Olympic Hockey 50p

Summary of Value & Key Facts

The 2011 Hockey 50p is part of the 29-coin London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic series. With a circulation mintage of 1,773,500, it ranks as a less common modern 50p – scarcer than many commemoratives but not among the very rarest Olympic designs. It typically trades for a clear premium over face value, especially in nicer condition.

Core specifications and guide values for the standard circulating Hockey 50p.

The Hockey 50p is a clean, immediately readable design – you don’t need to squint to know which sport it is. It’s not top-tier rare like Football or Judo, but it’s a solid mid-scarcity coin that pretty much everyone needs when chasing a complete London 2012 Olympic set.

• Commemorative theme: One of 29 designs celebrating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, each featuring a different sport. Hockey has a long Olympic history, first appearing at the 1908 London Games and becoming a regular fixture from 1920 onwards.
• Design: The reverse shows two hockey players in the middle of a challenge for the ball, sticks down and knees bent, with the London 2012 logo above and “50 PENCE” below. The overlapping sticks and angled bodies give a nice sense of movement and competition.
• Rarity in context: With 1.77 million in circulation, Hockey is clearly scarcer than high-mintage commemorative 50ps, but sits in the mid-pack of the Olympic series. Sites that rank Olympic coins usually place it around 16th–18th out of 29 by scarcity.
• Circulating vs collector versions:
  • Circulated: Found in everyday change with light to moderate wear; these are the coins most collectors encounter first.
  • Brilliant Uncirculated (BU): Sold in Royal Mint “Hockey” sports cards and sets (product code LUK50HOC). These coins show full lustre and sharper detail, and are the preferred option for higher-grade date/type collections.
  • Silver BU / proof: A sterling silver Hockey 50p (around 30,000 mintage) was also issued for collectors, sitting well above the base-metal coin in price.
• Value behaviour: Recent price guides show:
  • Average circulated examples around £1.50–£2,
  • Excellent circulated up to about £3–£3.50,
  • BU coins in pack commonly £4–£6+ depending on presentation and market demand.
• Collecting tip: For circulation pieces, look for clear stick and ball detail, readable “50 PENCE” and a clean London 2012 logo, with minimal heavy scratching in the open areas. For BU or silver issues, intact original packaging and any certificates are a big bonus for long-term value.

Overall, the 2011 Olympic Hockey 50p is a solid mid-scarcity modern coin – instantly recognisable, tied to London 2012, and a nice upgrade from the more common commemoratives turning up in change.