LGBT+ Pride Coin: Where to get a new rainbow 50p when the Royal Mint celebrates Pride's 50th anniversary in the UK

LGBT+ Pride Coin: Where to get a new rainbow 50p when the Royal Mint celebrates Pride’s 50th anniversary in the UK

Posted On: May 18, 2022

A new LGBT+ themed 50 pence coin has been launched, marking the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride celebration.

The special launch of the Royal Mint marks the first time the UK’s LGBTQ+ community has been celebrated live with Britain’s official currency, although gay code-breaking hero Alan Turing became the new face of the £ note last year.

How are new coins created?

Designed by East London artist and LGBT+ activist Dominque Holmes in collaboration with Pride in London, this coin uses “state-of-the-art color printing technology” to bring the colors of the rainbow flag to life in the color edition coin. the words “Pride”, “Protest”, “Visibility”, “Unity” and “Equality”.

In addition to the traditional Pride rainbow, the coin features the colors of the “progress” flag recently adopted by LGBT+ activists, with white, pink, and blue stripes to represent the transgender community, and black and brown stripes to represent people who are transgender. queer people. colored.

The Royal Mint said it would make a £40,000 contribution to London’s LGBT Community Pride as part of the launch.

Activists at the launch of the new Pride coin (Photo: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency)

Asad Sheikh from Pride in London said: “It was an honor to visit The Royal Mint as part of our association and see how our coins are made.

“I feel humbled that the words I made for the brand are on the royal coin, facing the Queen.

“These strange chocolate immigrants have come a long way, driven by hope, love and this city. Nowhere in the world is that possible, except in England. Pride in London is feeling very proud today.”

Where to buy new 50p coins

The 50p won’t be released to the public but will be available for purchase via The Royal Mint’s website this summer.

The range includes uncirculated versions in gold, silver and brilliant.

Asad Shaykh of Pride in London with Clare Maclennan, director of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint (Photo: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency)

Clare Maclennan, Royal Mint Commemorative Coin Director, said: “Pride UK’s 50th anniversary is a historic celebration and it is a privilege to mark 50 years of progress with this 50p coin.

“This is the first British coin dedicated to the UK’s LGBTQ+ community, with color printing technology that captures the UK Pride spirit with the iconic rainbow colors.

“It was an honor to host representatives from Pride in London at the Royal Mint recently to mint their own coin as part of the launch and discuss with them our commitment to diversity and inclusion in business and show how we are reinventing ourselves. for the future. . ”

The Mint added that the coin “is part of The Royal Mint’s broader commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.”