Proclamations

Whereas under section 3(1)(a), (b), (c), (cc), (d) and (dd) of the Coinage Act 1971 We have power, with the advice of Our Privy Council, by Proclamation to determine the denomination, the design and dimensions of coins to be made at Our Mint, to determine the weight and fineness of certain gold coins, the remedy to be allowed in the making of such coins and their least current weight, and to determine the weight and composition of coins other than gold coins or coins of silver of Our Maundy money and the remedy to be allowed in the making of such coins and to determine the percentage of impurities which such coins may contain:

And Whereas it appears to Us desirable to order that there should be made at Our Mint new coins of the denomination of fifty pence in gold, in silver and in cupro-nickel:

We, therefore, in pursuance of the said section 3(1)(a), (b), (c), (cc), (d) and (dd), and of all other powers enabling Us in that behalf, do hereby, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council, proclaim, direct and ordain as follows:

GOLD PIEDFORT COIN

• 1 (1) A new coin of gold of the denomination of fifty pence shall be made, being a coin of a standard weight of 31 grammes, a standard diameter of 27.3 millimetres, a millesimal fineness of 916.66, and being in the shape of an equilateral curve heptagon.

(2) In the making of the said gold coin a remedy (that is, a variation from the standard weight, diameter or fineness specified above) shall be allowed of an amount not exceeding the following, that is to say:

• a a variation from the said standard weight of an amount per coin (measured as the average of a sample of not more than one kilogramme of the coin) of 0.13 grammes;
• b a variation from the said standard diameter of 0.125 millimetres per coin; and
• c a variation from the said millesimal fineness of two per mille.

(3) The least current weight of the said gold coin shall be 30.8 grammes.

(4) The design of the said gold coin shall be as follows:

‘For the obverse impression either:

• a Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D ·” and the date “2009”; or
• b Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH · II D · G · REG · F · D” and the denomination “FIFTY PENCE”,

and for the reverse either:

• a a figure of Britannia, seated beside a lion, with a shield resting against her right side, holding a trident in her right hand and an olive branch in her left hand; and the figure “50” together with the words “NEW PENCE”;
• b the inscription “50 PENCE” and the date “1973”, surrounded by nine hands clasping one another in a mutual gesture of trust, assistance and friendship;
• c a representation of a table on which are placed twelve stars, linked by a network of lines to each other and also to twelve chairs around the table, on one of which appear the letters “UK”, and with the dates “1992” and “1993” above and the value “50 PENCE” below;
• d a design representing the Allied invasion force of the D-Day landings heading for Normandy and filling the sea and sky, together with the value “50 PENCE”;
• e a figure of Britannia, seated beside a lion, with a shield resting against her right side, holding a trident in her right hand and an olive branch in her left hand; and the figure “50” together with the words “FIFTY PENCE”;
• f a celebratory arrangement of stars with the letters “EU” between the dates “1973” and “1998” and, below, the value “50 PENCE”;
• g a pair of hands set against a pattern of radiating lines with the words “FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY” and the value “50 PENCE”, accompanied by the initials “NHS” which appear five times on the outer border;
• h the turning pages of a book, the dates “ · 1850 · 2000 ·” and the value “50 PENCE”, all above a classical library building on which appear the words “ · PUBLIC LIBRARIES ·” and, within the pediment, representations of compact discs;
• i the figure of a suffragette chained to railings and holding a banner on which appear the letters “WSPU”, to the right a ballot paper marked with a cross and the words “GIVE WOMEN THE VOTE”, to the left the value “50 PENCE”, and below and to the far right the dates “1903” and “2003”;
• j the legs of a running athlete with a stylised stopwatch in the background and, below, the value “50 PENCE”;
• k entries from Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language for the words “FIFTY” and “PENCE”, with the figure “50” above, and the inscription “JOHNSON’S DICTIONARY 1755” below;
• l a depiction of the obverse and reverse of a Victoria Cross with the date “29. JAN 1856.” in the centre of the reverse of the Cross, the letters “VC” to the right and the value “FIFTY PENCE” below;
• m a depiction of a soldier carrying a wounded comrade with an outline of the Victoria Cross surrounded by a sunburst effect in the background and the value “FIFTY PENCE” below;
• n a fleur-de-lis superimposed over a globe and surrounded by the inscription “BE PREPARED”, the dates “ · 1907 ·” and “ · 2007 ·”, and the denomination “FIFTY PENCE”;
• o a section of Our Royal Arms showing elements of the third and fourth quarterings accompanied by the words “FIFTY PENCE”; or
• p a design showing the pagoda, a building strongly associated with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, encircled by a vine and accompanied by the dates “1759” and “2009”, with the word “KEW” at the base of the pagoda.

The coin shall have a plain edge’.

GOLD COIN

• 2 (1) A new coin of gold of the denomination of fifty pence shall be made, being a coin of a standard weight of 15.5 grammes, a standard diameter of 27.3 millimetres, a millesimal fineness of 916.66, and being in the shape of an equilateral curve heptagon.

(2) In the making of the said gold coin a remedy (that is, a variation from the standard weight, diameter or fineness specified above) shall be allowed of an amount not exceeding the following, that is to say:

• a a variation from the said standard weight of an amount per coin (measured as the average of a sample of not more than one kilogramme of the coin) of 0.065 grammes;
• b a variation from the said standard diameter of 0.125 millimetres per coin; and
• c a variation from the said millesimal fineness of two per mille.

(3) The least current weight of the said gold coin shall be 15.4 grammes.

(4) The design of the said gold coin shall be as follows:

‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D ·” and the date “2009”, and for the reverse either:

• a a figure of Britannia, seated beside a lion, with a shield resting against her right side, holding a trident in her right hand and an olive branch in her left hand; and the figure “50” together with the words “NEW PENCE”;
• b the inscription “50 PENCE” and the date “1973”, surrounded by nine hands clasping one another in a mutual gesture of trust, assistance and friendship;
• c a representation of a table on which are placed twelve stars, linked by a network of lines to each other and also to twelve chairs around the table, on one of which appear the letters “UK”, and with the dates “1992” and “1993” above and the value “50 PENCE” below; or
• d a design representing the Allied invasion force of the D-Day landings heading for Normandy and filling the sea and sky, together with the value “50 PENCE”.

The coin shall have a plain edge’.

SILVER COIN

• 3 (1) A new coin of silver of the denomination of fifty pence shall be made, being a coin of a standard weight of 8 grammes, a standard diameter of 27.3 millimetres, a standard composition of 925 parts per thousand fine silver, and being in the shape of an equilateral curve heptagon.

(2) In the making of the said silver coin a remedy (that is, a variation from the standard weight, diameter or composition specified above) shall be allowed of an amount not exceeding the following, that is to say:

• a a variation from the said standard weight of an amount per coin (measured as the average of a sample of not more than one kilogramme of the coin) of 0.075 grammes;
• b a variation from the said standard diameter of 0.125 millimetres per coin; and
• c a variation from the said standard composition of five parts per thousand fine silver.

(4) The design of the said silver coin shall be as follows:

‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D ·” and the date “2009”, and for the reverse either:

• a a figure of Britannia, seated beside a lion, with a shield resting against her right side, holding a trident in her right hand and an olive branch in her left hand; and the figure “50” together with the words “NEW PENCE”;
• b the inscription “50 PENCE” and the date “1973”, surrounded by nine hands clasping one another in a mutual gesture of trust, assistance and friendship;
• c a representation of a table on which are placed twelve stars, linked by a network of lines to each other and also to twelve chairs around the table, on one of which appear the letters “UK”, and with the dates “1992” and “1993” above and the value “50 PENCE” below; or
• d a design representing the Allied invasion force of the D-Day landings heading for Normandy and filling the sea and sky, together with the value “50 PENCE”.

The coin shall have a plain edge’.

CUPRO-NICKEL COIN

• 4 (1) A new coin of cupro-nickel of the denomination of fifty pence shall be made, being a coin of a standard weight of 8 grammes, a standard diameter of 27.3 millimetres, a standard composition of seventy-five per centum copper and twenty-five per centum nickel, and being in the shape of an equilateral curve heptagon.

(2) In the making of the said cupro-nickel coin a remedy (that is, a variation from the standard weight, diameter or composition specified above) shall be allowed of an amount not exceeding the following, that is to say:

• a a variation from the said standard weight of an amount per coin (measured as the average of a sample of not more than one kilogramme of the coin) of 0.045 grammes;
• b a variation from the said standard diameter of 0.125 millimetres per coin; and
• c a variation from the said standard composition of two per centum copper and two per centum nickel.

(3) The said cupro-nickel coin may contain impurities of three-quarters of one per centum.

(4) The design of the said cupro-nickel coin shall be as follows:

‘For the obverse impression Our effigy with the inscription “ELIZABETH · II · D · G REG · F · D ·” and the date “2009”, and for the reverse either:

• a a figure of Britannia, seated beside a lion, with a shield resting against her right side, holding a trident in her right hand and an olive branch in her left hand; and the figure “50” together with the words “NEW PENCE”;
• b the inscription “50 PENCE” and the date “1973”, surrounded by nine hands clasping one another in a mutual gesture of trust, assistance and friendship;
• c a representation of a table on which are placed twelve stars, linked by a network of lines to each other and also to twelve chairs around the table, on one of which appear the letters “UK”, and with the dates “1992” and “1993” above and the value “50 PENCE” below; or
• d a design representing the Allied invasion force of the D-Day landings heading for Normandy and filling the sea and sky, together with the value “50 PENCE”.

The coin shall have a plain edge’.

• 5 This Proclamation shall come into force on the ninth day of July Two thousand and nine.

Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, this eighth day of July in the year of our Lord Two thousand and nine and in the fifty-eighth year of Our Reign.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN