Have you ever wondered how a small piece of metal can hold so much history and significance? Well, the 2011 Olympic 50p coins are a perfect example of this.
These coins were not only a celebration of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but also a testament to the rich heritage and culture of the United Kingdom.
In this article, we'll look at the story behind these iconic coins, explore their designs and take a look at how much they are worth today. How rare are they?
Where it all began: The London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics and the 2011 Olympic 50p coins
The London 2012 Olympics Games, also referred to as the Games of the XXX Olympiad, took place in the summer of 2012 between 27th July and 12th August, 2012.
The hosting of these Games still holds the record for the largest sporting event ever to take place in the UK, welcoming over ten thousand athletes from around the world, to compete in 26 different sports
The London 2012 Paralympic Games, also referred to as the 14th Summer Paralympic Games, took place following the Olympics, from August 29th to September 9th, 2012, with over four thousand athletes competing in 20 different sports.
And did you know, the medals awarded at the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games were designed and manufactured by the Royal Mint? They made approximately 4,700 medals for the two events.
The London 2012 Olympic medals were the largest ever produced by the Royal Mint. They were made using 92.5% silver, with a total weight of 375-400 grams. The gold medals were plated with 6 grams of pure gold, while the silver medals were left unplated. The bronze medals were made of 97% copper, 2.5% zinc, and 0.5% tin.
When did the Royal Mint decide to make these commemorative coins?
The Royal Mint first got involved in promoting the Olympics from the moment the official handover was shown on TV at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
In that year, the Royal Mint released a £2 commemorative coin, the 2008 London Olympics Beijing Handover £2 Circulated Coin, to mark the handover. Additionally, a series of four £5 coins were issued, starting in 2009 and continuing until 2012, to celebrate the countdown to the Olympics.
But undoubtedly, the coin series with the most popularity is the 2011 Olympic 50p coin collection.
This inspiring collection comprises of 29 different 50p coins, representing both Olympic and Paralympic sports.
For the first time in its history, the Royal Mint decided to let the public design the coins that were to be released into circulation. The designs for the 50p coins were chosen from 30,000 entries in a public competition back in 2009.
Artists, designers, and members of the public were all invited to submit their ideas and after an overwhelming response, 29 designs were chosen to represent the 26 Olympic sports and 3 Paralympic sports.
And the exciting thing is...you can still find these coins in your change. But due to their popularity, they are becoming harder and harder to find. Couple that with relatively low mintages, the 2011 50p Olympic coins are highly sought after by coin collectors and Olympic enthusiasts.
Please note, the coins were released in 2011 and therefore dated as 2011, and not 2012 when the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games took place.
Like other 50 pence coins, the special commemorative coins are all in a heptagon shape. The 50p coins consist of Cupro-nickel alloy, with a weight of 8.00 g, a 27.3 mm diameter, and a thickness of 1.78 mm.
The 2011 Olympic 50p mintages vary for each of the 29 different coins. The rarest (lowest mintage) being the 2011 Football 50p coin with 1,125,500 coins entering circulation.
The most common (highest mintage), was the 2011 Archery 50p coin, which had a mintage of 3,345,500, so nearly three times as many entered circulation than the rarest Olympic 50p coin.
In alphabetical order, let's look at each of the 29 different 2011 Olympic 50p coins in detail, focusing on their design, rarity and how much they could be worth today.
2011 Aquatics 50p coin
Also known as the 2011 Swimming or Swimmer 50p coin, it was designed by Jonathan Ollifee, a designer and silversmith based in Oxford. The design showcases a swimmer mid-stroke, completely immersed in the water. Jonathan Olliffe also designed the 2011 Gymnastics 50p coin.
This coin celebrates all aquatics activities, including swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, and water polo.
The official name given by the Royal Mint is 'London 2012 Aquatics Coin.'
How Much is the Swimming 50p Coin Worth?
The value of the 2011 Aquatics / Swimmer 50p coin can vary depending on a few factors. The condition of the coin, its rarity, and the demand among collectors all play a role in determining its worth.
As of 2023, the average value of a circulated Aquatics 50p coin is around £3.50. However, if you have a coin in excellent condition or a rare variation, its value could be significantly higher.
How Many 2011 Aquatics 50p Coins entered circulation?
The Royal Mint circulated 2,179,000 Aquatics 50p coins. In the context of the 2012 Olympic 50p coins, this is one of the higher mintages.
Other Versions of the Swimming 50 Pence Coin
The current design isn’t actually the initial version of the coin.
The Royal Mint briefly issued and then recalled a design where the waves covered the swimmer’s face. The current design removes the waves from the face. This special version is hard to find, with an estimated 600 coins released.
2011 Archery 50p coin
The 2011 Archery 50p coin was designed by Piotr Powaga and features a powerful representation of an archer pulling back the string of the bow with three fingers - ready to release an arrow. The left edges of the coin appear to form the bow itself.
At the bottom of the coin, the words 50 PENCE are centred, just below the little finger of the archer.
This design embodies the spirit of the sport and the commitment needed to succeed.
How Many 2011 Archery 50p Coins entered circulation?
The 2011 Olympic Archery 50p coin had the highest mintage of the 2011 Olympic 50p coins, with 3,345,500, This coin is still highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
How much is the 2011 Archery 50p worth?
As of 2023, the average value of a circulated Archery 50p coin is around £2.50. However, if you have a coin in excellent condition or a rare variation, its value could be significantly higher.
2011 Athletics 50p coin
The 2011 Athletics 50p or the High Jump 50p was designed by Florence Jackson who was the first child to design a Royal Mint coin. A children’s program called Blue Peter had a coin design contest which allowed kids to enter.
At the time Florence was only 9 years old when she won the Blue Peter competition in 2009. The competition attracted over 17,000 entries and is one of the show’s most popular competitions.
Her reverse side design shows an athlete jumping over a high jump bar, akey element of the track and field event.
As mentioned earlier, there are two versions of the coins, one released in special presentation packs in 2009 and one released into circulation in 2011.
The Blue Peter Athletics 50p coin from 2009 never entered circulation and is worth around £800 and has an estimated mintage figure of just 20,000. Rumour has it that some of the 2009 versions have been broken out of the special edition Blue Peter packs and spent so who knows, you may find one in your change so always check the obverse side of this coin.
How Much is the Athletics 50p Coin Worth?
As of 2023, the average value of a circulated Aquatics 50p coin is around £3.50. However, if you have a coin in excellent condition or a rare variation, its value could be significantly higher. If you are looking to buy one of these, expect to pay more to cover fees and postage and packaging.
How Many 2011 Athletics 50p Coins entered circulation?
The 2011 Olympic Athletics 50p coin had the second highest mintage of the 2011 Olympic 50p coins, with 2,224,000, This coin is still highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
The Athletics 50p is becoming rarer as it has now been in circulation for over ten years.
2011 Badminton 50p coin
The 2011 Badminton 50p coin reverse was designed by Emma Kelly, who was an illustrator from London. The coin features a large shuttlecock on the left of the coin, pointing down to the right.
To the right of the shuttlecock there are several badminton players demonstrating ten different stances, moves, and racket positions of the game.
The players are arranged in four rows, with three players in the top three rows and one player serving the shuttlecock on the bottom. Lines separate the rows, creating the appearance of a court and a net.
The London 2012 Olympic logo features above at the centre of the coin which was designed by Wolff Olins consultancy firm. At the bottom of the coin, in the middle are the words 50 PENCE
How Much is the Badminton 50p Coin Worth?
As of 2023, the average value of a circulated Badminton 50p coin is around £3.75. However, if you have a coin in excellent condition or a rare variation, its value could be significantly higher.
How Many Badminton 50p Coins Were Made in Circulation?
The Royal Mint circulated 2,133,500 Badminton 50p coins.
This coin is becoming increasingly popular as more coins are added to people's collections.
2011 Basketball 50p coin
This coin was created by Sarah Payne from Cardiff, a designer of greeting cards and toys. It showcases four players moving a basketball from left to right against a background that has a basketball-like texture. It captures a basketball player in motion as he moves past his opponent, preparing for an impressive slam dunk
The top of the coin features the London 2012 logo. At the bottom of the coin, in the middle are the words 50 PENCE
How Much is the Basketball 50p Coin Worth?
In 2023, you can expect to pay between £3.75 and £4.75 for this coin in circulated condition. If the coin is in very good condition you can expect to pay more.
How Many Basketball 50p Coins Were Made in Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,748,000 Basketball 50p coins into circulation in 2011 which makes it 'middle of the road' in terms of mintages of the 2011 Olympic 50p coins, but still very popular.
2011 Boccia 50p coin
The 2011 Boccia 50p coin is one of three coins that feature sports from the Paralympics. The other two being Goalball, for visually impaired players and Wheelchair Rugby.
The 2011 Boccia (pronounced botcha) 50p coin was designed by Justin Chung, an architect student, and it shows a boccia player throwing a ball with his hands in a game of boccia. His wheelchair is situated within a rectangular boxed area, and the corner of the boccia field is seen in the bottom right of the 50p coin
This coin is also referred to as Wheelchair bowls or Paralympic bowls.
The 2012 Paralympic logo is seen at the centre top. The logo was designed by the consultancy firm Wolff Olins.
The denomination 50 PENCE is detailed at the bottom of the coin.
How Much is the Boccia 50p Coin Worth?
Current estimates show the 2011 Boccia 50p coin to be worth between £3 and £4. excluding any fees or postage costs. Bear in mind, if you are looking to sell this coin, you will need to cover your fees and shipping costs also.
How Many Boccia 50p Coins Were Made in Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 2,166,000 Boccia 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Boxing 50p coin
Shane Abery, a delivery driver from Reading, created the design for the Boxing 50p showing boxing gloves in front of the ropes. For this reason, the 2011 Boxing 50p coin is sometimes referred to as the Boxing Gloves 50p.
Shane bought a pair of boxing gloves to accurately model his design on.
Just like every other Olympic 50p coin, the reverse side of the coin features the Olympic logo created by Wolff Olin’s consultancy firm.
The denomination 50 PENCE is detailed at the bottom of the coin.
How Much is the Boxing 50p Coin Worth?
This coin has seen an increase in demand recently and prices have steadily gone up. Expect to pay around £4 for the 2011 Boxing 50p coin in circulated condition. Coins of different grade and finish will commission a lot more
How Many Boxing 50p Coins entered circulation?
The Royal Mint released 2,148,500 Boxing 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Canoeing 50p coin
The reverse of the 2011 Canoeing 50p coin was designed by Timothy Lees, a stone carver and member of the Royal British Sculptors.
It features a canoeing athlete paddling through a slalom course, successfully passing through hanging gates and heading towards the rest of the course.
The waves appear fierce with detailed splashes around the canoe with the athlete’s face looking determined.
The Olympic logo is at the top created by Wolff Olin’s consultancy firm and the denomination 50 PENCE is detailed at the bottom of the coin.
How Much is the Canoeing 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Canoeing 50p coin has been sold on eBay and online auction sites for around £3.50 in average circulated condition. Better quality coins, with less amrks and scratches will fetch much more.
How Many Canoeing 50p Coins entered circulation?
The Royal Mint released 2,166,500 Canoeing 50p coins into circulation in 2011. This is relatively high in terms of 2011 Olympic 50p coins
2011 Cycling 50p coin
The competition to design the 2011 Cycling 50p coin was ringfenced to a particular age group. Just like the 2009 Blue Peter Athletics 50p competition was restricted to children between 6 - 12 year olds, the Cycling 50p was solely for secondary school and college students.
The winning 2011 Cycling 50 pence coin design was created by Theo Crutchley-Mack, who was just 16 years old at the time.
How Much is the Cycling 50p Coin Worth?
A striking coin which is currently worth around £3.25 in circulated condition plus fees and shipping costs.
How Many Cycling 50p Coins were minted for circulation?
The Royal Mint released a total of 2,090,500 Cycling 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Equestrian 50p coin
The 2011 Equestrian Olympic 50p coin features a horse and rider jumping over a fence with two visible bars as seen from below. It was designed by Thomas Babbage, who was chosen from 30,000 entries.
The goal was to create an image that truly captures the essence of a horse riding event, allowing experts in the sport to instantly recognize and connect with it.
Equestrian sports are special in that men and women compete on equal footing. Both horse and rider receive medals and must share the same nationality. Team GB won three gold medals in the 2012 equestrian events.
How Much is the Equestrian 50p Coin Worth?
You can expect to pay around £3.25 in order to secure this coin plus delivery costs and fees.
How Many Equestrian 50p Coins Were Made for Circulation?
The Royal Mint released a total of 2,142,500 Basketball 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Fencing 50p coin
The Fencing 50p coin features two figures fencing, with one landing a point on their opponent. It was designed by Ruth Summerfield, a radiologist from Stoke-on-Trent. Ruth wanted to pick a sport where the body makes interesting and dramatic shapes which would translate well onto a coin.
At the bottom of the reverse side of the coin are the words 50 PENCE with the 2012 Olympic logo at the top.
How Much is the Fencing 50p Coin Worth?
The cost for securing this coin, including delivery and fees, is typically around £3.25. Better quality coins, with less marks and scratches will fetch much more.
How Many Fencing 50p Coins entered general circulation?
The Royal Mint released 2,115,500 Fencing 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Football 50p coin
The selected winning design of the 2011 Football 50p coin was that of Neil Wolfson, who was a sports journalist. He crafted an artistic representation intending to capture the essence of the sport and stimulate meaningful conversations around the Offside rule in football. He has faced criticism due to its potentially inaccurate explanation of the offside rule.
The offside rule 50p coin shows a diagrammatic explanation of the offside rule in football, where a midfielder is deciding whether to pass to a teammate on the left, labelled 'offside', or to another teammate on the same level as the defender, labelled 'not offside'
The 2011 Football 50p coin is also referred to as the Offside Rule 50p and the Offside Explained 50p.
The London 2012 logo is at the top of the 50p coin and the denomination 50 PENCE, below.
How Much is the Football 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Football 50p is very collectible and is worth around £22 - £32 depending on condition. A brilliant uncirculated coin could set you back much more than this and the silver proof version even more!
The 2011 Football / Offside 50p coin is considered to be the rarest 2011 Olympic 50p coin to enter circulation and commissions the highest price today.
How Many Football 50p Coins entered circulation?
The Royal Mint released a total of 1,125,500 Football 50p coins into circulation in 2011. This was the lowest mintage figure of all 29 Olympic 50p coins, and is widely sought after by coin collectors due to its scarcity.
So, with a mintage of just 1.125 million, the Football 50p is the rarest of the Olympic coins.
2011 Goalball 50p coin
Goalball is one of the three Paralympic sports to be featured in the Olympics 50p coins, the others being Boccia and Wheelchair Rugby.
The reverse of the coin was designed by Jonathan Wren, an animator from Buckinghamshire, who created a design which he felt captured the essence of the fast-paced sport.
The image on the coin shows the player with a sweeping motion, getting ready to throw the ball into the opponent’s goal. You will notice the throwing motion is reflected by five whizz lines coming off of the ball in a swirling motion. The ball itself has a bell picture on it, signifying that Goalball is a sound-based sport, rather than a visual one.
The London 2012 Paralympic logo is at the top centre of the coin, with the denomination, 50 PENCE, below.
How Much is the Goalball 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Goalball 50p is collectible and is worth around £3.50 - £4 depending on condition. As always, the condition of the coin dictates the value.
How Many Goalball 50p Coins entered circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,615,500 Goalball 50p coins into circulation in 2011, which makes this the sixth-rarest 2011 Olympic 50p coin.
2011 Gymnastics 50p coin
Jonathan Olliffe, from Oxford, was the winning designer of the reverse side of the 2011 Gymnastics 50p coin. It features a rhythmic gymnast, twirling a stick with ribbons attached, whilst jumping into the air with a leg split leap.
The ribbons elegantly spiral around to encompass the Olympic logo at the top of the coin. His aim was to capture the dynamic essence of a gymnast's movements and the graceful flow of ribbons in the sport
Jonathan Olliffe also designed the 2011 Aquatics 50p coin.
How Much is the Gymnastics 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Gymnastics 50p is very collectible and is worth around £3.50 - £4 depending on condition. As this coin is added to collections, more and more ar taken out of circulation and become harder to find.
How Many Gymnastic 50p Coins were made for circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,720,813 Gymnastics 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Handball 50p coin
Handball is played on an indoor court between two teams of seven, the objective of Handball is to throw the ball into the opponent’s goal using only your hands.
The winning designer for the 2011 Handball 50p was Natasha Ratcliffe, a self-employed artist and sculptor from Cornwall. She also designed the 2011 Wheelchair Rugby 50p.
The design shows a player fully engaged in the sport of handball, throwing the ball mid-air. In the background is the image of a handball court with all the designated lines and goals included, and dots around the pitch to represent the crowd.
How Much is the Handball 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Handball 50p is still collectible and is worth around £3 - £3.50 in good circulated condition. A brilliant uncirculated version in the presentation card is worth considerably more.
How Many Handball 50p Coins entered circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,676,500 Handball 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Hockey 50p coin
The 2011 Hockey 50p was designed by Robert Evans, an engraver and sculptor for the Royal Mint. His design shows two female hockey players running to the right as they challenge for the ball and trying to hit it with their sticks.
To accurately capture the sport, Robert photographed two university hockey players as the foundation for his design.
There is a horizontal line centred on the back of the coin behind the hockey players representing the side of the pitch.
The London 2012 Olympic logo is above the image and the denomination, 50 PENCE, below it.
How Much is the Hockey 50p Coin Worth?
Despite not being one of the rarer Olympic 50p coins, the 2011 Hockey 50p is still collectible and is worth around £3.50 - £4 in good circulated condition and is highly sought after.
How Many Hockey 50p Coins Were Made in Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,773,500 Hockey 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Judo 50p coin
The 2011 Judo 50p coin is designed by David Cornell, a painter and sculptor from Bexhill on Sea, and features two judo athletes in full combat and looks as if the athlete on top is about to pin his opponent.
David himself enjoyed the participating in Judo until an injury forced him to give up the sport.
The London 2012 Olympic logo design, created by the Wolff Olins consultancy firm, is centered at the top. At the bottom, slightly curved upward, are the words 50 PENCE to indicate the value of the coin.
How Much is the Judo 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Judo 50p is now scarce and difficult to find in circulation. It is the third rarest behind the 2011 Football 50p and 2011 Wrestling 50p coins. With this is mind, current estimates show the 2011 Judo 50p coin to be worth in the region of £15-£17 for a circulated version.
How Many Judo 50p Coins Were Made in Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,161,500 Judo 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Modern Pentathlon 50p coin
Daniel Brittain’s design is a montage of the five sports that make up the pentathlon: .
The Modern Pentathlon 50p coin was designed by Daniel Brittain. The image is a montage of the five sporting events that make up the modern pentathlon, namely swimming, fencing, cross-country running, shooting and equestrian.
If you look closely you can see an athlete swimming surrounded by waves, wearing a swimming cap and goggles at the centre of the coin. Behind the swimmer, there is a fencer, a runner, a pistol shooter, and a horse. All are facing to the left except for the horse who is prancing to the right
How Much is the Modern Pentathlon 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Modern Pentathlon 50p is becoming rarer and more difficult to find in your change given it is over 12 years since it was released. Current estimates show the 2011 Modern Pentathlon 50p coin to be worth in the region of £3.50 for a circulated version.
How Many Modern Pentathlon 50p Coins Were put into circulation ?
The Royal Mint released 1,689,500 Modern Pentathlon 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Rowing 50p coin
The 2011 Rowing 50p was designed by Davey Podmore, a graphic designer from East Yorkshire.
His design features a two-person rowing boat surrounded by Olympic-related words and phrases as if captured in the ripples created by the oars.
EXCELLENCE, FRIENDSHIP, FAIR PLAY and RESPECT are his words that he used to associate with the Olympic movement
The London 2012 Olympic logo is above the image and the curved denomination, 50 PENCE, is below it.
Davey's design reflects his strong interest in typography and admiration for the sport.
How Much is the Rowing 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Rowing 50p is a relatively rare coin and becoming more difficult to find in your change so values are increasing steadily.
Current estimates show the 2011 Rowing 50p coin to be worth in the region of £3.50 for a circulated version.
How Many Rowing 50p Coins Were Made for Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,717,300 Rowing 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Sailing 50p coin
The 2011 Sailing 50p is designed by Bruce Rushin, an art and design high school teacher from Horstead, Norfolk and shows three sailing boats in gold, silver, and bronze position. Behind them is a nautical chart of Weymouth's coast, where the sailing event was held.
The London 2012 Olympic logo is above the image and the curved denomination, 50 PENCE, is below it.
Some of you may have heard of Bruce before - he designed the UK’s very first £2 coin.
How Much is the Sailing 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Sailing 50p is a distinctive coin and you will be lucky to find many in your change.
Current estimates show the 2011 Sailing 50p coin to be worth in the region of £3.75 for a circulated version.
How Many Sailing 50p Coins entered circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,749,500 Rowing 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Shooting 50p coin
The 2011 Shooting 50p coin was designed by Pravin Dewdhory. The coin shows a shooter participating in a skeet shoot, wearing glasses, a visor, and a protective ear covering. It shows the figure shooting and shattering a clay pigeon into pieces reminiscent smashing the London Olympics logo.
The London 2012 logo is at the top centre of the coin and centred at the bottom of the coin are the words 50 PENCE.
How Much is the Shooting 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Shooting 50p is a distinctive coin and you can still find it in your change.
Current estimates show the 2011 Shooting 50p coin to be worth in the region of £3.50 for a circulated version.
How Many Shooting 50p Coins were made for Circulation?
The Royal Mint released a total of 1,656,500 Shooting 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Table Tennis 50p coin
The 2011 Table Tennis 50p was designed by Alan Linsdell, a retired illustrator who is a big fan of the sport. His design depicts two table tennis bats being held by a hand each, colliding in front of a table and net while the forefront of the design shows a table tennis ball whizzing upward with two curved swish lines to indicate the speed of the movement.
The London 2012 logo is at the top centre of the coin and centred at the bottom of the coin are the words 50 PENCE.
How Much is the Table Tennis 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Table Tennis 50p is now becoming more scarce and is very difficult to find in circulation. Current estimates show the 2011 Table Tennis 50p coin to be worth in the region of £3.75 for a circulated version.
How Many Table Tennis 50p Coins Were Made for Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,737,500 Table Tennis 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
Have you found one?
2011 Taekwondo 50p coin
David Gibbons’ creation was the winning design chosen to represent the sport of Taekwondo. It shows two fighters in full gear locked in combat engaging in a taekwondo match up, with each athlete having their legs in different kicking positions.
The athlete at the front appears to be in a japko dollyo chagi position, while the athlete in the background is doing a side kick.
The London 2012 logo is at the top centre of the coin and centred at the bottom of the coin are the words 50 PENCE.
How Much is the Taekwondo 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Taekwondo 50p in condition is worth about £3.75. Brilliant Uncirculated: Prices from £2.99 on issue, in as new condition this BU 50p coin is worth about £10
How Many Taekwondo 50p Coins Were Made for Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,664,000 Taekwondo 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Tennis 50p coin
The 2011 Tennis 50p was designed by Tracy Baines, a sculptor and jewellery designer from Peterborough.
Tracy trained as a jewellery designer then gained a degree in Theatre Set and Costume Design. She worked in film industry for years, sculpting, set dressing and designing sets. Tracy is now an aspiring children’s writer.
The coin's design features a tennis net running diagonally across the top and centre from the left-top to the mid-right side of the coin. A tennis ball is above and to the right of the net. The view is from the floor looking up.
The London 2012 logo is at the top centre of the coin and centred at the bottom of the coin are the words 50 PENCE.
How Much is the Tennis 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Taekwondo 50p in good condition is worth about £4.25. Brilliant Uncirculated: Prices from £2.99 on issue, in as new condition this BU 50p coin is worth about £12
How Many Tennis 50p Coins Were Made in Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,454,000 Tennis 50p coins into circulation in 2011 which makes the 2011 Tennis 50p to be the fifth rarest Olympic 50p coin to be released into circulation.
2011 Triathlon 50p coin
The 2011 Triathlon 50p coin is designed by Sarah Harvey, one of only a few female designers, and it depicts a flowing montage of the Triathlon’s three sports; running, cycling and swimming.
There is a runner positioned to the left, a cyclist in the middle, and a swimmer placed on the right side of the reverse side of the coin. The athletes are all moving to the left of the 50p coin.
The London 2012 logo is at the top centre of the coin and centred at the bottom of the coin are the words 50 PENCE.
How Much is the Triathlon 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Triathlon 50p is now extremely difficult to find in circulation. It is the fourth rarest behind the 2011 Football 50p, 2011 Wrestling 50p and Judo 50p coins. With this is mind, current estimates show the 2011 Trathlon 50p coin to be worth in the region of £15-£17 for a circulated version.
How Many Triathlon 50p Coins Were put into Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,163,500 Triathlon 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Volleyball 50p coin
The 2011 Volleyball 50p coin was created to honour the sport of Volleyball as an Olympic event. It is a special commemorative coin from the 2012 London Olympics, minted and released before the global event in 2011.
Designed by Daniela Boothman, a bank sales representative from Leyland, the coin features three 3 female beach volleyball players reaching for the beach volleyball over the net.
The ball radiates sunbursts, like it's saying 'Move over, sun!' or maybe it thinks it's the new shining star.The exquisite Olympic logo by Wolff Olin’s consultancy firm is prominently displayed at the heart of the reverse side of all 29 Olympic 50p coins. Positioned at the coin's base, gently arched upwards at each end, are the words 50 PENCE.
How Much is the Volleyball 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Volleyball 50p in good condition is worth about £3.50. Brilliant Uncirculated: Prices from £2.99 on issue, in as new condition this BU 50p coin is worth about £10
How Many Volleyball 50p Coins Were Made for Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 2,133,500 Volleyball 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Weightlifting 50p coin
Rob Shakespeare, a police officer from Manchester, designed the 2011 Weightlifting 50p coin, showing a simple outline of a weightlifter starting a lift.
Rob himself, was a former body builder and wrestler and he wanted to create a coin that simply expressed the power and movement that is required to excel at this event.
In his image, Rob used a simple sketch outline style as if with thin pencil lines. The athlete is in a squat position, getting ready to lift the barbell with one hand on the bar, with the other obscured by the weight disc.
The London 2012 logo is at the top centre of the coin and centred at the bottom of the coin are the words 50 PENCE.
How Much is the Weightlifting 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Weightlifting 50p in good condition is worth about £3.50. Brilliant Uncirculated: Prices from £2.99 on issue, in as new condition this BU 50p coin is worth about £10
How Many Weightlifting 50p Coins Were Made in Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,879,500 Weightlifting 50p coins into circulation in 2011, so this is one of the higher minted Olympic 50p coins.
2011 Wheelchair Rugby 50p coin
The 2011 Wheelchair Rugby 50p is designed by Natasha Ratcliffe and this is her second winning design. This Olympic 50p coin is one of the three Paralympic designs, the other two being boccia and goalball.
The reverse design of the coin features a wheelchair rugby player with one hand on the wheel and a ball on the athlete’s lap.
The athlete's face is partially visible, but the design vividly showcases the intense muscle engagement required for success in the sport.
Several horizontal lines behind the wheelchair-bound athlete lend a textured dimension to the image.
The top and centre of the coin boasts the emblem of the 2012 Paralympics, designed by the same firm as the iconic London Olympic logo. However, unlike the Olympic logo, this design showcases distinct components for each number in 2012.
This Olympic 50p coin is also referred to as the Paralympic basketball 50p.
How Much is the Wheelchair Rugby 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Weightlifting 50p in good condition is worth about £3.75. Brilliant Uncirculated: Prices from £2.99 on issue, in as new condition this BU 50p coin is worth about £11
How Many Wheelchair Rugby 50p Coins Were Made in Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,765,500 Wheelchair Rugby 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
2011 Wrestling 50p coin
The 2011 Wrestling 50p coin was designed by Roderick Enriquez, a graphic designer from London, and shows two wrestlers grappling in the middle of a stadium, on a circular platform.
Dots representing the crowd can be seen to the left and right of the athletes, and circles representing the arena's lights can be seen above the bout
The London 2012 logo is at the top centre of the coin and centred at the bottom of the coin are the words 50 PENCE
How Much is the Wrestling 50p Coin Worth?
The 2011 Wrestling 50p is now extremely difficult to find in circulation. It is the second rarest behind the 2011 Football 50p. With this is mind, current estimates show the 2011 Wrestling 50p coin to be worth in the region of £14-£16 for a circulated version.
How Many Wrestling 50p Coins Were released in to Circulation?
The Royal Mint released 1,129,500 Basketball 50p coins into circulation in 2011.
The Obverse of the Olympic 2011 50p coins
The obverse (heads side) of the 2011 Olympic 50p coins has the image featuring the late, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II facing right and wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland diamond tiara.
The tiara had been a wedding gift from Queen Mary, her grandmother, in 1947.
In this version, her mature head is crowned and facing right. Surrounding her portrait are the words ELIZABETH II * D * G * REG * F * D * 2011 which is abbreviated from Dei Gratia Regina meaning Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.
Small letters just below her head are the signature mark of the artist, Ian Rank-Broadley, IRB.
The Obverse design on the original 2009 design of the winning Blue Peter competition, Athletics 50p is the same image with a different date, marked 2009.
The edge of the coin is plain with no inscription.
Where Can I Buy the 2011 Olympic 50p Coins?
If you're interested in adding the 2011 Olympic 50p coins to your collection, there are a few places you can look. You can start by checking with local coin dealers or visiting coin shows and exhibitions.
You can buy it from us by clicking here.
Unfortunately, as this coin is now 12 years old, the Royal Mint no longer stocks this coin so it is only available to buy on the secondary market.
Bit of Trivia...
For the first time, the Paralympics logo used an emblem that shared a common design with the Summer Olympics logo of the same year. The main differences include design element shapes that are present in each of the numbers that make up the “2012”.
Instead of the 5 Olympic rings, inside the Zero are the three agitos, or crescent shapes, which is a Paralympic symbol. The three agitos represent the Paralympic motto, “Spirit in Motion”.
Beware of Fake Olympics 50p Coins
When searching for rare Olympics 50p coins or non-circulated versions, exercise caution while browsing online, particularly on eBay.
Consider the description and pictures to gauge the level of detail provided about the coin.
By conducting a reverse-image search, you can determine if the seller is using a stock photo or another seller’s image on their own listing. The coin that you receive may be entirely different or simply counterfeit.
Make sure to take extra care when searching for the error coins of the Aquatics 50p with lines across the face of the swimmer. If the coin feels lighter than 8g, has a diameter that doesn't match 27.3mm, or the thickness is incorrect (1.78mm is the correct thickness), then it's likely a fake.
If in doubt about the authenticity of your coin purchases, you may want to contact the Royal Mint as they provide a service that gives you a letter of authenticity, although they may charge for providing this service.
Conclusion
And there we have it, a complete rundown of all the 29 Olympic 50p coins issued in 2011 by the Royal Mint to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Hope you have enjoyed reading, leave a comment in the box below if you have found a 2011 Olympic 50p coin in your change recently. Happy hunting!