU: the 2020 Hylaeosaurus (the smallest and least-publicised of Owen's original three) typically trades at higher premium because of lower production. In silver Piedfort: the 2020 Iguanodon Piedfort at mintage 800 is the lowest-mintage Piedfort in the series and trades at £320-480. In gold proof: the 2020 Megalosaurus gold proof at mintage 250 is the most-collected gold piece. The complete six-coin Dinosauria collection in original Royal Mint presentation case (when offered as a set) trades at £180-320 in BU coloured, £800-1,400 in silver proof, £14,000-18,000 in gold proof.
Are Dinosauria 50ps CGT-exempt?
Yes, all Dinosauria 50ps are UK legal tender at 50p face value, making them capital-gains-tax exempt for UK residents on any future profit. The CGT exemption applies regardless of metal or finish (cupronickel BU, silver proof, silver Piedfort, gold proof all qualify). Combined with the relatively low entry price of the silver proof variants (£90-160), the series is a tax-efficient way to hold collector-grade silver and gold for long-term appreciation. See our CGT-exempt UK coins guide for the full list of qualifying UK coins.
How do I authenticate a Dinosauria 50p?
Three checks. (1) Weight: 8.0 g ± 0.05 g for cupronickel; silver proof same weight; silver Piedfort 16.0 g; 1/4 oz gold proof 7.80 g. (2) Diameter: 27.3 mm flat-to-flat across the heptagon. (3) Original packaging: Royal Mint Dinosauria 50ps ship in distinctive themed packaging (Natural History Museum branding on cards; Royal Mint clamshell capsules for proofs; numbered Certificate of Authenticity for silver Piedforts and gold proofs). Loose coins without packaging trade at significant discount. For high-value gold proofs, professional grading by PCGS or NGC adds 15-25% to realised price. Counterfeit Dinosauria 50ps are uncommon, the series is too low-volume to fake at scale.
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