Olympic Football 50p

Summary of Value & Key Facts

The 2011 Football 50p, often called the “offside rule 50p”, is the most sought-after coin in the London 2012 Olympic 50p series. With a circulation mintage of just 1,125,500, it is significantly scarcer than most modern 50p designs and commands a strong premium over face value in any decent condition.

Core specifications and typical values for the standard circulating Football 50p (offside rule coin).

The Football 50p shows a bird’s-eye view of a pitch with players marked by shapes and the words “OFFSIDE EXPLAINED”. One passing option is labelled “OFFSIDE” and the other “NOT OFFSIDE”. The design literally diagrams the law.

• When can a player be offside?
  A player can only be offside when:
  • they are in the opponents’ half of the pitch, and
  • the ball is being played to them by a teammate.
• Offside position:
  At the moment the pass is played, a player is in an offside position if:
  • they are nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last defender (usually the last outfield player plus the goalkeeper), and
  • they are involved in active play (trying to receive the ball, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage).
• Not offside:
  A player is not offside if, when the ball is played:
  • they are level with the second-last defender, or
  • they are behind the ball, or
  • they are in their own half.
• What the coin shows:
  On the coin, the midfielder (triangle with the ball) has two teammates ahead:
  • One is beyond the last defender at the moment of the pass – this option is labelled “OFFSIDE”.
  • The other is level with the defender – that option is labelled “NOT OFFSIDE”.
  So the coin is basically saying: pass to the “NOT OFFSIDE” teammate if you don’t want the flag to go up.
• Key memory hook:
  “You can’t just stand closer to the goal than everyone else and wait.” You must time your run so that, when the pass is played, you are not past the ball and the second-last defender.

The Football 50p is arguably the most famous modern UK 50p after Kew Gardens. The offside diagram sparked a lot of media coverage when the coin was released, and that publicity – combined with its low mintage – has kept demand high.

• Commemorative theme: Part of the London 2012 Olympic sports series, representing football with a clever twist: instead of an action scene, it explains one of the game’s most argued-about laws.
• Design story: The Royal Mint ran a national competition for each Olympic sport. Designer Neil Wolfson – a sports journalist – used a simple diagram to turn a law-book concept into a visual joke that still actually explains the rule.
• Rarity in context: With just over 1.1 million in circulation, Football is significantly rarer than most commemorative 50p coins and sits at the top of the Olympic scarcity charts.
• Circulating vs BU:
  • Circulated: Heavily collected; any genuine example in nice grade is a keeper. Heavily worn coins still sell strongly thanks to scarcity.
  • Brilliant Uncirculated: Sold in Royal Mint cards and special covers. These show full lustre and sharp detail and are the premium way to own the design.
  • Silver / presentation versions: Limited proof and cover editions exist for higher-end collectors, distinct from the standard base-metal coin.
• Collecting tip: For circulation coins, focus on eye appeal: clear lettering (“OFFSIDE EXPLAINED”, “OFFSIDE”, “NOT OFFSIDE”), a readable pitch diagram and minimal heavy scratches. For BU, intact original packaging and any accompanying certificates materially boost desirability and resale value.

Overall, the 2011 Olympic Football 50p is a true modern classic: the rarest Olympic 50p, a neat visual explainer of the offside rule, and one of the main “trophy” coins for UK 50p collectors.