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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Levi Winchester

New 50p coin released to mark 100 years of BBC - and it could be last to feature Queen

A new 50p coin to mark 100 years of the BBC has been released by the Royal Mint.

The reverse side of the coin features the image of a broadcast mast emerging from the Earth, along with the words “100 years of our BBC” in the centre.

The 50p also displays the words “inform, educate, entertain” - the values set out by Lord Reith when he founded the BBC in 1922.

It also features an image of the Queen rather than King Charles - whose face will appear on all new coins from December.

The BBC coin was struck before the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8.

The new BBC coin released by the Royal Mint (PA)
The coin is one of the last to feature Queen Elizabeth II (PA)

As this will be one of the last coins to feature the Queen, it is expected to create a "high demand" among collectors.

The Royal Mint decided not to redesign the coins in order to "minimise waste or unnecessary environmental impact".

The 50p coin can be bought from the Royal Mint website today, with prices starting at £11 for a Brilliant Uncirculated version.

The most expensive set costs £1,895. It features a gold, 2022-dated UK 50p coin dedicated to the BBC, plus a 1922 Sovereign with George V on the obverse.

"Coins are miniature pieces of art which tell the stories of our nation," Rebecca Morgan, the Royal Mint's director of collector services, said.

"We are delighted to be working with Britain's leading national broadcaster to create a special 50p in recognition of their 100 years.

"An ever-present British institution for most people's lives, the BBC has had a marked influence on our culture and broadcast some of the most extraordinary moments in British history.

"With the obverse side of the coin featuring the effigy of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, we do anticipate a high demand for these coins from collectors."

BBC director-general Tim Davie said the broadcaster was "honoured" by the commemorative coin, adding that its design "perfectly captures the BBC's huge reach and impact".

The British Broadcasting Company, as the BBC was originally called, started daily broadcasting on November 14.

The rarest 10p, 50p and £2 coins were recently ranked as part of the latest Scarcity Index published by website Change Checker in August.

The lists reveal the UK’s most sought-after coins in circulation in the last three months.

It’s broken down into three sections: the rarest 50 pence pieces, A to Z 10p coins and £2s currently in circulation.

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