London 2012 Olympic 50p Guide: All 29 Coins & Values
The largest circulating-coin commemorative series ever issued in the UK: 29 different 50p designs, each marking a different Olympic or Paralympic sport for the London 2012 Games. Some still turn up in change; the rarest command 40× face value. Here's the complete list with values.
All 29 London 2012 Olympic 50ps by value
| # | Sport | Mintage | Typical value (UNC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrestling | 1,129,500 | £20 – £35 |
| 2 | Football ("Offside Rule") | 1,161,500 | £20 – £35 |
| 3 | Judo | 1,161,500 | £15 – £25 |
| 4 | Triathlon | 1,163,500 | £12 – £20 |
| 5 | Tennis | 1,454,000 | £10 – £18 |
| 6 | Goalball | 1,615,500 | £8 – £15 |
| 7 | Shooting | 1,656,500 | £7 – £14 |
| 8 | Modern Pentathlon | 1,689,500 | £7 – £14 |
| 9 | Taekwondo | 1,664,000 | £7 – £13 |
| 10 | Canoeing | 1,981,500 | £6 – £12 |
| 11 | Archery | 1,662,500 | £6 – £12 |
| 12 | Volleyball | 2,133,500 | £6 – £12 |
| 13 | Weightlifting | 1,879,500 | £6 – £12 |
| 14 | Wheelchair Rugby | 1,765,500 | £7 – £13 |
| 15 | Badminton | 2,133,500 | £5 – £10 |
| 16 | Rowing | 1,717,300 | £6 – £11 |
| 17 | Sailing | 1,749,500 | £6 – £11 |
| 18 | Cycling | 2,090,500 | £5 – £10 |
| 19 | Equestrian | 2,142,500 | £5 – £9 |
| 20 | Fencing | 2,115,500 | £5 – £9 |
| 21 | Basketball | 1,748,000 | £6 – £11 |
| 22 | Hockey | 1,773,500 | £6 – £11 |
| 23 | Gymnastics | 1,720,000 | £6 – £11 |
| 24 | Table Tennis | 1,737,500 | £6 – £11 |
| 25 | Handball | 1,676,500 | £7 – £13 |
| 26 | Boccia | 2,166,960 | £5 – £10 |
| 27 | Boxing | 2,148,500 | £5 – £10 |
| 28 | Aquatics | 2,179,000 | £5 – £10 |
| 29 | Athletics | 2,224,000 | £5 – £9 |
The Football 50p "Offside Rule"
Uniquely, the 2012 Football 50p carries a diagrammatic explanation of the offside rule on its reverse — the first time a rulebook graphic has appeared on a circulating British coin. Designer Neil Wolfson wanted to capture something visually distinctive for football, given that literal depictions of the sport had been used repeatedly elsewhere. The diagram shows a goal, attackers, defenders, and the imaginary line.
The "original" version of this coin was briefly withdrawn after initial public previews in 2011 — the Royal Mint judged the illustration too cluttered. A corrected version (which is what circulated) replaced it. A tiny number of pre-correction proof coins exist in private hands and realise £400–£800 at auction.
The "Swimmer" 50p variant (2011)
A 2011-dated Aquatics 50p exists where the swimmer's face is obscured by water lines — the "obscured face" variant. An early proof version showed the swimmer's face clearly, but designer Jonathan Olliffe amended the design before circulation to reflect the original vision of lines across the face. The pre-amendment swimmer 50ps from early proof runs realise £2,500–£4,000 at specialist auctions.
Completing the set
The 29-coin set is one of the most-sought-after UK circulation series. Complete sets come in three main formats:
- Raw circulated (from change): £150–£250 for a complete set, depending on grade consistency.
- Brilliant uncirculated in Royal Mint album: £280–£450. The album has 29 slots plus cover info pages.
- Silver Proof set (limited to 3,000): £1,800–£2,500. Sealed, certified, with presentation folder.
Individual raw circulated 50ps from the set are usually £3–£8 each except the top four rarities. Full BU sets typically sell through eBay UK or specialist dealers like Change Checker.
Featured Olympic 50p coins on MyCoinage
