50 Pence - Elizabeth II The Mermaid, Silver Proof

The Isle of Man Treasury has long used its 50 pence programme as a vehicle for frankly eccentric subject matter, and this piece is no exception. The Manx mermaid — known locally as ben-varrey — figures prominently in the island's folklore tradition, distinct from generic British sea-lore by her association with specific coastal locations around the island and, in some tales, with prophecy rather than seduction.

The selective colour application was added at the Pobjoy Mint, which held the Isle of Man contract for decades before its closure in 2021, making issues from this final period of their tenure increasingly notable to specialists tracking that production history.