The Milner’s Tower 50p was issued by the Isle of Man between 2004 and 2016. It is a standard circulation coin from the Isle of Man, rather than a UK coin issued by the Royal Mint.
There is no single current price for this coin. Online dealer listings show different prices for different years, die marks and conditions. These are asking prices, not guaranteed completed-sale prices, so use them as a guide only.
The coin’s specifications are set out below.
How Rare is the Milner’s Tower 50p Coin?
This is an Isle of Man issue, not a UK Royal Mint coin. Numista lists it as a standard circulation coin covering 2004 to 2016, but a reliable total mintage figure is not available in the sources checked. It should therefore not be described as rare simply because it is from the Isle of Man. It is not a normal UK circulation coin, although Isle of Man coins can sometimes turn up in collections or change.
Another well-known rare 50p produced by the Isle of Man is the 1997 TT 50p which is also quite collectable.
Mintage
The exact total mintage is not stated in the sources checked. Numista records the coin as a standard circulation issue and gives the date range as 2004 to 2016. That date range covers several year and die-mark variants.
Tiny marks on the reverse side distinguish it from other coins minted the same year. On the bottom right, you will see a small PM which indicates that it was minted by the Pobjoy Mint, a private mint in Surrey.
On the bottom left, you will see two-letter combinations such as AA or AB. These are the die marks that reveal which die was used to stamp the coin. When the AA die begins to show wear, they replaced it with the AB die, etc.
Design of the Milner’s Tower 50p Coin
The coin was issued by the Isle of Man and not the Royal Mint. Still, it is designed in the style of the 50 pence coin with a 7-sided shape that forms an equilateral curve heptagon.
Until 1971, The Isle of Man coins were part of the Manx pound which is the currency of the Isle of Man. It is in parity with the pound sterling.
The Island’s Manx Pound is divided into 100 pence with coins denominated in pounds and pence issued by the Isle of Man. In 1971 the UK moved to a decimal currency. At that time, the Isle of Man approached the Royal Mint to request its own versions of these decimal coins.
This coin was designed to celebrate William Milner and the unusual tower built in his honour. The coin consists of a copper-nickel alloy weighing 8 grams, measuring 27.3 mm across and 1.6 mm thick.
The Obverse design is that of a mature crowned head of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank-Broadley. The image features Her Majesty facing right and wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland diamond tiara. The tiara had been a wedding gift from Queen Mary, her grandmother, in 1947. She is seen wearing this tiara in the Machin and Gottwald portraits as well.
In this version, her mature head is crowned and facing right. Surrounding her portrait are the words ISLE OF MAN ELIZABETH II * and the minting year. The Isle of Man symbol is seen surrounding the date and at the center top of the coin between the words MAN and ELIZABETH.
This logo is the famous three legs of Man that is part of the royal coat of arms for three kings of the Isle of Man, whose realm at the time included the Hebrides in the Western Isles of Scotland.
Small letters just below her head are the signature mark of the artist, Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS, of the Royal Society of Sculptors, IRB.
The edge is plain with no inscription.
The reverse side features an image of the unusual lock and key shape tower that pays tribute to William Milner who was a safe maker. The coin was to honor the Island’s most famous landmark which had been built in William Milner’s honor, named Milner’s Tower.
The image on the reverse of the coin features the iconic tower with birds flying near the top. Around the top of the coin are the words MILNER’S TOWER and the Isle of Man three-legged symbol on each side.
It is not known who designed the reverse image.
The Man Behind the Coin
To an uninformed observer, the tower may look dark and gloomy. However, the lonely spire of stone that rises up from the rocky Bradda Head on the Isle of Man as seen over Port Erin was intended to be an honorable tribute to William Milner.
William Milner was a wealthy safe maker who settled in Port Erin from Liverpool in the mid-1800s. His reason for moving to the Island was to recuperate from an illness. He fell in love with the little seaside town and began investing in its livelihood.
He took care of local impoverished families and fishermen. He also contributed to building a church and helping the local area survive and thrive long after the mines had closed. Because of his generosity, the local community loved him.
The tower can be seen for miles near Port Erin Bay. It was built in 1871 as a tribute and memorial to William Milner. Milner was a safe maker from Liverpool who made numerous charitable contributions to the people of the Island.
The tower was built in the shape of a lock and key to represent Milner’s safe-making days which brought him the wealth he shared with locals. The structure was intended to be a surprise to him, but he discovered it was being built and donated money to take care of the costs himself.