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50 Pence - Elizabeth II 4th portrait, NHS 50th Anniversary
| Issuer | Royal Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1998-2009 |
| Type | Commemorative circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse depicts a pair of stylised hands, rendered against a background of radiating lines emanating from a central point, symbolising care and healing in commemoration of the National Health Service's fiftieth anniversary. The legend referencing the NHS anniversary arcs across the upper portion of the field, with the repeated inscription NHS appearing prominently. The denomination 50 PENCE is positioned below the central design motif. The designer's initials DC appear within the design. The composition is bold and graphic, conveying the theme of public health service through simple yet powerful imagery. |
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| Additional information |
Issued in 1998 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the National Health Service, founded on 5 July 1948 when Aneurin Bevan oversaw the transfer of 480,000 hospital beds into public ownership on a single day. The coin remained in circulation well past its commemorative moment — the date range reflecting continued production rather than any reissue decision, a consequence of the Royal Mint maintaining popular commemorative types as circulating currency rather than limiting them to collector releases.
The NHS 50p is one of the more frequently encountered commemorative fifties in pocket change, its longevity in production diluting any scarcity that a single-year strike might have created.