Coin
50 Pence - Elizabeth II D-Day Anniversary; Silver (1994) — United Kingdom
United Kingdom • 1994 • KM#966a, Sp#H6
Overview
Commemorative issue, 50th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion. Struck as Proof.
Specifications
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Year
- 1994 Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
- Composition
- Silver (.925)
- Weight
- 13.5 g
- Diameter
- 30 mm
- Mint
- Royal Mint, Llantrisant
- Shape
- Equilateral curve heptagon (7-sided)
- Technique
- Milled, Proof
- References
- KM#966a, Sp#H6
- Issuer
- United Kingdom
Design details
Obverse
Third crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II right, wearing the George IV State Diadem, legend around. Lettering: ELIZABETH II D·G·REG·F·D·1994 RDM. Translation: Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith.
Reverse
Design representing the Allied invasion force of landing craft and aircraft heading for Normandy, filling the sea and sky. Lettering: 50 PENCE JM.
Collector insights
- Design heritage: Raphael David Maklouf (obverse), John Mills (reverse) is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
- Struck at: Royal Mint, Llantrisant. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
- Low mintage: Only 40,000 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
- Precious metal content: Silver (.925) — bullion value provides a price floor, and many circulated examples were melted during the 1979–1980 and post-2010 silver spikes, reducing the surviving population.
- Catalogue reference: Listed as
KM#966a, Sp#H6. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.
Curator Insights
Historical context
This 1994 issue was struck to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy, known as D-Day. It represents a significant decimal-era commemorative release issued under the monarchy of Elizabeth II before the 50 pence coin was reduced in size in 1997. The coin reflects the United Kingdom's role in the Allied liberation of Europe during the Second World War.
Design heritage
The reverse, designed by John Mills, depicts a dense formation of landing craft and aircraft symbolizing the massive scale of the naval and aerial invasion force. The obverse features the third definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Raphael David Maklouf, which was used on British coinage from 1985 to 1997. The 7-sided equilateral curve heptagon shape maintains the established geometric standard for the denomination introduced in 1969.
Varieties and technical notes
This specific issue is a silver proof version struck in .925 sterling silver at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant. Collectors should note the plain edge and the frosted relief characteristic of the proof technique, which contrasts with the mirrored fields. While standard cupro-nickel versions entered circulation, the silver proof was intended strictly for the collector market and was issued in a designated presentation case.
Survival and modern availability
The mintage for this silver proof edition was limited to 40,000 pieces, making it significantly scarcer than the millions of base-metal coins produced for circulation. While the large-format 50 pence series was demonetized in 1997 to make way for the smaller current module, these silver proofs are generally preserved in high-grade condition by numismatists. Survival rates remain high within the secondary market due to the coin's inclusion in official Royal Mint sets.
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Browse more items in the full catalog or view United Kingdom in the country guide.