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Olympic Judo 50p

Cupro-nickel Circulating 2011 50p London 2012 Olympic Games  Share This Coin:
Olympic Judo 50p - Reverse - 2011 UK 50p Coin
Price Guide
£8.00
Rarity Score 60

Coin Specifications

Denomination
50p
Year
2011
Metal
Cupro-nickel
Finish
Circulating
Mintage
1,161,500
Weight
8 g
Diameter
27.30 mm
Obverse
Ian Rank-Broadley
Reverse
David Cornell

How much is the Olympic Judo 50p worth?

As a circulating coin, the Olympic Judo 50p is worth its face value of 50p. However, collectors may pay more for high-grade examples or if the coin is scarce. Check our rarity score to see how sought-after this coin is.

Olympic Judo 50p Images

High-quality images of the 2011 Olympic Judo 50p showing obverse and design details. Click any image to view full size.

Olympic Judo 50p Obverse - 2011 UK 50p Coin Head Side
Obverse (Heads)
Designed by Ian Rank-Broadley
The obverse (heads side) of the 2011 50p coin featuring the portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley .

Tip: Click any image to view it in full size. All images show the actual 2011 Olympic Judo 50p as issued by The Royal Mint, helping you identify genuine coins and understand their design features.

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Coin Description

Designer: David Cornell, a painter and sculptor who previously competed in judo.

Design: The reverse of the coin features two judo athletes, with one performing a sweeping throw on the other. Above the figures is the London 2012 Olympics logo and below them is the denomination "50 PENCE".

Mintage: 1,161,500 of these coins were released into circulation, making it one of the lower-mintage coins in the Olympic series.

Composition & Size: The coin is made of a cupronickel alloy, weighs 8.00 grams, and has a diameter of 27.30 millimetres, which are standard specifications for UK 50p coins.

About This Coin

🥋 2011 Olympic Judo 50p
Circulating London 2012 Olympic 50p featuring two judoka in a throwing technique – one of the rarest coins in the Olympic sports 50p set.

Summary of Value & Key Facts

The 2011 Judo 50p is part of the 29-coin London 2012 Olympic series and is one of the lowest-mintage designs in the set. With only 1,161,500 coins issued for circulation, it ranks among the rarest modern UK 50p pieces and commands a strong premium over face value in almost any grade.

📊 Key Figures

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

Aspect Figure Notes
Denomination 50 pence Standard seven-sided UK 50p coin issued for general circulation in 2011 as part of the London 2012 sports set.
Alloy, weight & diameter Cupro-nickel, 8.00 g, 27.30 mm 75% copper, 25% nickel – the usual large 50p specification with a plain edge.
Mintage (circulating) 1,161,500 One of the lowest mintages in the Olympic series; only Football and Triathlon are comparable for rarity.
Designers Reverse: David Cornell
Obverse: Ian Rank-Broadley 		Reverse shows a judo throw; obverse carries the fourth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Typical value (circulated) About £4 to £10 Value guides quote average values around £4–£5, with several listing a typical circulated value of roughly £9 for a nice example.
Typical value (UNC / BU) About £11 to £14+ Uncirculated / BU coins in original packaging are commonly valued around £11–£14 according to major price guides.
💡 Collector Notes

The Judo 50p is one of the “big four” rare Olympic coins (alongside Football, Triathlon and Wrestling). Its low mintage and strong martial-arts theme make it a trophy piece for modern 50p collectors.

  • Commemorative theme: Issued as one of 29 designs celebrating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the coin represents judo, a Japanese martial art introduced to the Olympics in 1964. The aim is to score an ippon – a decisive throw or hold that wins the contest outright.
  • Design: The reverse shows two judoka in full gi, one executing a sweeping throw that brings the opponent towards the mat, with the London 2012 logo above and “50 PENCE” below. Designer David Cornell was himself a competitive judoka and based the move on a throw that once injured his shoulder in a real contest.
  • Rarity in context: With 1,161,500 pieces in circulation, Judo is one of the very lowest-mintage Olympic 50p coins, sitting just above Football (1,125,500) and roughly level with Triathlon. It regularly appears in “top rarest 50p” lists and is classed as “Very Scarce” on modern scarcity indexes.
  • Circulating vs collector versions:
    • Circulated: Found in change, usually heavily searched for and often pulled quickly by collectors. Even well-worn examples retain a strong collector value due to scarcity.
    • Brilliant Uncirculated (BU): Sold in Royal Mint “Judo” sports cards and sets (card 17/29). These show full lustre and sharp detail and are the preferred option for higher-grade Olympic sets.
    • Silver / Gold issues: A sterling silver BU version (mintage limit 30,000) and a unique 22-carat gold proof piece presented to the designer were also produced for specialist collectors.
  • Value behaviour: Price is driven primarily by low mintage and strong demand. Value guides and dealer listings cluster around:
    • Circulated: roughly £4–£10 depending on grade,
    • UNC / BU: roughly £11–£14+,
    with occasional higher prices for particularly sharp or slabbed examples.
  • Collecting tip: For circulation finds, look for clear detail in the judogi folds, hands and legs, and a clean London 2012 logo with minimal deep scratches. For BU or proof examples, intact original packaging and certificates are a big plus for resale and authentication, especially given the coin’s high-profile status.

Overall, the 2011 Olympic Judo 50p is a top-tier modern rarity – one of the smallest mintages in the Olympic set, a dynamic martial-arts design, and a key “grail” coin for many UK 50p collectors.