WWII Commemorative Coins UK: Every Royal Mint Issue Since 1994
The Royal Mint has issued commemorative WWII coins at every decadal anniversary since 1994. From the original 1994 D-Day 50p (the first WWII 50p ever struck) through the 2015 VE Day £2, the 2019 D-Day 75th £2, the 2020 Battle of Britain £2, and the recent 2024 D-Day 80th Anniversary 50p and £5 crown. This guide covers every issue, mintages, realised prices and which pieces are investment-grade.
The WW2 anniversary timeline 1994–2025
Royal Mint commemorative programmes follow decadal anniversaries closely. Since 1994 (the 50th of D-Day), almost every five-year and ten-year WWII anniversary has triggered at least one commemorative issue. The pattern is consistent enough that collectors can predict future releases years in advance.
- 1994 — 50th of D-Day. The first WWII commemorative 50p (large format).
- 1995 — 50th of End of WWII. Large 50p plus the 1995 nickel-brass £2 (a single-metal £2 that pre-dated the 1997 bimetallic version we use today).
- 2004 — 60th of D-Day. Limited proof-only commemorative, no circulating issue.
- 2005 — 60th of End of WWII. Bimetallic £2 mintage 10.19 million (the only circulating WWII anniversary £2 of the decade).
- 2014 — 75th outbreak / WWI centenary cross-over. Multiple commemoratives.
- 2015 — 70th of VE Day. £2 mintage 5.50 million; the Battle of Britain 50p mintage 5.90 million (the first Battle of Britain commemorative since 1992).
- 2019 — 75th of D-Day. Collector-only £2 in BU and proof formats; no circulating issue.
- 2020 — 80th of Battle of Britain. £2 mintage 2.75 million. Issued during the COVID period; Royal Mint distribution was unusually constrained.
- 2024 — 80th of D-Day. Limited-mintage 50p (29,220 BU representing the days between D-Day and the 80th anniversary) plus a £5 crown.
- 2025 — 80th of VE Day and VJ Day. Anticipated £2 commemoratives plus a 50p anniversary issue.
The 80th-anniversary cycle (2024-2025) is likely the last major collector-driven WWII commemorative programme; survivors of the war are almost all gone, and the 100th anniversaries (2039-2045) will operate in a different cultural register. Collectors building complete sets should prioritise the 80th-anniversary issues now while Royal Mint distribution is fresh.
1994 D-Day 50th 50p
The 1994 D-Day 50p was the first British 50p ever to commemorate WWII and the first in what would become a long Royal Mint anniversary commemorative tradition. Released on 6 June 1994, the 50th anniversary of D-Day, in the original large 50p format (30 mm, 13.5 g, cupronickel) which was nearing the end of its lifecycle — the smaller 27.3 mm format launched on 1 September 1997.
Designer John Mills created the reverse showing Allied landing craft approaching the Normandy beaches with naval and air support overhead. The composition is unusually dense for a 50p reverse, with three tiers of detail (sea, troops, sky). The obverse uses Raphael Maklouf's Elizabeth II portrait, the standard for 1985-1997 UK coinage.
Mintage figures:
- Circulating cupronickel: 6,705,520
- BU sealed in Royal Mint card: 100,000
- Silver proof: 35,000
- Gold proof: 1,500
Realised auction prices for the 1994 D-Day 50p:
| Format | Realised range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Worn circulated | £3-8 | Common in older change finds |
| BU in Royal Mint card | £15-30 | Premium for sealed card |
| Silver proof | £45-80 | Mintage 35,000 |
| Gold proof | £1,800-2,800 | Mintage 1,500; gold-content driven |
The 1994 D-Day 50p was demonetised on 28 February 1998 alongside the rest of the pre-1997 large 50p format, which means the circulating examples are technically no longer legal tender (though the BU and proof variants remain redeemable through the Royal Mint).
1995 VE Day 50th £2 (Britannia + dove)
The 1995 End of WWII £2 is one of the most overlooked commemorative coins in the modern series. Issued before the bimetallic £2 launched in 1997, it's a single-metal nickel-brass £2 — the same alloy as the 12-sided £1 of the period. Heavy at 15.98 g, diameter 28.40 mm, distinctive yellow-brass colour.
The reverse shows Britannia seated alongside a dove of peace, designed by John Mills (the same designer as the 1994 D-Day 50p). The dove imagery is straightforward: peace following war. The obverse uses Maklouf's Elizabeth II portrait.
The 1995 £2 was the predecessor of the bimetallic £2 series. Its 4 million circulation mintage (figures of 4,394,566 are commonly cited though Royal Mint records are inconsistent on this issue) was below the eventual bimetallic £2 standard. Crucially, the 1995 £2 used a single-metal alloy because the bimetallic technology — tested at the Royal Mint from 1994-1997 — was not yet ready for mass production. When the bimetallic version launched on 15 June 1998 it became the first regular British £2 coin in 175 years.
Realised prices for the 1995 VE Day £2:
| Format | Realised range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Worn circulated | £3-8 | Survives in change occasionally |
| BU in Royal Mint pack | £12-22 | Single-metal nickel-brass |
| Silver proof | £65-110 | Mintage 27,000 |
| Gold proof | £2,000-2,800 | Mintage 1,500; one-year-only design |
The single-metal nickel-brass £2 was demonetised when the bimetallic version launched, then re-monetised retrospectively under specific Royal Mint guidance. In practice the 1995 £2 is accepted at face value at any UK Post Office and is treated as legal tender for CGT-exemption purposes.
2024 D-Day 80th anniversary £2
The 2024 D-Day 80th programme was a multi-coin release centred on a 50p (the headline issue) plus a £5 crown and an associated quintuple sovereign. The £2 itself was not the main vehicle for the 2024 D-Day anniversary — that distinction went to the 50p — but a smaller bimetallic £2 release accompanied the programme.
The 2024 D-Day 50p has a strikingly low BU mintage of 29,220, deliberately chosen to represent each day between D-Day (6 June 1944) and the 80th anniversary (6 June 2024). This is unusually low for a circulating-format Royal Mint commemorative and immediately created strong secondary-market demand.
Royal Mint produced the 2024 D-Day 80th in partnership with the Imperial War Museums. The 50p reverse shows Allied troops disembarking landing craft with the inscription "D-DAY 6 JUNE 1944 UTAH OMAHA GOLD JUNO SWORD" — naming the five Normandy beaches.
Realised auction prices three months post-release:
| Format | Realised range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BU in Royal Mint card | £25-50 | Mintage 29,220 only |
| Silver proof | £90-160 | Mintage 7,000 |
| Silver Piedfort | £220-380 | Mintage 2,500 |
| Gold proof | £2,200-3,200 | Mintage 350; very strong launch demand |
| Coloured BU edition | £35-65 | Air Force Blue card variant |
The matching 2024 D-Day quintuple sovereign was struck on 6 June 2024 itself — the actual anniversary day — making the entire 2024 D-Day programme one of the strongest collector targets of the modern era. See our £5 coin values UK guide for the £5 crown variant.
Mintages and realised prices table
Combined view across the entire WWII commemorative programme:
| Year | Coin | Mintage | BU realised | Silver proof | Gold proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | D-Day 50th 50p (large) | 6.71M | £15-30 | £45-80 | £1,800-2,800 |
| 1995 | End WWII 50p (large) | 1.67M | £15-30 | £55-95 | £2,000-3,000 |
| 1995 | End WWII £2 nickel-brass | 4.39M | £12-22 | £65-110 | £2,000-2,800 |
| 1995 | End WWII £5 crown | limited | £15-30 | £100-160 | £3,500-5,500 |
| 2005 | End WWII 60th £2 | 10.19M | £5-12 | £55-90 | £1,800-2,500 |
| 2014 | WWI/WWII Outbreak 75th £2 | various | £6-15 | £65-100 | £2,000-2,800 |
| 2015 | VE Day 70th £2 | 5.50M | £6-15 | £65-100 | £2,000-2,800 |
| 2015 | Battle of Britain 50p | 5.90M | £3-10 | £55-90 | £1,800-2,500 |
| 2019 | D-Day 75th £2 BU | collector-only 99,460 | £15-30 | £75-130 | £2,200-3,200 |
| 2019 | D-Day 75th gold piedfort | 280 | — | — | £3,800-5,200 |
| 2020 | Battle of Britain 80th £2 | 2.75M | £10-25 | £75-130 | £2,200-3,200 |
| 2024 | D-Day 80th 50p | 29,220 BU | £25-50 | £90-160 | £2,200-3,200 |
| 2024 | D-Day 80th £5 crown | limited | £15-30 | £130-200 | £3,800-5,500 |
| 2025 | VE/VJ 80th programme | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Why the 50p commemorative dominates over the £2
For WWII commemoratives specifically, 50p issues consistently outperform £2 issues in collector demand and secondary-market price growth. The pattern is clear and explainable.
First, the 50p has change-hunter visibility. Children, casual collectors and change-finder communities (notably Change Checker) treat 50ps as a primary collecting denomination because of the diversity of designs and the ease of building complete sets. The £2 is a less-loved denomination — bigger, heavier, and the bimetallic standard makes them feel less varied visually. A new 50p generates broad interest; a new £2 generates focused interest only among serious collectors.
Second, the 50p's large format (1994-1997) before the size reduction creates a permanent collector niche. The 1994 D-Day large 50p and 1995 End of WWII large 50p are two of only a handful of WWII commemoratives in that format. After 1997 every WWII 50p has been small format. The large 50p WWII issues have a built-in scarcity premium.
Third, the 2024 D-Day 80th 50p's 29,220 mintage cap is unusually low for a Royal Mint commemorative and creates immediate scarcity-driven demand. By contrast, the 2024 £2 accompanying release was produced at standard collector mintages.
Fourth, the 50p offers price-tier accessibility. A BU 1994 D-Day 50p in card costs £15-30; a BU 1995 End of WWII £2 costs £12-22. Lower entry prices drive higher overall trading volume, which sustains liquidity and price growth over time. The £2 silver proofs at £65-110 are not significantly cheaper than 50p silver proofs at £55-95.
The result: WWII collectors prioritise the 50ps. Building a complete set of WWII anniversary 50ps (1994, 1995, 2015 Battle of Britain, 2024 D-Day 80th, plus the 2025 VE Day 80th if released as a 50p) is a manageable five-coin project. The equivalent £2 set is also five coins (1995, 2005, 2014, 2015 VE Day, 2019 D-Day, 2020 Battle of Britain) but at higher individual cost and with less enthusiasm in the change-hunter community. See our most valuable 50p coins UK guide for context.
Building a complete WW2 commemorative set — strategies
Three approaches, depending on budget and ambition:
The change-finder set (£100-300 total). Focus on circulating issues only. The 1994 D-Day 50p, 1995 End of WWII 50p, 2005 End of WWII £2, 2015 VE Day £2, 2015 Battle of Britain 50p, 2020 Battle of Britain £2 and 2024 D-Day 80th 50p covers the headline anniversaries in BU condition. Add the WWI/WWII outbreak 2014 £2 if you want completeness. Total budget £100-300 depending on whether you accept worn or insist on BU sealed.
The silver proof set (£1,000-2,000 total). Step up to silver proofs across the same anniversaries. Each silver proof in original Royal Mint clamshell with CoA: £55-160. Total budget for the seven core WWII silver proofs: roughly £700-1,200, plus the 1995 £5 crown silver proof at £100-160 if you include £5 commemoratives.
The gold proof set (£15,000-25,000 total). Maximum-grade WWII commemorative set. Each gold proof: £1,800-3,500 depending on year and rarity. The 1995 £5 gold proof End of WWII at £3,500-5,500 is the centrepiece. Building the full gold proof set takes patience — lower-mintage years (1995, 2019 piedfort) come up at auction only sporadically and command competitive bidding. CGT exemption on UK legal tender makes this an attractive long-hold investment.
Strategic notes for collectors of all three approaches:
- Cross-link the WWI commemorative set. WWI and WWII commemoratives sit naturally together as a 20th-century military commemorative collection. See our WWI commemorative coins UK guide for the parallel set. Holding both adds context and resale appeal.
- Buy at issue, not on the secondary market. Royal Mint issue prices for current commemoratives (the 2024 D-Day 80th programme; the 2025 VE/VJ 80th programme) are typically below the eventual secondary-market price for any silver Piedfort or gold proof variant. Subscribe to Royal Mint release alerts.
- Authenticate gold proofs before purchase for any gold proof above £1,800. Counterfeit gold proof commemoratives exist on eBay UK; professional grading by PCGS or NGC is the only reliable check. See our sovereign authentication guide for the test procedures (which apply to all Royal Mint gold proofs).
- Insure the set. Most home contents policies cap collectables at £1,500-3,000 per item; a gold-proof WWII set quickly exceeds this. Specialist coin insurance becomes necessary. See our coin collection insurance UK guide.
- Track current prices through your MyCoinage collection. Adding the WWII coins to your free portfolio gives you live realised-price tracking as auction data updates. Helpful for timing acquisitions and disposals.
Related guides
- WW1 commemorative coins UK — sister military commemorative set covering 1914-2018 anniversaries.
- Most valuable 50p coins UK — including the 1994 D-Day and 2024 D-Day 80th in context.
- £2 coin values UK — full bimetallic and pre-bimetallic £2 history including the 1995 End of WWII.
- £5 coin values UK — the WWII anniversary £5 crowns including the 1995 and 2024 issues.
- CGT-exempt UK coins — the tax framework that applies to gold proof WWII commemoratives.
- George VI coins value guide — the wartime regular-circulation coinage that preceded the modern commemorative programme.
Timeline of WWII commemoratives
| Year | Anniversary | Coin | Mintage | BU realised |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 50th of D-Day | D-Day 50p (large) | 6,705,520 | £15-30 |
| 1995 | 50th of End of WWII | End of WWII 50p (large) | 8,601,000 | £15-30 |
| 2005 | 60th of End of WWII | End of WWII £2 | 10,191,000 | £5-12 |
| 2014 | 75th outbreak | WWI/WWII commemorative £2 (multiple issues) | various | £6-15 |
| 2015 | 70th of VE Day | VE Day 70th £2 | 5,495,000 | £6-15 |
| 2019 | 75th of D-Day | D-Day £2 | 2,000,500 | £15-30 |
| 2020 | 80th of Battle of Britain | Battle of Britain £2 | 2,750,000 | £10-25 |
| 2024 | 80th of D-Day | D-Day 80th 50p + £5 crown | 2,500,000 (50p) | £8-25 |
| 2025 | 80th of VE/VJ Day | VE/VJ 80th £2 (planned) | TBC | TBC |
