REVIEW – ‘Commonwealth Games’ Fifty Pence 2022

  Just about every collector will go gooey over the 2002 ‘Commonwealth Games’ £2 coins.  These were a nice design and the idea of having a different flag on each of the four was a real stroke of genius.  Low mintages secured their kudos and made them immediately sought after too.

  The Royal Mint are well aware of all this.  And the release of this new 50p makes that abundantly clear.  Using a totally different design in a totally different denomination, they are trying to recapture that same collecting frenzy from two decades ago.  They have also made these low mintage, in order to add even further excitement to the mix.  A great idea….. except it doesn’t actually work for me :/

  There are four different versions of this new coin – but only if you purchase colour ones.  The standard cupro-nickel release is exactly as it was in the 2022 Annual Set.  Meanwhile, on the colour ones…. there are symbols to represent (yup, you guessed it! Lol) England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

‘Using a totally different design in a totally different denomination, they are trying to recapture that same collecting frenzy from two decades ago’

  For me, these really aren’t as exciting as the 2002 coins.  The symbols are so, so, so very small (yes, even smaller than those on the £2 coins!!!) and the main design is…. well, really not very stimulating in any way, shape or form (without beating around the bush).  If you imagine a kind of ‘Diversity’/’2016 Team GB’ mash-up then you have a pretty good idea of how it all looks.

  A great way of resurrecting an old idea to make a fast buck (the whole point of the exercise I am assuming!) but as far as handsome coins go, this one is never going to be rubbing shoulders with Johnny Depp or George Clooney.

  Sorry!

 

Specifications :

 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Coin –

 Alloy – Cupro-Nickel

Diameter – 27.30mm

Weight – 8.00g

Mintage – Unlimited*

Obverse Designer – Jody Clark

Reverse Designer – Natasha Preece

 

‘Team England’ 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Colour Coin –

 Alloy – Cupro-Nickel

Diameter – 27.30mm

Weight – 8.00g

Mintage – 7,510*

Obverse Designer – Jody Clark

Reverse Designer – Natasha Preece

 

‘Team Wales’ 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Colour Coin –

 Alloy – Cupro-Nickel

Diameter – 27.30mm

Weight – 8.00g

Mintage – 5,010*

Obverse Designer – Jody Clark

Reverse Designer – Natasha Preece

 

‘Team Northern Ireland’ 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Colour Coin –

 Alloy – Cupro-Nickel

Diameter – 27.30mm

Weight – 8.00g

Mintage – 5,010*

Obverse Designer – Jody Clark

Reverse Designer – Natasha Preece

 

‘Team Scotland’ 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Colour Coin –

 Alloy – Cupro-Nickel

Diameter – 27.30mm

Weight – 8.00g

Mintage – 5,010*

Obverse Designer – Jody Clark

Reverse Designer – Natasha Preece

 

50p Silver Proof Coloured Coin –

 Alloy – 925 Ag

Diameter – 27.30mm

Weight – 8.00g

Mintage – 4,760*

Obverse Designer – Jody Clark

Reverse Designer – Natasha Preece

 

50p Silver Proof Piedfort Coloured Coin –

 Alloy – 925 Ag

Diameter – 27.30mm

Weight – 16.00g

Mintage – 1,260*

Obverse Designer – Jody Clark

Reverse Designer – Natasha Preece

 

50p Gold Proof Coin –

 Alloy – 916.7 Au

Diameter – 27.30mm

Weight – 15.50g

Mintage – 410*

Obverse Designer – Jody Clark

Reverse Designer – Natasha Preece

 

*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