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50 Pence - Elizabeth II Public Libraries, Gold Proof
| Issuer | Royal Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 2000-2009 |
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| Currency | Pound sterling (decimalized, 1971-date) |
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| Obverse description | The fourth definitive effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II faces right, portrayed in a crowned and draped bust by engraver Ian Rank-Broadley. The Queen wears the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. The surrounding legend reads ELIZABETH·II·D·G REG·F·D·2000, with the engraver's initials IRB appearing below the truncation. The design conveys a formal regal character consistent with the standard definitive portrait used on British coinage from 1998 onward. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Issued to mark the centenary of the Public Libraries Act 1850, which compelled local authorities across Britain to fund free lending libraries — a radical proposition at the time, bitterly opposed by ratepayers who saw no reason to subsidize the reading habits of the poor. The gold proof was struck in limited numbers alongside silver and base metal versions, primarily for the collector market rather than circulation.
The Spink references H11 and H27 reflect distinct issue years within the decade span, likely differentiating portrait updates to the obverse effigy.