The Gymnastics 50p is one of the 29 Olympic coins released to commemorate the 2012 Olympic Games, but how much is it worth today?
The average price of a Gymnastics 50p is £1.09 in circulated condition, according to recent values on eBay in 2022.
Let’s find out why the coin is worth over double face value to collectors, and how you can spot one in your change.
Gymnastics at the Olympics
In the 2012 Olympics, gymnastics consisted of three gymnastics disciplines:
- artistic gymnastics
- rhythmic gymnastics
- trampolining
The artistic gymnastics and trampoline events were held at the North Greenwich Arena. They consisted of men’s individual all-around men’s team all-around, men’s vault, men’s floor, men’s pommel horse, men’s rings, men’s parallel bars, men’s horizontal bar, women’s individual all-around, women’s team all-around, women’s vault, women’s uneven bars, women’s balance beam, women’s floor, and both men and women’s trampoline.
Rhythmic gymnastics events were held at the Wembley Arena.
Brazil and South Korea won their first-ever gold medals for gymnastics at the London games. Russian athlete Yevgeniya Kanayeva made history by being the first back-to-back Olympic champion of the individual all-around in the rhythmic gymnastics competition. China won a total of five gold medals. Russia took home three gold medals, and the United States came in third.
How Rare Is The Gymnastics 50p?
The Gymnastics 50 pence Olympic coin is considered to be the twelfth rarest of the 29 Olympic coins based on mintage numbers alone. There were 1,720,813 Gymnastics special Olympic 50p coins minted, a similar amount to other Olympic 50p coins such as the Rowing, Modern Pentathlon and Handball 50p coins.
As with other special commemorative coins, this coin was also issued in sets that include:
- London 2012 Sports Collection Collector Album with an unknown mintage. This special commemorative set consists of all 29 Olympic sporting events 50p coins. The Gymnastics 50p coin is included in the set on a card marked 14/29.
- London 2012 Silver 50p Sports Collection set was issued with an unknown mintage. This special commemorative collector silver set consists of all 29 special Olympic coins in 0.925 silver.
The Gymnastics Olympic 50 Pence coin was also minted in a specimen presentation card marked 14/29 and a Silver Brilliant Uncirculated in 0.925 Silver limited to a mintage of 30,000.
One special 0.917 Gold Proof FDC was presented to the artist Jonathan Olliffe.
About The Gymnastics 50p Reverse Side Design
The Olympics Gymnastics 50p coin was designed by Jonathan Olliffe. He was chosen from more than 30,000 contestant entries to create an image to represent the sport of gymnastics.
Consistent with all the 29 Olympic 50p special commemorative coins, the 2012 Olympic logo is seen at the centre top of the reverse side. The logo is a jagged, abstract image that was designed by the consultancy firm Wolff Olins. The geometric shapes form the year 2012 with the 20 stacked atop the 12. Inside the 2 is the word, “london” that is not capitalized. The traditional Olympic rings are seen inside the “0”.
The words 50 PENCE are centred and slightly curved upward at the bottom underneath the image on each of the 29 coins.
The reverse side design of the gymnastics 50p coin features a rhythmic gymnast in a full widely spread leg split leap. The athlete is holding a stick that is attached to ribbons. The dual ribbons wind and spiral from the centre to the top of the coin underneath the Olympics logo.
Olympic 50 Pence Coin Design
All 29 of the special commemorative Olympic coins were issued to celebrate the 2012 London Olympics. Like other 50 pence coins issued, the special commemorative coins are a heptagon.
The 50p Olympic coins are made of Cupro-nickel alloy. The coins weigh 8.00 g, have a diameter of 27.3 mm, and are 1.78 mm thick.
The Obverse design is an image of Queen Elizabeth II in what is considered to be the Fourth Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley whose initials appear under the Queen’s portrait as IRB. The words ELIZABETH II * D * G * REG * F * D * 2011 are seen around her image along the outer rim.
The edge of the coin is plain with no inscription.
About the Gymnastics 50p Coin Designer
A few years before the Olympic special commemorative coins were issued, the Royal Mint held a competition to select 29 individual designers. The 29 winners each represented one sport that they would design the reverse image on its own individual coin. The designer chosen for the Gymnastics Olympic 50p coin was Jonathan Olliffe.
Jonathan Olliffe was an artist who was more comfortable designing bowls or vases when he entered the coin design contest.
To his complete delight, he was chosen to design not one but two special commemorative Olympic coins. He was also completely thrilled and honoured when the Royal Mint asked him to design the final coin of the London 2012 Olympic collection, a Two-Pound piece.
Now, he is no stranger to designing coins. He is an English artist from Witney, Oxfordshire who studied Art and Design at Oxford and Cherwell College. He earned his Master’s Degree from Birmingham School of Jewellery.
Jonathan was honoured to be chosen for more than just one Olympic coin design. He was also chosen to design the 2011 Aquatics 50p Olympic coin and the Two Pound 2012 UK coin commemorating the Olympic handover to Rio de Janeiro. Additionally, he designed the reverse side of the UK 2013 Coronation commemorative 5-ounce coin.
Where To Buy The Coin
eBay is a great option for circulated coins, just be sure to buy from a reputable seller for a reasonable price. The Royal Mint also has a wide array of uncirculated coins, if you are in the market for this type of coin.
