So today sees the launch of a new coin to celebrate fifty years of activism and change regarding LGBTQ+ since the first official Pride UK event in 1972.
Clearly social achievements and improvements such as this need to be recognised and commemorated but one cannot help but wonder if The Royal Mint are merely cashing in. I felt much the same when the ‘Diversity’ fifty pence was announced very shortly after the BLM protests. Maybe this is just the cynic in me……
Anyway, putting those thoughts aside, this new coin is actually quite nice as far as Mint’s more recent designs go. Due to the concentration of line work, it also still looks nice in the traditional uncoloured cupro-nickel format (highly unusual in recent years as coins are clearly designed to look good in colour and how they look uncoloured does not seem to factor at all). Although this seems to be a bit of a contradiction as the rainbows and other shades are an integral part of the coins message :/ Nevertheless, this is an addition that will look good in any numismatists collection, irrespective of which format it is.
‘All people equal and should be treated as such. Sexual preference, religious beliefs or skin colour are completely irrelevant.’
Hopefully this coin will go on to become a reminder of what can change in society. I am old enough to remember how people of a different sexual orientation used to be treated; simply because they were in a minority. It has taken a painfully long time for us all to learn something very basic indeed. All people are equal and should be treated as such. Sexual preference, religious beliefs or skin colour are completely irrelevant. I am confident we will get there eventually – sooner rather than later I would hope! Those with a Jurassic social outlook will either become aware of their bigotry and sort it out or they will simply become extinct over time.
Specifications :
50p Brilliant Uncirculated Coin –
Alloy – Cupro-Nickel
Diameter – 27.30mm
Weight – 8.00g
Mintage – Unlimited
Obverse Designer – Jody Clark
Reverse Designer – Dominique Holmes
50p Brilliant Uncirculated Colour Coin –
Alloy – Cupro-Nickel
Diameter – 27.30mm
Weight – 8.00g
Mintage – 15,000
Obverse Designer – Jody Clark
Reverse Designer – Dominique Holmes
50p Silver Proof Colour Coin –
Alloy – 925 Ag
Diameter – 27.30mm
Weight – 8.00g
Mintage – 4,955
Obverse Designer – Jody Clark
Reverse Designer – Dominique Holmes
50p Silver Proof Piedfort Colour Coin –
Alloy – 925 Ag
Diameter – 27.30mm
Weight – 16.00g
Mintage – 1,510
Obverse Designer – Jody Clark
Reverse Designer – Dominique Holmes
50p Gold Proof Coin –
Alloy – 916.7 Au
Diameter – 27.30mm
Weight – 15.50g
Mintage – 260
Obverse Designer – Jody Clark
Reverse Designer – Dominique Holmes
50p Gold Proof Piedfort Coin –
Alloy – 916.7 Au
Diameter – 27.30mm
Weight – 31.00g
Mintage – 60
Obverse Designer – Jody Clark
Reverse Designer – Dominique Holmes
*All mintages quoted are MCM (Maximum Coin Mintage). This means this is the most coins that may be issued. Ultimately, it is down to The Royal Mint to decide how many are minted so the reality is that each number given may turn out to be lower.
© Article and images (except where stated) copyright Mik Smith 2022
