Today we take a look at the 50p coin dated
The Charles Babbage coin
(1792-1871), mathematician
Charles Babbage was born in 1791 in London. He began to show his talent for mathematics and invention from an early age. Following a private education, Babbage went to study at Cambridge in 1810. However, he disagreed with the theories of mathematics taught there and set about supplementing his lectures with European theories of mathematics instead. Babbage established the Analytical Society with a group of fellow mathematics undergraduates. They wrote and published a history of calculus and a translation of Sylvestre Francois Lacroix’s book on differential and integral calculus.
Whilst still at Cambridge, Babbage speculated about producing a machine to calculate logarithm tables for astronomy and navigation. He graduated in mathematics from Cambridge in 1814 and was made a fellow of the Royal Society in 1816. In 1819 Babbage began to design and construct a reliable mechanical calculator capable of producing and printing accurate tables. By 1822 he had built a small calculating machine, or ‘Difference Engine’, able to work out complicated equations. With the backing of the Royal Society, Babbage secured an initial government grant of £1,500 to build a larger machine.
A huge number of different reverse designs have been used on the 50p coin over the years, sporadically [n the beginning and more so in recent years, with a huge 29 different designs issued for the London 2012 Olympics and 21 different coins in 2019 alone.
Up to and including March 2025 there are 189 different 50p coins (many of which, especially in recent years, were not or will not be issued for circulation).
Book 1 – Completed April 2025
Book 2 – The search goes on
1998 – 25th Anniversary of UK entry into EEC (5,043,000)
1998 – NHS (5,001,000)
2000 – Public Libraries (11,263,000) x
2003 – Suffragettes (3,124,030)
2004 – Sir Roger Bannister (9,032,500)
2005 – English Dictionary (17,649,000) x
2006 – Victoria Cross – Heroic Acts (10,000,500) x
2006 – Victoria Cross – The Medal (12,087,000) x
2007 – Scouts (7,710,750)
2009 – Kew Gardens (210,000)
2010 – Girl Guides (7,410,090)
2011 – WWF (3,400,000)
2011 – Aquatics (2,179,000) X
2011 – Archery (3,345,500) X
2011 – Athletics (2,224,000) X
2011 – Badminton (2,133,500) X
2011 – Basketball (1,748,000) X
2011 – Boccia (2,166,000) X
2011 – Boxing (2,148,500) X
2011 – Canoeing (2,166,000) X2
2011 – Cycling (2,090,500)X2
2011 – Equestrian (2,142,500) X3
2011 – Fencing (2,115,500) X
2011 – Football (1,125,500) X2
2011 – Goalball (1,615,500) X3
2011 – Gymnastics (1,720,813) X2
2011 – Handball (1,676,500) x
2011 – Hockey (1,773,500) X2
2011 – Judo (1,161,500) X2
2011 – Modern Pentathlon (1,689,500) X2
2011 – Rowing (1,717,300) X2
2011 – Sailing (1,749,500) X3
2011 – Shooting (1,656,500) X2
2011 – Table tennis (1,737,500) X2
2011 – Taekwondo (1,664,000) X2
2011 – Tennis (1,454,000) X2
2011 – Triathlon (1,163,500) X2
2011 – Volleyball (2,133,500) X4
2011 – Weightlifting (1,879,000) X2
2011 – Wheelchair Rugby (1,765,500) X2
2011 – Wrestling (1,129,500) X
2013 – Christopher Ironside (7,000,000) x9
2013 – Benjamin Britten (5,300,000)
2014 – Commonwealth Games (6,500,000)
2015 – Battle of Britain (5,900,000)
2016 – Battle of Hastings (6,700,000) x
2016 – Beatrix Potter (6,900,000)
2016 – Peter Rabbit (9,600,000)
2016 – Jemima Puddle-Duck (2,100,000)
2016 – Squirrel Nutkin (5,000,000)
2016 – Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (8,800,000) x
2016 – Team GB (6,400,000)
2017 – Isaac Newton (1,801,500)
2017 – Peter Rabbit (19,900,000)
2017 – Mr. Jeremy Fisher (9,900,000) x
2017 – Tom Kitten (9,500,000)
2017 – Benjamin Bunny (25,000,000) x
2018 – Representation of the People Act (9,000,000) x
2018 – Paddington at the Station (5,001,000) x
2018 – Paddington at the Palace (5,901,000) x
2018 – Peter Rabbit (1,400,000) x
2018 – Tailor of Gloucester (3,900,000)
2018 – Mrs. Tittlemouse (1,700,000)
2018 – Flopsy Bunny (1,400,000) X
2019 – Sherlock Holmes (8,602,000) X4
2019 – Paddington at the Tower of London (9,001,000) X3
2019 – Paddington at the the Cathedral (9,001,000) X3
2020 – Brexit (10,001,000) X17
2020 – Diversity Built Britain (10,300,000) X
2022 – Platinum Jubilee (5,000,070) X PLUS 1 NIFC HORSE BACK EDITION
2022 – Pride (5,000,000) X
2022 – Memorial 50p (9,600,000) X7
2023 – Coronation (TBC) X2