About This Coin

🚣‍♂️ 2011 Olympic Rowing 50p

Circulating London 2012 Olympic 50p featuring a coxless pair cutting through the water – sometimes nicknamed the “Excellence Friendship 50p” thanks to the Olympic values written in the boat’s wake.

Summary of Value & Key Facts

The 2011 Rowing 50p is one of the 29 coins issued to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games. With a circulation mintage of 1,717,300, it sits in the less common bracket – noticeably scarcer than everyday commemorative 50ps, but easier to find than the very rarest Olympic designs like Football or Judo.

📊 Key Figures

Core specifications and guide values for the standard circulating Rowing 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)	1,717,300	Official circulation mintage; ranked mid-table (around 11th/29) in Olympic scarcity lists.
UNC / BU mintage	≈140,000	Uncirculated coins sold in Royal Mint sports cards and presentation packs.
Designers	Reverse: David (Davey) Podimore Obverse: Ian Rank-Broadley	Reverse shows two rowers and Olympic values in the wake; obverse carries the fourth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Typical value (circulated)	About £2 to £4	Most circulated examples trade for roughly £2–£3; very nice coins can reach the upper end of this range.
UNC / BU value (guide)	About £4.50 to £7	Brilliant Uncirculated coins in original packs usually sell for several times face value.

💡 Collector Notes

Rowing is one of Team GB’s most successful Olympic sports, and the coin’s design leans hard into that heritage. The combination of a clean sporting image and bold typography makes this one of the more distinctive coins in the Olympic set.

Commemorative theme: Issued as part of the official London 2012 Olympic 50p collection. Rowing has been a major medal source for Great Britain, with Team GB winning rowing medals at every Games since the mid-1980s.
Design: The reverse shows a coxless pair powering through the water from right to left. In their wake are repeated Olympic values – EXCELLENCE, FRIENDSHIP, FAIR PLAY, RESPECT – with the London 2012 logo above and “50 PENCE” below. The lettering emphasises the idea that athletes leave these values behind them as they race.
Rarity in context: With 1.7 million+ coins in circulation, Rowing is clearly scarcer than high-mintage commemorative 50ps but more obtainable than top-tier rarities like Football, Judo or Triathlon. Most scarcity indexes list it as “Less Common” rather than rare.
Circulating vs collector versions:
- Circulated: Found in change with typical wear and contact marks; these are the coins most collectors start with.
- Brilliant Uncirculated (BU): Sold in Royal Mint Olympic sports cards as coin 19/29. BU pieces show full lustre and sharp detail on the rowers and text, and are preferred for higher-grade Olympic sets.
- Silver BU / proof: A sterling silver version with limited mintage was also issued, targeted at more specialist collectors and priced significantly above the base-metal coin.
Value behaviour: Recent price guides and dealer listings typically show:
- average circulated examples around £2–£3,
- nicer circulated coins up towards £4,
- UNC / BU examples commonly around £4.50–£7 depending on packaging and condition.
Collecting tip: For circulation finds, look for strong detail on the boat, blades and lettering in the wake, plus a clean London 2012 logo with minimal deep scratches. For BU or proof pieces, intact original packaging and any certificates are a big plus for both value and future resale.

Olympic Rowing 50p

Coin Specifications

How much is the Olympic Rowing 50p worth?