1998 Fifty Pences

All Three Types of 1998 Fifty Pence Share a Common Obverse - The Fourth Portrait

1998 Fifty Pence - The Definitive Britannia Reverse

1998 Fifty Pence - The European Union 25th Anniversary Reverse

1998 Commemorative Design for 50th Anniversary of the National Health Service

New Obverse Design - Fourth Portrait
All 1998 coins carried the new fourth portrait obverse design by Ian Rank-Broadley, FRBS, FSNAD, whose initials IRB appear under the head.

The 3 Designs
All three designs share the same common obverse, but the reverse designs differ.

• Britannia
  The ordinary definitive design of fifty pence features Britannia on the reverse.
  Britannia first appeared on Roman coins relating to Britain, re-appearing in 1672 under Charles II on halfpennies and farthings. She remained mainly on copper or bronze coins, spread onto the first copper pennies and twopences of 1797. When the reverse designs of the copper coins changed with decimalisation, Britannia moved to the fifty pence coins.
• EU Commemorative
  The reverse shows a celebratory pattern of twelve stars representing the 12 members of the Union, with the dates 1973 and 1998. This coin commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union, and also its six-month Presidency of the Council of Ministers in the first half of the year.
  This reverse design was created by sculptor John Mills.
• National Health Service
  The reverse shows a pair of hands holding a set of radiating lines with the words "Fiftieth Anniversary", and the value "50". The letters NHS are repeated around the outer rim.

NHS Silver Proof
The NHS issue was produced in several variations, including a silver proof version, housed in a leatherette case.
Price £25 / $40

More About The European Union
The European Economic Community was founded in 1957 and has grown into the European Union of today.
The original members were Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and The Netherlands.
Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined in 1973, Greece in 1981, Portugal and Spain in 1986.
The former East Germany was admitted as part of re-unified Germany. Austria, Finland and Sweden became members in 1995.
The 1998 EU fifty pence celebrates the United Kingdom's 25th anniversary of membership.

1998 Fifty Pences For Sale

Version	Grade	Qty Issued	Available	Price £	Price $
Twin Pack Britannia & EEC	Specimen		Yes	£5	$10
EEC	Silver Proof	8,854	Yes	£25	$50
EEC	Gold Proof	1,177	Yes	£225	$450
NHS	Gold Proof	651	Yes	£250	$500
NHS	Silver Proof	9,029	Yes	£25	$50
NHS	Piedfort	5,117	Sold	£45	$90
Twin Pack NHS & EEC	Piedfort	5,117	Sold	£50	$100

Gold Proof Versions
For the gold proof version, we may have more up to date price and availability on our Tax Free Gold website. Please look at its Gold Fifty Pence Proofs page.

Order Form - UK
Order Form - USA
Order Form - EU
Order Form - Rest of World

1998 Coin Sets

1998 Coins Index

1998 One Pound Coin - Royal Arms

If you want to find the value of a coin you own, please take a look at our page I've Found An Old Coin, What's It Worth?

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