After months of delay, the United Kingdom on Jan. 31 did what many have anticipated for several years — it issued a Brexit coin.

The UK will officially leave the European Union that day, which of course, in a broader geopolitical sense, is far bigger news. But for numismatists, the day is notable for the 50-penny coin that will debut, with a design that has been updated a few times to reflect the changing date of the dissolution.

The first images of the Brexit 50p have been unveiled by Chancellor Sajid Javid, with the coin set to enter circulation on Friday, 31 January. The coins will flood banks and stores nationwide to mark Brexit day. Explores whether it’s worth hanging on to a Brexit 50p coin as a collector’s item if you find it in your change. Commonly known as 'Brexit,' the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union officially took place on 31 January 2020. 2020 The Royal Mint silver proofed 50p coin. Lovely sealed SOLID SILVER PROOF coin to mark BREXIT 2020. Issued by the Royal Mint. Complete with data sheet and certification for limited edition. Sealed in capsule. Offered without reserve! Feel free to ask any questions. Official 2020 Collectible Brexit Coin 50p + Brexit Christmas Card Nigel Farage. Shipping: + $16.41 shipping.

The reverse of the Brexit coin is to carry the legend PEACE, PROSPERITY AND FRIENDSHIP WITH ALL NATIONS, below which is the 31 JANUARY 2020 date of the exit.

The quote harkens back to President Thomas Jefferson’s first inaugural address in 1801, when he laid out the “essential principles” of his government — including “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.”

Two earlier editions carried the dates 29 MARCH 2019 and 31 OCTOBER 2019, reflecting earlier planned exit dates that never materialized as the UK government fought over the best way to handle the departure from the European Union.

Those coins were scrapped and the metal reclaimed. None appears to have entered the marketplace as of press time Jan. 27.

The obverse of the new coins will carry the Jody Clark effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.
As Master of the Mint, Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid was given the very first batch of Brexit coins, one of which he was due to present to Prime Minister Boris Johnson before the event.

Special activities

To mark this milestone in UK history, the Royal Mint Experience (the visitor’s center in Llantrisant, Wales) will be open for 24 hours on Jan. 31, from 00:01 to 23:59, by the 24-hour clock.

For one day only, visitors will be able to attend a unique tour that includes a discussion of how the Royal Mint has changed since the UK first joined the European Economic Community in 1973.

As part of the tour, individuals will have the opportunity to strike their own 2020 “Withdrawal from the EU” — as it is formally called — 50-penny coin. The Withdrawal from the EU coin will remain available as the “strike your own” coin until Feb. 12.

Brexit Coin For Sale

The coin will be available in Proof gold and silver editions, as well as a Brilliant Uncirculated edition and as part of a two-coin historic set. In addition, a number of gold sovereigns will be struck on the day, and these particular coins will feature a portcullis privy mark.

More than 13,000 people have already registered their interest in a commemorative version of the coin that is available to buy from the Royal Mint, according to the announcement from the UK’s Treasury Department.

A total of 10 million coins will be released into circulation, “around 3 million” entering circulation from Jan. 31, with the balance entering circulation later in 2020.

Response to design, coin

Within hours of the unveiling of the latest design, UK-based author Philip Pullman came out and criticized the coin, but not for the politics behind leaving the Union.

Brexit Coins For Sale

As reported first by The Guardian, “The ‘Brexit’ 50p coin is missing an Oxford comma, and should be boycotted by all literate people,” wrote the novelist on Twitter.

Times Literary Supplement editor Stig Abell wrote that, while it was “not perhaps the only objection” to the Brexit-celebrating coin, “the lack of a comma after ‘prosperity’ is killing me.”

The Oxford, or serial, comma is included before the final “and” in lists. It has fierce defenders and equally fierce detractors. Associated Press style contradicts the Oxford comma usage.

The Mirror newspaper reported multiple responses from those in opposition to Brexit — so-called Remainers — calling for the coins to be pulled from circulation when encountered in commerce, or a refusal to accept the coins altogether, opting for 10- and 20-penny coins instead.

All 50-penny circulating coins are struck in copper-nickel.

The larger, heavier 50-penny coin entered into circulation to replace the Bank of England 10-shilling note back in 1969. These seven-sided coins weigh 13.5 grams and measure 30 millimeters in diameter (from point to point).

The smaller 50-penny coin was introduced in 1997, and weighs 8 grams and measures 27.3 millimeters in diameter (from edge to edge).

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Good news Change Checkers – your latesteBay Tracker and Valuation Index is here!

Whilst the secondary market can be a bit of a minefield, we’ve put together an easy way for you to see how much the Top 10 UK coins and banknotes are selling for right now.

eBay Tracker

Find out which coins and notes have been the key movers and shakers in the updated eBay Tracker below.

It seems as though the popularity of the 92/93 EEC 50p has rocketed in the past few months, as it has increased in price on the secondary market by a staggering £34 – that’s a 74% jump!

There’s no denying that the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union on the 31st January 2020 and the incredibly popular 2020 Brexit 50p, have played a massive part in the increase of interest for this coin.

It was issued to celebrate the UK’s presidency of the European Council of Ministers and has a mintage lower than the Kew Gardens 50p (just 109,000!)

The Kew Gardens 50p has also seen another rise in price on the secondary market, taking it up to a huge £155.50 – a £35.50 increase since our last update!

With less cash being used in the past few months because of the current climate, it’s likely collectors are heading to the secondary market to get hold of certain coins, rather than waiting to find them in their change. This therefore drives the price up, as demand for the coin increases.

Additionally, with more time being spent at home and people seeking new hobbies to keep themselves entertained, new collectors are perhaps becoming more aware of rare and collectable coins that might be worth owning and as a result, are heading to the secondary market to get hold of one.

But will we continue to see the price of this coin rise on the secondary market as we head back to a new kind of ‘normal’? Only time will tell and we’ll have to wait for the next eBay Tracker update to find out!

Brexit Coin Royal Mint

Other coins to keep an eye on are the 2015 Britannia £2, which has increased in price by 14% since our last eBay Tracker update and the 2018 Sir Isaac Newton 50p, which has increased in price by £4.

Valuation Index

Overall there has been an 18% increase in value for the Top 10 UK coins and banknotes since January’s update and this is mostly due to the impressive spike in price for both the 92/93 EEC 50p and the Kew Gardens 50p.

This is the biggest increase we’ve seen since the tracker started and the first time since January 2018!

My coin isn’t on the eBay Tracker

The eBay Tracker follows the movements of the Top 10 UK coins and banknotes, however if your coin doesn’t appear on the tracker you can use our 6 point guide to help determine realistic a value for your coin.

So now that you’re up to date with our latest eBay Tracker, will you be selling any of the coins in your collection or will you continue to save them? Let us know in the comments below.

How does the eBay Tracker work?

The Change Checker eBay Tracker takes the last 9 sold prices achieved on eBay and gives the median price achieved (rounded to the nearest 50p). By taking the median, rather than an average, we avoid skewing created by one or two excessive prices achieved.

Please note that the Change Checker eBay Tracker is only ever designed to be a guide as to prices achieved on eBay. Prices may vary depending on collector demand and the quality of the coin being sold. It does not provide any guarantee as to future values of coins.

If you’re interested in coin collecting, our Change Checker web app is completely free to use and allows users to:

– Find and identify the coins in their pocket
– Collect and track the coins they have
– Swap their spare coins with other Change Checkers

Sign up today at: www.changechecker.org/app