50p coins continue to be some of the most collectable coins out there today, and the 2003 Suffragettes 50p is no different.
Although the coin has been in circulation for nearly 20 years, it is still in high demand today based on how many eBay listings are being added each month; but how much is the coin actually worth?
The 2003 Suffragettes 50p coin is worth an average of £2.65 without postage and packaging in circulated condition according to past sold values on eBay.
If you’re on the lookout to buy or sell one of these coins, then make sure to read through this article to learn all about the Suffragettes 50p, how rare they actually are and the meaning behind the coin.
How Many Suffragettes 50p Coins Were Made?
The official mintage figure for the 2003 Suffragettes 50p is 3,124,030.
In terms of rarity, a mintage of around 3 million can be considered to be on the lower end of the spectrum. The top 5 rarest 50p coins, for example, all fall under 2 million mintage (not considering the Olympic 50p coins). This is clearly reflected in the average selling price of £2.65, which is definitely on the higher end when compared to the majority of other 50p coins.
Like most commemorative coins there are also other finishes available that were not entered into general circulation, for which you can find the mintage figures below:
- Silver Proof – 6,267
- Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Pack – 9,582
- Silver Proof Piedfort – 6,795
- Gold Proof – 942
The only other 50p minted in 2003 was the Britannia 50p, meaning the Suffragettes 50p was the only commemorative 50p coin issued in the year. The mintage of the Britannia 50p during the year was 23,583,000
Suffragettes 50p Design
The Suffragettes 50p reverse design was created by Mary Milner Dickens, a sculptor and artist who was responsible for other iconic coin designs such as the Public Libraries Act 50p.
The design in question shows a suffragette chained to a set of railings whilst holding a Union banner with the letters WSPU in reference to the Woman’s Social and Political Union. A ballot marked with a cross is found to the right of the suffragette marked with a cross and the writing ‘GIVE WOMEN THE VOTE’.
The inscription ’50 PENCE’ is seen the left of the suffragette, with the dates 2003 and 1903 to the right of the ballot, in reference to the 100 year anniversary of the formation of the WSPU.
The obverse design features the portrait of Her Majesty the Queen by Ian-Rank Broadley, used between 1998 and 2015.
What Does The Suffragettes 50p Represent?
The Suffragettes 50p was created to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the formation of the Women’s Social and Political Union, which was created in 1903 to campaign for women’s suffrage in the United Kingdom.
Women’s suffrage became a national movement in the Victorian era, and by 1900 more than 1 million were registered to vote in local government elections.
This was still only a small proportion of the population of women in the UK. This figure would increase to 8.5 million in 1918 under the Representation of the People Act, which interestingly was also commemorated on a 50p coin. Although this was a much higher figure, it only represents around 2 out of 3 women.
In 1928 under the Equal Franchise Act women were given the same voting rights as men, which marked the victory of the women’s suffrage movement.
The WSPU was more commonly referred to as the suffragettes from 1906 and was led by Emmeline Pankhurst alongside her daughters Christabel and Slyvia. This is why the coin is more commonly known as the Suffragettes 50p despite showing the WSPU banner.
The suffragettes were known for their aggressive tactics involving heckling politicians, hunger strikes, civil disobedience and breaking of the law to force arrest. The group attempted to introduce a women’s suffrage bill in 1905 through a Liberal MP which was unsuccessful.
The publicity surrounding this action increased membership to the group and led to a large increase in demonstrations and subsequently arrests and imprisonments. In 1912 a new campaign of protest was introduced by the WSPU which led to bombings and arson.
One of the most famous incidents involving the suffragettes was in June 1913 when Emily Davison, a militant fighter for the suffragettes, ran into King George V’s horse at the derby and was killed whilst bearing a flag of the suffragettes.
Where Can You Buy The Suffragettes 50p?
Depending on the finish you are looking for, there are a few places you can go to buy one of the suffragette 50p coins.
For circulated versions, eBay is the best place if you want to quickly buy one of the coins, but beware of scammers and use the average price at the top of this article as a basis for how much you are going to spend.
For other finishes such as silver proof as listed previously then it is worth looking at official coin dealerships. This is because you’ll want to be sure of the authenticity before you invest a significant amount.
If you’re interested in purchasing other coins then be sure to check out the Royal Mint, as this is where all UK coins are produced.
What About Error Versions?
There are no confirmed errors for the Suffragettes 50p.
Despite the fact that many people like to believe they have error versions of coins, unless they are confirmed by the Royal Mint then it is not official. Be on the lookout on eBay, especially for listings claiming to be selling error coins when in fact there are no confirmed errors.